John 7:1-10 “Can the world hate you?”

Introduction:  Jesus speaks with His half brothers concerning who He is.  They have grown impatient with Jesus and express this openly to Him. 

(John 7:1)  After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

(John 7:2)  Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.         

            In chapter six Jesus fed the 5000 men when the feast of Passover was near.  Now the feast of Tabernacles is at hand which means six months have past.  During this six months time much has happened.  Jesus was very busy.  He returned from the Passover journey to Jerusalem and stayed in Galilee for the next six months.  The reason He would not return to Judea is given in this first verse.  The Jews sought to kill Him.  Jesus had much to do and the time was not right for His death.  Jesus therefore stayed out of the lime light to postpone His inevitable death. 

            The people of Judea were indeed missing a blessing.  It is a shame that their religious leaders were keeping them from the very God they claimed to worship.  During this time several things have happened which are not recorded by John.

1. The Jews sent a group down from Jerusalem to question Jesus as to why His disciples ate with unwashed hands.  Jesus soundly rebuked them and quoted the prophet Isaiah who said “This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.” 

2. Jesus healed the daughter of  a Canaanite woman in Tyre who responded to Jesus that the dogs eat of the crumbs from the master’s table. 

3. Jesus healed a deaf man in Decapolis and a multitude of dumb, crippled, lame and blind people. 

4. Jesus fed four thousand men besides women and children. 

5. The Jews returned with another group to ask Jesus for a sign to which Jesus responded with a reference to Jonah’s experience. 

6. Jesus told His disciples in the boat to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and they thought He was getting on to them because the brought no bread. 

7. Jesus Healed a blind man at Bethsaida, who at first saw men like trees walking.  8. Jesus asked His disciples whom do men say that I am?  Jesus asked whom they thought He was and Peter proudly answered “the Christ the Son of the living God.”  Jesus told Peter that on this great truth He would build His church. 

9. Jesus foretold of His suffering and death in Jerusalem to which Peter strongly objected.  Jesus rebuked Peter with those famous words “Get thee behind Me Satan.” 

10. Jesus fore told His second coming and was transfigured before Peter, James and John. 

11. Jesus healed the demon possessed boy which His disciples had been unable to help. 

12. Peter was told to go catch a fish and pay their taxes which he did.

13. Jesus used a child to illustrate greatness and warned all about the danger of causing a believer to stumble. 

14. Jesus taught a great lesson on forgiveness and then takes His journey to Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles.

 

(John 7:3)  His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

(John 7:4)  For [there is] no man [that] doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

            Jesus is confronted by His half brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas.  These men being less than 30 years old were, in effect, rebuking their elder brother.  If Jesus is to be the promised king of Israel then He should get Himself down to Jerusalem to be seen of men and take center stage.  They reasoned that one can not gain popularity by keeping his actions secret.  To gain the support of the people he would need to be seen by all and most especially of those in high places. 

            Let us learn something right here and now from the attitude of these men.  Never think that you know more and are wiser than Jesus.  How many of us by our words and actions scream out “Jesus you are wrong.”  I know better than you.  You say pray without ceasing but I say pray only when your in trouble.  You say Study and rightly divide the word of God so that we may be unashamed workmen for God but I say reading the Bible on Sunday at church is enough.”  You say forsake not the assembling of yourselves together but I say I will go to church only when it is convenient for me.”  You say “Love your enemies” but I say “do unto them before they can do unto me.”  You say forgive those who trespass against me but I say “let them suffer for what they have done to me.” 

 

(John 7:5)  For neither did his brethren believe in him.

            Here is the reason His brothers questioned His actions they are not saved.  Can you fathom this possibility.  That His brothers could be raised in the same house with Jesus and not believe in Him as their savior.  These four men have the same problem as did the disciples of chapter six.  They see only the physical and not the spiritual side of Jesus. 

            We must interject here another lesson.  Some people have every opportunity to be saved and refuse to believe.  These men were now in their twenties but still had not believed in Jesus as their savior.   Mary, perhaps the best mother of all times, was their teacher and took them to the feasts in Jerusalem every year and taught them what those things meant.  Yet these men sleeping each night in the same room as Jesus for twenty years did not believe.  You come to church or listen to this broadcast on the radio every Sunday.  How can you possibly go away each Sunday at noon and not repent and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior? 

 

(John 7:6)  Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

            Jesus patiently and lovingly explains His actions to His brothers.  It was not yet time for Jesus to die.  He had to fulfill all righteousness first.  He had to accomplish all things that were prophesied concerning Him.  His time was not yet come. 

            Let us learn here not to question God’s time table.  He will accomplish His will in His time.  We may become discouraged as we wait for the answer to our prayers but be patient for God knows the best time to take action.

            Jesus goes on to say that their time is always ready.  There is nothing which would keep them from going to the feast for they do not have the danger of being killed hanging over their heads.  They do not have a schedule to keep.  They have an appointment with death and judgment that all men must keep but as for their life they have no list of things that must be accomplished before they pass on.  They then can go when and where they please.  Jesus on the other hand must do the will of His Father at all times if men are to be saved.  He must go only when directed to do so by the Father.  These men have the liberty to go and come as they please.  They too like Jesus should seek the timing of the Father and only go and do as God directs.  They were required by the Law of Moses to go to the feast and so they would go early so as not to miss any of the preliminary activities.  Jesus will go in the Father’s good time.

 

(John 7:7)  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

            What a sober indictment is here brought to the attention of the brother’s of Jesus.  The world cannot hate them. Remember just here that James will pastor the Jerusalem church and will write the book of James by inspiration of God.  Judas will also write a book bearing his name Jude.  Yet at this point they are not believers.  When one is not a believer he is of the world and the world does not hate its own. 

            Child of God, does the world hate you?  If you are living for Christ it will hate you.  I fear that there are many who profess to be saved yet because they live like the world the world does not hate them. 

            The reason the world hates Jesus is because He testifies of their evil works.  They love sin and do not want to think or admit that they are sinners.  When children of God behave as they should they shine a light of truth upon the sin of the world. 

 

(John 7:8)  Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

            Jesus informs His brothers that He will go to the feast but only when the time is right.  Jesus had to go for it was required by the Law.  Fear of death was not the problem for Jesus was not afraid to die.  He had come to die for our sins. 

When the time was right and all had been fulfilled Jesus will go with much fan fair to Jerusalem and allow men to crucify Him.

 

(John 7:9)  When he had said these words unto them, he abode [still] in Galilee.

(John 7:10)  But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

 

            The problem of going up to Jerusalem was not so much when as how.  If Jesus went with the crowd they would seek to bring Him there to proclaim Him the king.  Jesus proves this on His last journey to Jerusalem for as He enters the crowd cried Hosanna to the Son of David.

            Jesus went in secret to Jerusalem.  Without fan fare and quietly He will appear in the temple and teach those who would hear Him.  Jesus had been tempted by Satan who said he would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him.  Jesus never sought glory for Himself.  He always sought to glorify the Father.  Jesus was exalted because He lived every moment that He was on earth as a humble servant.  The way to greatness is not like His brothers advised but rather to stay with God’s will and way. 

            May we ever seek to live for Christ and avoid those condemning words “the world can not hate you.