My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil

 

 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.  Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.  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.  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."  For even His brothers did not believe in Him.  Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.  You go up to this feast.  I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come."   When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.  Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?"  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."  However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

 

- John 7:1–13 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse to the Jewish leaders, after healing a paralytic on the Sabbath, and also referring to Himself as Son of God:   "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.   These things refers to the events of John chapter 6.  Here, the lectionary has skipped over chapter 6, but will return to it in two weeks.  Once again, we remember that the term "the Jews" is most often used in John's Gospel as if it were a political term, and used to refer to the religious leaders, not the people in general  They seek to kill Christ not only for the things mentioned regarding yesterday's reading (above), but also because of His growing popularity, and the many "signs" He has done at this point in His ministry.  The next section of John's Gospel (John 7:1-10:21) is given regarding Christ's visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.  This entire section covers eight days, the duration of the festival.   This takes place during the final year of Christ's earthly life.  During the festival in this period, He taught in the temple in Jerusalem and attracted a great deal of public attention. 

Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.  The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew) is an eight-day autumn harvest festival.  It commemorates the time when Israel wandered in the wilderness of Sinai, and the people lived in tents, or tabernacles.  Together with Passover and Pentecost, this was one of the three most important festivals of the ancient Jews.  As we will see, it included numerous sacrifices and celebrations (Leviticus 23:33-43), the meanings and symbolism of which will be elaborated upon and reflected in Jesus' teachings of this period.  My study bible remarks that in later times, the final day of this feast (the eighth day) also included drawing water from the pool of Siloam to be mixed with wine and poured at the foot of the altar.  This was used both as a purification, and also in remembrance of the water which flowed from the rock that Moses struck (Exodus 17:1-7).  It also included the lighting of the great lamps in the outer court of the temple, which we will keep in mind as Jesus speaks of Himself as "the light of the world."

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.  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."  For even His brothers did not believe in Him.   As we have commented previously, Jesus' brothers are likely stepbrothers (that is, children of Joseph by an earlier marriage) or extended family such as cousins.  There are many occasions in the Scriptures when a cousin or nephew is called "brother," and this remains common practice in the Middle East today.  At any rate, the text tells us that even among His own extended family, Jesus is challenged to prove Himself to the world.  They have not yet understood His identity and mission. 

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.  Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?"  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."  However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.  Not openly means not with a grand, public entrance, as on the day we call Palm Sunday (John 12:12-16). 

I'm always somehow impressed by Jesus' sense of "timing," for want of a better word.  It's true, He is the master of time as Lord.  Time does not control Him.  But He knows His time and what He is to be about, and where He is going.  Jesus says to His brothers in Galilee, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.  You go up to this feast.  I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come."   Jesus sets out an important distinction here, that His life is not one that is "of this world" (John 18:36).  So He must gauge the proper time when He will "show Himself."  But let us notice how careful Jesus is in the way that He lives His life and carries out the mission that is His.  There will be no great show of Himself until the proper time, on Palm Sunday, at the time of His Messianic entrance into Jerusalem.  But in the meantime, both as devout Jew and as Son of Man, He will go to this festival, but in a way that is not "showy."  That is, He will do so as pilgrim like other Jews, although He will teach extensively in the temple, and enlightening others through His preaching by expanding on the very concepts in the commemorations that take place at the Feast of Tabernacles.   Jesus distinctly demonstrates humility in the midst of His mission as one who is "sent" into this world to reveal God, to complete a mission of Incarnation, to fulfill His place as Lord and Judge in unity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  He knows His place, He knows His time, and He is entirely and appropriately circumspect in what He is to be about.  His choosing is deliberate.  He knows that what He must preach will not be welcome to the religious leaders, and each step is taken with care.  This is a lesson that is hard for some of us to learn, and takes maturity to accept.  At least I have found it to be so in my life!  But let us remember that, above all, Jesus demonstrates what it is for us to live a prayerful life, one in communion with God.  Elsewhere He says, "If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" (John 11:9-10).  Jesus seems to always exemplify what it is to walk in the light, to know His time, what is appropriate to Him, and what is not.  His is a kind of prudence that comes not from calculation, but from faith, from seeking and living in that light.  His communion is with the Father, as He has already declared to the religious leaders.  But our communion comes from our life in prayer with Him and with God the Holy Trinity, extending to all the saints and angels and the Body of the Church.  Let us practice this careful kind of life in faith, and live to Him and His way.