Day 934: Did Jesus lie? - John 7 vs 1 - 13

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews (Judeans) were seeking to kill him. 2-4 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11-12 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man”, others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. John 7:1-13 English Standard Version

One of life's saddest situations is when those in our own family have not recognized Jesus for who He really is. It may be our parents or our children, or brothers or sisters. In a commentary by J C Ryle, he mentions how this may lead us to think the problem must be with us. We feel guilt that we've not lived as we ought to have lived, and so those we love have not embraced Jesus. But what do we read of the family of the Lord in vs 5?

The Greek word for 'brothers' can also mean 'siblings'. No-one could've had a better example of right living than they had. They were even aware of miracles He had done. Yet they did not recognize that He was more than just a prophet. Instead, they focused on the 'fame' He was gaining, and encouraged Him to make the most of it. If 'Got Talent' shows had existed then they would probably have told Him to enter. Apart from not being superficial and wanting worldly applause, why else did Jesus not accept their advice? (vs 1 & 6-8)

Jesus was in the world to follow God's will, and therefore patient to wait for the right time to arrive when God's purposes would unfold. He also knew of the hostility that was in the hearts of many in the Judean region. Ryle made an interesting observation on WHY the world hated Jesus so much. What was the reason for this that Jesus gave in vs 7.

It was because His words showed up where men and women were sinning. He exposed the evil that was in their hearts. If Jesus had merely argued over different points of doctrine, or debated if some religions are better than others – it would not have made him a target to be killed. So too today. If Christians were just talking about why some lifestyles are ‘preferable’ to others, or why they don't think there should be sports on Sundays, or whether Capitalism is better than Socialism, then they might be sidelined by society, but not killed. But if Christians show from God's word the evilness of the works that people do, then they are not just disliked, the world will seek to destroy them. That's the reason why, even in Jesus' day, people were censoring themselves for fear of persecution. (vs 13)

But today's verses pose a problem for Christians which people who reject the gospel quickly seize upon. Do the words in vs 8, when placed alongside vs 10, mean that Jesus lied?

I would say two things. John, the writer of this gospel, often explained even small details to bring out the authenticity of the account he was writing. If he had interpreted Jesus' words as being a lie he would've brought that out too. Perhaps he would never even have written the gospel! I think the answer is in vs 9.

Jesus was telling the truth when He said He was not going up to the feast when His brother's urged Him to – and certainly not for the reasons they wanted Him to. He was waiting for God's timing. So later, when the time was right, He did go to the feast. But even when He did, He had to keep a low profile. Our hope of eternal life is based on what God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. (Titus 1:2) God doesn't lie. Neither did Jesus.