John 7:1-13 - Being Christ’s bold witnesses

John 7:1-13 begin a new section in this Gospel. Jesus had completed His ministry in Galilee. Though His ministry there was now over, yet He chose to remain there. Verse 1 tells us the reason. It says, “He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.” In other words, the Judeans were looking out for Him to kill Him. The passage also tells us that the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. This was one of three feasts, where Jews all over the regions would congregate in Jerusalem. There would be a higher number of people in Jerusalem at this time. The purpose was to commemorate and praise God for His mercy and faithfulness in the Israelites’ wilderness wandering during their exodus.

In verses 3-4, Jesus’ own brothers were anxious for Him to go up to Jerusalem. They reckoned that He should go there and publicly display His miraculous power, since there would be a large crowd of people there to celebrate the feast. What they said to the Lord was actually a display of their unbelief in Him. They thought He wanted to be a public figure, like most people who sought after fame. So they told Him to “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” They were being cynical, because in their heart of hearts, like many Jews, they did not believe in Him. Just imagine, even His own brothers did not believe in Him, people who were His kinsmen and close to Him. Of all people, they should have been the ones who would fully support Him, yet they were doubtful of His works. It’s already painful enough to note that the nation did not believe in Him. It certainly was far more painful to think that His kinsmen, who had been brought up with Him in the same house, did not believe in Him. This shows us how desperately we all need God’s grace to recognize Christ, to follow and serve Him.

Jesus’ response to them seemed elusive. Like what He told His mother in Cana of Galilee at the wedding feast, He said, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.” This tells us that Jesus works in precise moment. He has purpose and direction. His works in our life are always intentional. They are done to fulfil God’s schedule and divine program for His people. Jesus will never do anything to gain the accolades and applauds of men. He does everything with a purpose, to fulfil the Father’s will. So He told His brothers to go ahead to the feast, He however, stayed in Galilee. Shortly after they left, He went to Jerusalem in secret. This we know was for obvious reason. It was because the Jews there were seeking to kill Him. Since He was traveling incognito, they could not discover Him. We are told that He was the main subject of the people’s conversation. Some considered Him to be a good man. Others said He was a deceiver. Yet no one would publicly declare their belief in Him for fear of repercussion from the Jewish leaders. The fear of man is an awful thing. It ensnares us. Today, many believers still remain silenced because of fear. What about us? Let us pray for holy boldness so that we will fearlessly testify and declare His faithfulness in our life.