Devotional - John 7:1-9 - A Confrontation With Family

Passage To Study:

John 7:1-9

[1] After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. [2] Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. [3] His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. [4] “For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” [5] For even His brothers did not believe in Him. [6] Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. [7] “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. [8] “You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” [9] When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

What are the facts of the passage?:

(Verse 1-2) Because of the reaction of the people and the leaders Jesus stays in Galilee and does not return to Judea. Time passes and another major feast time arrives - the feast of the Tabernacles.
(Verse 3-5) His brothers (who were unbelievers see V5) confront Him about His lack of public exposure. They accuse Him of cowardice and being a fake because He is staying away from where He could be exposed.
(Verse 6-8) Jesus tells them that His time has not yet come for such open confrontation. The world doesn't hate them, but it hates Him because He tells it that their works (thought to be good) are actually evil. They should go to the feast, He will not because His time is not yet fully come.
(Verse 9) He remains in Galilee.

What do those facts mean?:

(Verse 1-2) This is a time reference and is used to set this incident against the last holy day when Jesus did go down to Judea for the Passover. This time, He decides (for good reason) to stay in Galilee.

(Verse 3-5) This seems to me to be a further instance of His brothers mocking Him. There is really nothing in the passage to indicate this, but the "tone" of the exchange just leads me to think that was not the first such an exchange between Jesus and His brothers. I suspect that there was a history of mocking exchanges on their part and patient (or not so patient) responses on our Lord's part. Just in passing, it is important to note here that the Lord did, indeed, have brothers. This indicates that Mary and Joseph lived normally as husband and wife and produced a family.

(Verse 6-8) Jesus' response is wonderful. They could not be hated by the world because they were still a part of the world. Jesus, on the other hand, was not a part of the world and was hated by them because all about Him showed them that their deeds were evil and thus unacceptable to God. Jesus' time for submitting Himself to the hated of the world was not yet fully come.

(Verse 9) He does as He said and stays in Galilee. He was here to serve the will Of God and not the whim of man.

How do those facts apply to my life?:

I must serve the will and the timing of God as well. It isn't up to me to choose the time and place of my service to Him. I must seek His leading and see to it that I am obeying Him.

What should I do in response?:

Put the above into action!

Day

A Confrontation With Family