Scripture: John 7: 1-13

The Unbelief of Jesus' Brothers

Jesus was able to travel and teach freely in the northern part of Galilee, but in the south, in Judah, his life was in danger. The incident related here happened shortly before the Feast of Tents (Tabernacles) in the middle of October, celebrated in Jerusalem, a city in the south. Jesus’ brothers try to persuade him to go with them to the feast. They seem to be unconcerned about his safety and more interested in saving face. They question why he doesn’t display his miraculous power everywhere and to everyone. They are not even sure he is who he says he is. They imply – if you really mean what you say, come out in the open, prove yourself.
Jesus knows he’s seen as a troublesome agitator, who publicly tells the government that its way of life is the very opposite of God’s way. His brothers go to the feast, but Jesus goes later, discreetly, so as not to draw the attention of the crowds.
At first the narrative in John seems like a simple description of an event, but it’s much more than that. We can see some truth about the whole meaning of Jesus, what he means to everybody, everywhere, then and now:
• Ridicule and negative public opinion did not sway him in his course of action.
• The doubts in the minds of his own brothers must have saddened him but did not stir him to anger.
• He did not perform miracles to gain popularity. He healed to reveal God’s power to restore health to mind and body, to bring back the natural God-given order of things.
• He never willingly sought out troublesome confrontations. When trouble occurred it was because his teaching was revolutionary and required a complete re-thinking of how human beings should treat each other.
• Jesus came to complete the task his Father sent him to do in his own time and in his own extraordinary way.

If we want to follow his example it is impossible in our own strength, but with care, thought and the will to do what will please Christ, God will provide the energy in us through the Holy Spirit.