John 7:4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.
The Festival of Tabernacles was approaching, and many were going to Jerusalem for a week long celebration of Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus, so he was keeping a low profile by living and preaching in Galilee, a few days north. But his brothers were mocking him for not taking his ministry to the big city.
John 7:5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Jesus’ mother believed in him, and Joseph had believed in him, but his own brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus was the oldest of at least seven children including James, Joseph, Simon, Judas, and two or more sisters (Matthew 13:55). After the resurrection, James and Jude believed in Jesus, and wrote the books that bear their names. But we don’t know if his other siblings ever believed or not.
It’s worth noticing that John wasn’t embarrassed to include the fact that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him. If John’s account was fictional, he would’ve said it was obvious to those who knew Jesus best that he was the Messiah. The gospel writers included many embarrassing facts, which prove they had nothing to hide, but were only concerned to report the truth.
It’s also clear that Jesus’ divinity wasn’t at all obvious. He got hungry, thirsty and tired like everyone else. He didn’t have a halo, didn’t glow in the dark, and didn’t walk above the ground. Jesus was truly God, but also truly human. He was one person with two natures, and these weren’t blended to produce a hybrid. Jesus seemed remarkably similar to many other people.
We should also notice that it was possible to be very close to Jesus and still not believe in him. Likewise, many grow up in church, and learn the Bible thoroughly, but never truly believe. Some even stay in church, and gain a Christian reputation, without ever coming to faith. Some even go into occupational ministry.
Familiarity with Jesus can even result in contempt for him, as it did with his brothers. Many who grow up in church later despise Christianity as unworthy of their time, talent or treasure. Imagine being extremely close to Jesus Christ but missing out on his salvation. The thought should make us shudder.
John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God.
When Jesus got to the festival he discovered the crowds were whispering about him. Some thought he was a good man, others thought he was a deceiver. But how could they know for sure? Jesus could do another miracle, but that wouldn’t change anyone’s mind. Instead, he gave a universal way. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God.
This is revolutionary. Even a child can know that Christianity is true, simply by choosing to do God’s will. The truth of Christianity isn’t rationally discerned, but revealed by the Spirit. If we choose to do God’s will, God will persuade us that Christianity is true.
This was important in Jesus’ day because believing in Christ often came with a price. You could be excluded from the synagogue, and shunned by family and friends. Employers wouldn’t want to hire you, and you’d be forced to the margins of society. Becoming a Christian could even cost your life, so it was important to be sure that Christianity was true.
Thankfully, God is willing to guide anyone who chooses to do his will. If someone prays, God I want to do your will no matter what—then God will lead that person to Christ. But God is under no obligation to those who reject his will. Intellectual objections are often just an excuse for rebelling against God.
Several years ago I spoke with a young man who claimed to be an atheist. He was quite above average, intellectually, but his lifestyle could only be sustained if God did not exist. So I asked if he’d be willing to follow Christ if he could be certain that Christianity was true. To my surprise, he said he would not. Then I understood his first concern wasn’t for the truth, but for his lifestyle. That’s how it usually works. We change our lives to fit the truth, or distort the truth to fit our lives.
John 7:27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.
At this point the crowd was completely confused. They were surprised that Jesus hadn’t been arrested, and were wondering if the religious leaders had changed their minds about him. Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah, of course, since they knew where he was from—and no one would know where the Messiah was from. Right?
Actually, the prophet identified Bethlehem as the place of Messiah’s birth. But you, Bethlehem . . . out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel (Micah 5:2), wrote Micah. We understand ignorance at the popular level, but even the experts were confused. Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee (John 7:52), they said. Never mind that Jonah was from Galilee (2 Kings 14:25), and possibly others.
And never mind that Isaiah clearly identified Galilee with the Messiah. [I]n the future he will honor Galilee . . . . The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:1-6), he wrote.
The religious leaders didn’t reject Jesus because of their knowledge of the Bible, but because of their ignorance of the Bible. Some think ignorance is bliss, but ignorance of what we ought to know can be fatal. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children (Hosea 4:6), said God. If Bible reading isn’t part of your daily schedule, you need to adjust your schedule. Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, and ignorance of Christ is sin.
Reflection and Review
Why didn’t Jesus’ brothers believe in him?
How can we know that Christianity is true?
Why did the religious leaders reject Christ?
The Festival of Tabernacles was approaching, and many were going to Jerusalem for a week long celebration of Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus, so he was keeping a low profile by living and preaching in Galilee, a few days north. But his brothers were mocking him for not taking his ministry to the big city.
John 7:5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Jesus’ mother believed in him, and Joseph had believed in him, but his own brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus was the oldest of at least seven children including James, Joseph, Simon, Judas, and two or more sisters (Matthew 13:55). After the resurrection, James and Jude believed in Jesus, and wrote the books that bear their names. But we don’t know if his other siblings ever believed or not.
It’s worth noticing that John wasn’t embarrassed to include the fact that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him. If John’s account was fictional, he would’ve said it was obvious to those who knew Jesus best that he was the Messiah. The gospel writers included many embarrassing facts, which prove they had nothing to hide, but were only concerned to report the truth.
It’s also clear that Jesus’ divinity wasn’t at all obvious. He got hungry, thirsty and tired like everyone else. He didn’t have a halo, didn’t glow in the dark, and didn’t walk above the ground. Jesus was truly God, but also truly human. He was one person with two natures, and these weren’t blended to produce a hybrid. Jesus seemed remarkably similar to many other people.
We should also notice that it was possible to be very close to Jesus and still not believe in him. Likewise, many grow up in church, and learn the Bible thoroughly, but never truly believe. Some even stay in church, and gain a Christian reputation, without ever coming to faith. Some even go into occupational ministry.
Familiarity with Jesus can even result in contempt for him, as it did with his brothers. Many who grow up in church later despise Christianity as unworthy of their time, talent or treasure. Imagine being extremely close to Jesus Christ but missing out on his salvation. The thought should make us shudder.
John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God.
When Jesus got to the festival he discovered the crowds were whispering about him. Some thought he was a good man, others thought he was a deceiver. But how could they know for sure? Jesus could do another miracle, but that wouldn’t change anyone’s mind. Instead, he gave a universal way. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God.
This is revolutionary. Even a child can know that Christianity is true, simply by choosing to do God’s will. The truth of Christianity isn’t rationally discerned, but revealed by the Spirit. If we choose to do God’s will, God will persuade us that Christianity is true.
This was important in Jesus’ day because believing in Christ often came with a price. You could be excluded from the synagogue, and shunned by family and friends. Employers wouldn’t want to hire you, and you’d be forced to the margins of society. Becoming a Christian could even cost your life, so it was important to be sure that Christianity was true.
Thankfully, God is willing to guide anyone who chooses to do his will. If someone prays, God I want to do your will no matter what—then God will lead that person to Christ. But God is under no obligation to those who reject his will. Intellectual objections are often just an excuse for rebelling against God.
Several years ago I spoke with a young man who claimed to be an atheist. He was quite above average, intellectually, but his lifestyle could only be sustained if God did not exist. So I asked if he’d be willing to follow Christ if he could be certain that Christianity was true. To my surprise, he said he would not. Then I understood his first concern wasn’t for the truth, but for his lifestyle. That’s how it usually works. We change our lives to fit the truth, or distort the truth to fit our lives.
John 7:27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.
At this point the crowd was completely confused. They were surprised that Jesus hadn’t been arrested, and were wondering if the religious leaders had changed their minds about him. Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah, of course, since they knew where he was from—and no one would know where the Messiah was from. Right?
Actually, the prophet identified Bethlehem as the place of Messiah’s birth. But you, Bethlehem . . . out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel (Micah 5:2), wrote Micah. We understand ignorance at the popular level, but even the experts were confused. Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee (John 7:52), they said. Never mind that Jonah was from Galilee (2 Kings 14:25), and possibly others.
And never mind that Isaiah clearly identified Galilee with the Messiah. [I]n the future he will honor Galilee . . . . The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:1-6), he wrote.
The religious leaders didn’t reject Jesus because of their knowledge of the Bible, but because of their ignorance of the Bible. Some think ignorance is bliss, but ignorance of what we ought to know can be fatal. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children (Hosea 4:6), said God. If Bible reading isn’t part of your daily schedule, you need to adjust your schedule. Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, and ignorance of Christ is sin.
Reflection and Review
Why didn’t Jesus’ brothers believe in him?
How can we know that Christianity is true?
Why did the religious leaders reject Christ?