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“If Anyone Thirsts, Let Him Come!”
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If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” If He knew He
was the Messiah, why this strange reserve? Why not go boldly to
Jerusalem and perform the wonderful works reported about Him
in Galilee? Do not hide in secluded provinces, they said. Present
yourself at the capital, win the support of the priests and rulers, and
establish the new kingdom.
Selfish Motives Exposed
These brothers of Jesus reasoned from the selfish motive of
people who long for attention. “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 is not yet fully come.’ When He had said these things to them,
He remained in Galilee.” His brothers had spoken to Him in a tone
of authority.
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He threw their rebuke back to them, not classing them with His
self-denying disciples but with the world. The world does not hate
those who are like it in spirit. It loves them as its own.
Christ was not to be presumptuous, not to rush into danger, not
to hurry a crisis. He knew that He was going to receive the world’s
hatred; He knew that His work would result in His death. But to
expose Himself to danger prematurely would not be the will of His
Father.
Many from all parts of the world had come to the Feast of Taber-
nacles in hopes of seeing Christ. The Pharisees and rulers looked for
Him, hoping for an opportunity to condemn Him. They anxiously
inquired, “Where is He?” but no one knew. None dared acknowl-
edge Him as the Messiah, but everywhere there was quiet, earnest
discussion concerning Him. Many defended Him as one sent from
God, while others denounced Him as a deceiver.
Meanwhile Jesus quietly arrived at Jerusalem by a less-traveled
route. If He had joined the caravans, this would have attracted public
attention to Him, and a popular demonstration would have stirred
up the authorities against Him.
In the middle of the feast, He entered the temple courtyard in the
presence of the crowds. People had been saying that He did not dare