John 7:3-5

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.

John 7:3-5

The Feast of Tabernacles was going on in Judea and there were thousands of people there, and Jesus decided to hold off a little.  But His brothers encouraged Him to go up there anyway. Jesus was getting advice from His worldly brothers.  You see at this point, Jesus’ brothers didn’t realize who He was. It is hard to imagine that!   In fact, we are told in verse 5 that even His brothers did not believe in Him. 

When they were kids and all went swimming, Jesus probably skipped along the water top.  Didn’t they notice?   Well, maybe not.  But when they were little kids and they were all running around and Jesus was there holding deep spiritual conversations with the rabbis, didn’t they notice that?   

This should be a reminder for us to not get too discouraged when our family members don’t see the work that God has truly done in our lives.  That we are different!   Jesus’s brother eventually believed and became leaders in the early church.  We see Mary (Jesus’s mother) and His brother all there, in the upper room in Acts 1:14.  So let’s keep praying for those in our family who don’t know Him.  

Praying for the family daily,

Pastor Rich Kikuchi