1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

1. (verse 1) Satan wanted to kill the work of Jesus. What does he do to try to kill our work for the Lord?

I think it’s important for us to realize that if Satan tried to kill the work of Christ, he will also try to kill or impede our work for the Lord. How many times have we begun doing what we know God wants us to do only to find that some obstacle mysteriously appears in our way? We need not lose heart, for Christ has overcome Satan and has set us free from any power he might have over us. But sometimes God allows us to go through a time of difficulty so we can learn how to trust in 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.

2. (verses 3-5) Why did his brothers say these things to Jesus? Which brothers later on served him? Has your family ever misunderstood your spiritual walk?

I think some of Jesus’ brothers were getting tired of people asking them questions about him. They wanted Christ to demonstrate his power publicly so all could see that what had been rumored was really true. But this was not God’s plan. Christ had to suffer and die that we might have redemption from our sins and receive eternal life.

We know of 4 brothers of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:55 – James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. We assume that the writer of the letters of James and Jude are two of the brothers who became important apostles in the church. James is sometimes referred to as "James the Less" to distinguish him with James the son of Zebedee. In Jude 1, Jude identifies himself as "a brother of James." There is some conjecture that these brothers may, in fact, have been cousins, but there is no way to know for sure.

In our Christian walk, there may come times when our family questions what we are doing or even criticizes us for our beliefs. We must learn to stand firm in spite of opposition. It is easier to do this when we realize that even Christ’s own brothers did not understand 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."

3. (verse 6) What did Jesus mean by "your time is always ready"? Has your family ever discouraged you from serving God by what they’ve done?

Jesus had the divine plan to fulfill. His brothers were only interested in satisfying their own wish for a demonstration of Christ’s power. Christ was acting in the spirit, his brothers were acting in the flesh. We need to be careful that we don’t become caught up with fleshly desires. Often, we want to bull our way forward into some activity without consulting God to find out if it’s his time. How many good works have begun with great expectations, but have failed because they were started with the wrong motivation?

It is what our friends and relatives tell us that can sometimes be our biggest source of discouragement. We need to guard against listening to others’ opinions too much. The one voice we need to heed is the still, small voice of God speaking to our hearts. Nothing else should dissuade us from pursuing the course to which God has called us.

9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

4. (verse 10) Why didn’t Jesus go up with his brothers openly? Why did he do it secretly?

When we get to chapter 12, we will study about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem when the whole city came out to sing Hosannas to him. But now is not the time. Christ went into Jerusalem secretly so as to not stir up the people before his time was ready. He still had some very important training to give his disciples.

11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?"

12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people."

13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

5. (verse 12) How could the people have two different opinions about Christ? What different opinions do people today have about Christ?

Don’t we see this today? People are divided over who Christ is. Some accept what he says and commit their lives to him. Others reject his words and his teachings. They may think he was a good man, but they are not ready to accept him as God. Still others want to have nothing to do with Christ. They bristle at the mention of his name. They become very angry or upset when they are exposed to anything that has to do with Christianity. It is as true today as it was 2000 years ago in Jesus’ day – some have a tender heart and are receptive to the things of God, but others are hard-hearted and want nothing to do with Christ or his work.

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"

6. (verses 14-15) What do these verses tell us about Christ’s "sermons"?

Verse 14 tells us that Jesus "went up into the temple and taught." From verse 15, it is obvious he is not just expounding opinions, but he is sharing from the scriptures of the Old Testament. Notice the Jewish elders ask, "How does this man know letters, having never studied?" I like to think he was giving a verse-by-verse exposition. His sermons were designed to teach. I’m afraid too many of our sermons today are designed to either make everyone feel good, keep the congregation entertained, or make the minister look clever. Jesus’ main form of preaching was teaching. May we all learn to be teachers of the gospel.

16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

18 "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

7. (verses 16-17) Is it important that we have some kind of doctrine or formal teaching of the church? Where should our teaching come from?

19 "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

20 The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel.

22 "Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

23 "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

8. (verses 21-23) Explain the point of Christ’s argument about Moses. Have you sometimes judged situations on appearance alone? Do Christians sometimes get too pre-occupied with rules and regulations?

The Pharisees had added many traditions to scripture. Included among them were complex requirements about what could and could not be done on the Sabbath. Christ’s point is that healing a man is as important as circumcising him. Circumcision was allowed on the Sabbath.

We can condemn the Pharisees here, but how often do we judge others by appearances alone? We think a Christian needs to look a certain way, or dress a certain way, or act a certain way. We may bring in political issues as tests of faith. Many churches make creeds or doctrines or catechisms into litmus tests for believers. What unbiblical ways do you judge others?

We need to be careful that we don’t become too pre-occupied with rules and regulations. God is a very merciful God. He brings us along in our Christian faith one step at a time. There may be some who are still working on things that we overcame when we were a brand new believer. We can easily look at them and condemn them in our mind for their spiritual "immaturity." Meanwhile they see something in our life that they won the victory over years ago and wonder how we can be so spiritually backward. We need to allow each person to answer to God, not to us. Let us show love and compassion to one another, and let us be a help and encouragement to each other.

25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill?

26 "But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

9. (verses 25-26) If the rulers wanted to kill Jesus, why didn’t they speak against him? Why didn’t they arrest him there in the temple? In what areas of your life do you need help to speak more boldly for Christ?

This is truly interesting. The rulers wanted to have Jesus arrested and killed. And yet, here he is speaking openly in the temple and no one lifts a finger to do anything about it. I think they are immobilized by his boldness, by his words, and by the obvious acceptance of the people around him. When we boldly proclaim the gospel message, we will be surprised how many of God’s enemies are immobilized and prevented from taking action.

Most of us have areas in our life that we need to allow God to work on so that we can more effectively share God’s love with others. Whatever the areas are in your own life, allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Be willing to boldly do what God wants you to do. There is one minister who uses the slogan when he signs his name – "To boldly preach where no man has gone before." Even though that’s amusing, it’s a good attitude to have. Let us be willing to boldly do what God wants us to do no matter where it takes us.

27 "However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from."

28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.

29 "But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me."

10. (verses 27-29) Did the people in verse 27 believe that Jesus was the Christ? Why did the people say no one knows where Christ is from?

Barnes explains, "...it appears that the common expectation of the Jews was that he would be born at Bethlehem. But they had also feigned that after his birth he would be hidden or taken away in some mysterious manner, and appear again from some unexpected quarter. ... The following extracts from Jewish writings show that this was the common expectation: ‘The Redeemer shall manifest himself, and afterwards be hid. So it was in the redemption from Egypt. Moses showed himself, and then was hidden.’ ...Whatever may have been the source of this opinion, it explains this passage, and shows that the writer of this Gospel was well acquainted with the opinions of the Jews, however improbable those opinions were."

30 Then they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?"

11. (verses 30-31) Why couldn’t the rulers lay a hand on Jesus? What do you think convinced the people in verse 31 to believe?

I believe God prevented the rulers from laying a hand on Jesus. It was not yet his time to pay the price for our sins. Other things had to be fulfilled first. Many believed in Jesus. I think there were three reasons for this: 1. His teaching spoke to their heart, 2. They sensed the need in their life for God’s presence, and 3. The miracles confirmed that this was God’s son.