John 7:1-13 … ‘Catch 22’ 

Prayer and Praise

Jesus said, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” Matthew 26:40, so we start our journey of giving God time to work in us, by praying the hymn “Thy Hand O God, Has Guided…” at this link…

John 7:1-13 … ‘Catch 22’ 

(Acknowledgements to the Complete Jewish Bible.)

1 After this, Yeshua (Jesus) traveled around in the Galil, (Galilee), intentionally avoiding Y’hudah (Judah), because the Judeans* were out to kill him. 

Remember, Jesus had just lost many followers/disciples as discipleship was too costly, (John 6:66). Now the Judean leaders wanted to kill Jesus, so He avoided trouble by avoiding the religious leaders who wanted to kill Him. This means they had understood perfectly the meaning of His words in John 6:65 & 69. 

2 But the festival of Sukkot in Y’hudah (Judah) was near; 3 so his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go into Y’hudah, so that your talmidim (disciples) can see the miracles you do; 4 for no one who wants to become known, acts in secret. If you’re doing these things, show yourself to the world!” 

5 (His brothers spoke this way because they had not put their trust in him.)

6 Yeshua said to them, “My time has not yet come; but for you, any time is right. 

Jesus spoke at two levels. 

i). He politely brushed off the sniggering of Mary’s sons, who made fun of Him.

ii). At a deeper level, this Passover was not yet the right one for Him to be the sacrificial Lamb/Ram of God. 

7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate Me because I keep telling it how wicked its ways are. 

Jesus was not of this world, which was why He was hated by it. 

8 You, go on up to the festival; as for me, I am not going up to this festival now, because the right time for me has not yet come.” 

9 Having said this, he stayed on in the Galil. (Galilee).

(Or rather “I am not yet going to this festival just yet”, (or “not just now”.) Jesus sent His mother’s sons ahead and bided His time to avoid those plotting against His life. 

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the festival, he too went up, not publicly but in secret. 

11 At the festival, the Judeans were looking for him. “Where is he?” they asked. 

So now Jesus can be seen to have been right about those plotting to take His life.

12 And among the crowds there was much whispering about him. Some said, “He’s a good man”; but others said, “No, he is deceiving the masses.”

13 However, no one spoke about him openly, for fear of the Judeans.

—-Summary

John wants it understood that it was the Judean Jewish leaders from Jerusalem who were creating this fear and trouble. *Note. What John calls the “Judeans” were the religious type of Jews who directed that only their interpretation must be obeyed. To go to the festival meant the religious leaders grabbing him as already they hated Him, so it was ‘Catch 22’.

• Today’s Verse…

Who is Jesus? 

“After this, Yeshua (Jesus) traveled around in the Galil, (Galilee), intentionally avoiding Y’hudah (Judah), because the Judeans* were out to kill him.” John 7:1-13

*  Note from above: What John calls the “Judeans” were the religious type of Jews in Jerusalem who directed that only their interpretation must be obeyed if you were to be permitted entry into the Temple. 

• Today’s Challenge

The people were divided… 

a). Some made fun of Jesus – like those who were called His brothers.

b). Some were out to kill Jesus, like the religious leaders. 

c). Some took no notice.

Even the few who believed in Jesus were split between;-

i). the so-called disciple/apostle who betrayed Jesus, (and yes, even Judas was once called an apostle! Did you know that?), and,

ii). the disciple/apostle, Peter, who denied he ever met Jesus.

iii). Then there were all the others who simply ran off. 

That sample represents us today. That was all before they had received the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2. What does being a Christian mean to you? 

Prayer and Worship

“… He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Matthew 14:23. 

Jesus taught His disciples what we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer’; (Luke 11).

Listen here to Albert Malotte’s ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, 

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever;- Amen.

Prayer suggestions;-

1. The world. (ie ‘For those in authority.’ The news will help identify needs.)
2. The ‘suffering church. https://barnabasfund.org/nz/pray/daily-prayer/#previous-dates
3. Your own situation. (Suggest ‘needs’ rather than ‘wants’.)