The Gospel of John focuses on seven signs or miracles[1] that would prove Jesus is the Messiah, whom he claimed to be. As the writer of John builds upon each sign, he describes how they were received by those who witnessed them. Some believed, but others either misunderstood and didn’t believe or disregarded the sign and rejected him on the ground of the Mosaic Law, or more accurately how they interpreted that law. The first sign occurred in Cana, where Jesus changed water into wine, and there followed belief and unbelief. Next there was the healing of the nobleman’s son over some distance, followed by the healing of the man who was paralyzed for 38 years. The fourth sign was the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 in Bethsaida, and now we come to the fifth sign, which is the healing of the man born blind in chapter nine, but John begins this record in chapter seven with a discussion about whether or not Jesus should go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-10).
Previously, the author of the Gospel of John had recorded what Jesus had said and done during the Passover of 29 AD, when Herod was curious of Jesus’ movements, after he (Herod) had beheaded John. Now, after these things the Gospel narrator once more begins to record Jesus’ activity; this time, six months later or about the time of the Feast of Tabernacles during the same year of the Baptizer’s death (John 7:1-2). The Jewish authorities at Jerusalem had been seeking Jesus’ life for about a year (cp. John 5:16, 18). Now, after Jesus had lost much of his support in Galilee (John 6:66), Jesus’ enemies may have thought they had a better opportunity to arrest him, if he showed himself at Jerusalem during the feast (John 7:11-13).
According to the text, not even Jesus’ brethren believed in him (John 7:5), but on the face (John 7:3-4) they seem to be advising him what to do, and seem to want him to be successful. So, what does John really mean? Notice what Jesus’ brethren tell him:
“Why don’t you leave the countryside villages and go to Judea where the crowds are, so that your followers can see your miracles? No one can see what you’re doing here in the backwoods of Galilee. How do you expect to be successful and famous if you do all these things in secret? Now is your time—go to Jerusalem, come out of hiding, and show the world who you are!” (John 7:3-4 — TPT).
How could John say: “For neither did his brethren believe in him!” (John 7:5 – KJV). It wasn’t that his brethren didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, it was that they didn’t believe in Jesus’ concept of who the Messiah actually is. The, then, popular concept of the Messiah was one that the Messiah never dies (John 12:34), but Jesus spoke of his death (John 12:32-33). Jesus’ brethren spoke of a Messiah, whose success depended upon fame and political support (John 7:4), but Jesus spoke of his Kingdom, as one that couldn’t even be seen, unless one were born again of the spirit (John 3:3). Jesus’ brethren spoke of a Messiah who needed to be among great crowds of people in order to arose the interest of many folks through his mighty miracles. Yet, Jesus claimed no man could believe him and become his disciple, unless the Father drew him (John 6:37-38, 44). In other words, the following of Jesus, whether large or small, is completely dependent upon the Father who draws them. Jesus is not a political opportunist, who is dependent upon popular support. It is this concept that Jesus’ brethren missed. They embraced the popular idea that the Messiah must receive his authority from the people (cp. John 6:14-15), who could later withdraw that support (John 6:66), and presumably his right or authority as their king. It is because they were spiritually blind and embraced this concept of messiah, that John had to say: “For neither did his brethren believe in him!” (John 7:5 – KJV).
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[1] According to all four Gospel narratives, Jesus did more than seven miracles, but John focuses on seven public miracles. He mentions two other ones but they were witnessed only by his disciples. The first of these was where he walked on water (John 6:16-21), and the second, when he filled their net with fish (John 21:3-8). These two would account for a total of nine miracles found in his account.
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