After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.” 5 For his brothers did not believe in him. 6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my time has not yet been fulfilled.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed on in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was considerable murmuring about him in the crowds. Some said, “He is a good man,” [while] others said, “No; on the contrary, he misleads the crowd.” 13 Still, no one spoke openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.
In the previous chapter, Jesus revealed Himself as the true Bread from Heaven, offering His flesh and blood as spiritual food (John 6:35-58). His teaching caused division, with many of his disciples abandoning him (John 6:66), though the Twelve remained faithful, with Peter affirming belief in Him as the Holy One of God (John 6:68-69). In this chapter, he remains in Galilee because of the growing hostility from the Jewish religious leaders in Judea who were plotting to kill him. The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, was one of the major Jewish pilgrim festivals when the Israelites were obligated to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. It commemorated the Israelites' wandering in the desert and was a time of great celebration.
Jesus' "brothers" (likely referring to close relatives) challenge Him to go to Judea and publicly perform miracles. However, their challenge reflects a lack of faith (John 7:5) and a misunderstanding of His mission. They, like many others, expected a political Messiah who would gain public acclaim through miracles and power. They misunderstood His mission and equated public exposure and recognition of His power with success. Their lack of belief in Jesus' true identity as the divine Messiah contrasts with the eventual understanding of His disciples.
Jesus told them that while they are free to act as they are inclined, he has to act in God’s time, which is according to the divine plan, not human expectations. The world hates him because he testifies that the works of the world are evil, but the world does not hate them so they can go to Jerusalem anytime. He told his family that he was not going to the feast because his time had not yet come to go to Jerusalem.
After his relatives had gone to the feast, Jesus remained in Galilee for a few days and then went to Jerusalem in secret, following God’s timing, not human pressure. The religious authorities were already looking for him. The religious authorities were already looking for Him. The crowd’s mixed opinions reflect a growing division over Jesus’ identity and mission. Some thought He was a good man, but those who believed this were afraid to speak publicly out of fear of the Jewish authorities. Others thought He was an imposter.
Almighty God, grant us the wisdom to follow Your timing and the courage to stand firm in our faith, even when misunderstood by others. May we always seek to do Your will, trusting in Your divine plan for our lives. This we pray through Christ our Lord Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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