10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Go or not go

We studied yesterday about Jesus interacting with his disbelieving brothers who seemed to mock him. They suggested he go up to Jerusalem for the feast to get more exposure and expand his ministry (that’s what I read into it). Jesus said he wouldn’t go with them since it wasn’t his time. Now, under the direction of the Father, He decides to go up. Now is the time. Note: If you have trouble with this passage and think Jesus lied to his brothers, I encourage you to check out this link.

Father’s timing

All that Jesus does is according to the will of the Father. Remember from John 6:38 (ESV) “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” Everything in Jesus’s life was planned. The centerpiece is his death and resurrection. Many times the Jews tried to kill him, but it was before His time. As in John 7:30 (ESV) “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.”

This was Jesus’s third visit to Jerusalem. “The next time he went up he suffered [was crucified].” (Wesley’s commentary)

Friend or fraud?

In Jerusalem at the feast the religious leaders were hunting for Jesus. He was the talk of the town. But no one talked publicly lest they incur the punishment of the leaders. Some called him good and wanted to know more and even follow him as Messiah (I presume). Others wanted no part of him, calling him a fraud. 

“This pericope provides background for the story of Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem that follows. It helps the reader sense the atmosphere of public opinion in which Jesus then ministered.” (planobibelchapel.org).

<- Reflection ->

• The same dichotomy exists today. When pressed for an opinion, people who know who Jesus is generally fall into camps of belief and disbelief. Which camp are you?
• Which timing do we seek? Ours or our Heavenly Father’s?