The Advice of Jesus’ Brothers

John 7:1–14
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It was F.B. Meyer, I believe, who once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know. First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin, and second, ... More

Follower

The events of this chapter take place six months after the feeding of the 5000 and the great speech that Jesus gave in the synagogue at Capernaum on the “bread of life.” In the opening words of this chapter it shows that Jesus is aware of growing hostility against him and that the Jews in Judea are seeking a way to kill him(v. 1). Many of the multitudes and some of His disciples who have followed Him everywhere He went, have now ceased to follow Him.

The feast of tabernacles was at hand which occurred in Jerusalem in early October and was eight days in length. During this time the inhabitants of Jerusalem built booths out of tree limbs and thatched roofs, and the families moved out of their houses and lived in them during this period of time. This was to remind them of the forty years they had wandered as pilgrims in the wilderness and lived in tents (v. 2).

Jesus’ brothers had a difficult time believing in Him and for several years they were embarrassed by Him. As the feast drew near, the four brothers of Jesus (James and Jude who later wrote two letters of the New Testament and Joses and Simon) come to Him to give him some advice (vv. 3-5).

You need to get out of the “sticks” (Galilee) and go to Jerusalem.
Your Judean followers need to witness the miracles you have been doing here.
If you want to reach the nation you need to get where people can see what you are doing.
Your gifts are being wasted here in Galilee. You need to get out and demonstrate your miracles to the whole world.

Jesus is saying, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime and I will come later. (vv. 6-14). The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.

Application

This same kind of reasoning is used in many Churches today. They say that witnessing has got to be done in a systematic way. I just need to follow what Jesus says in His Word.

John 7:1-14 (English Standard Version)

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