But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.
In the above text we pick up what Jesus did after he had an exchange with his earthly brothers. Jesus’ family (children of Mary and Joesph) are not mentioned often in the Gospels. But John brings out a brief exchange between the brothers and Jesus. They wanted him to go up to the feast to display his power in miracles:
John 7:3-5 (ESV)
So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.
As stated, his brothers did not believe in him. It could be reasoned they simply wanted to promote their big brother because it would bring good things to their lives and reputations. After this discourse with them, we don’t hear of them or from them again. They only wanted Jesus’ fame, not believe in his purpose from coming. Jesus does, however, go up to the feast. But he does so both in secret and half-way through the feast. As he arrives his reason to be hesitant to go to the feast is confirmed. He was worried that the Jews (the religious leaders) were looking for him for the purpose of stopping his ministry. His time was not yet (the time of his crucifixion). The Jewish leaders had struck terror into the hearts of the people. No one wanted to speak openly of their commitment to Jesus’ teachings. Here we have a picture of today’s society and manner of living. The fear of his brothers was that he would miss an opportunity to show his talents and power to the world. They could capitalize on that. The fear of the people was to be canceled by the Jewish leaders. The world runs their lives based upon the fear of something. In the chapter before this story we read:
John 6:64-66 (ESV)
But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Like those who feared and left Jesus, his brothers wanted Jesus to win those people back with signs of miracles. They did not want the way of a sacrificial death. The people wanted Jesus in the feast so they could see miracles. Jesus was sent to give his life for them. But they did not see the way to fame would be through the cross of shame. Jesus’ ways are not the ways of mankind. Those who believe in him must recognize that Jesus’ life does not fit the mold of man’s mind. He did not come to conquer the world, he came to conquer sin. He did not come to be our magic stone for our living, he came to be the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus didn’t bend to his brothers or the crowd. He came to do the will of his Father in heaven. That will was to give his life at the proper time.
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