“Purposely Staying Away Until The Right Time!”(Jn.7:1-13).
“After this, Jesus went around Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life…”
What happened before now is that after some hard teachings from Jesus, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” Jesus felt the weight of this abandonment, so he asked the twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” He received assurance from Peter who spoke on behalf of the others, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus, however, reminded them that even though he is the one who chose them, one of them was a traitor(Jn.6:66-71).
The crowd that rejected Jesus included “even his brothers who did not believe in him.” Yet they wanted to cajole him to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. His own brothers tried to lure him to an early grave with flattering words like, “you ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Flattering words such as the above have puffed the ego of many and brought them to untimely tragedies. Beware of flatterers!
Jesus was, however, above flattery. He knew that a tree does not make noise while growing up. He told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil…I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”
All the same, Jesus went to the Feast incognito. His adversaries didn’t notice his presence.
Contrary to what his brothers said, the crowds knew about him as “among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him.” While some said, “He is a good man,” others said he is a deceiver. They were saying all these in hushed voices because they were afraid of the Jews.
Some lessons for us:
- Purposely stay away from people who are waiting to take your life.
- Do not give in to flattery – including those from your own brothers.
- As much as it is possible, attend some functions incognito.
- Wait for the right time.
- Know that those who stand for truth are always hated.
- Be intentional to be among the crowds who say of Jesus, “He is a good man,” who believe in him and do not go away when others do.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I know you are not only a good man, but the Savior in whom I believe. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you! Happy New Year!
Rev Babila Fochang.
08/01/2025.