John 7:6

Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. THEN JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, MY TIME - for showing Myself to the world - "is not yet come: but your time is alway ready....

6._My time is not yet come. _There are some who erroneously interpret this as referring to the _time _of his death, for it denotes the _time _of his setting out on the journey to go to the feast. (181) He assures them that, in this respect, he differs from his relations. They may freely and without danger appear, at all hours, before the world, because the world is friendly and favorable to them; but he is in dread of his person, and justly, because the world is his mortal enemy. By these words he means that they do wrong in giving advice on a matter which they do not understand....

1-13 The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favoured him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the preachers of the gospel to be deceivers, speak out, while many who favour them, fear to get reproach by avowing regard for them....

Verse John 7:6. _MY TIME IS NOT YET COME_] It is probable our Lord meant no more than this, that _he_ had some business to transact before he could go to Jerusalem; but his brethren, having nothing to hinder _them_ might set off immediately. Others think he speaks of his passion: My time of suffering is not yet come: as _ye_ are still in friendship with the world, ye need not be under any apprehension of danger: ye may go when ye please. The first sense I think is the best....

MY TIME ... - The proper time for my going up to the feast. We know not why it was not yet a proper time for him to go. It might be because if he went then, in their company, while multitudes were going, it would have too much the appearance of parade and ostentation; it might excite too much notice, and be more likely to expose him to the envy and opposition of the rulers. YOUR TIME ... - It makes no difference to you when you go up. Your going will excite no tumult or opposition; it will not attract attention, and will not endanger your lives. Jesus therefore chose to go up more privately, and to remain until the multitude had gone. They commonly traveled to those feasts in large companies, made up of most of the families in the neighborhood. See the notes at Luke 2:44....

EXPOSITION Ch. 7-10. contain the record of the conflict between faith and unbelief in the metropolis. At first the narrative indicates a vast amount of critical inquiry, of unsettled opinion, of angry disappointment and a certain readiness to be convinced on the part of one section or another. The secrecy of the Galilean village is contrasted with the broad arena of the temple courts. "The Jews," or leaders of opinion and authority in Judaea and Jerusalem, who were hostile, are seen in contrast with "the Jews who believed on him" (John 8:31). There are multitudes and multitudes (John 10:12, John 10:30, John 10:31), priests and Pharisees ...

THEN JESUS SAID UNTO THEM,.... In answer to their solicitations and arguments used with him, to go up to the feast: MY TIME IS NOT YET COME; meaning, not the time of his death, or of his exaltation and glorification, or of the showing of himself forth unto the world; though all this was true; but of his going up to this feast; as appears from John 7:8; BUT YOUR TIME IS ALWAYS READY; intimating, they might go at any time; their lives were not in any danger, as his was, and had nothing to consult about the preservation of them; it was all one to them when they went up, whether before the feast, that they might be ready for it, or at the beginning, middle, or end of it, as to any notice that would be taken of them, unless they should be guilty of an omission of their duty; but not on any other account; which was not his case....

John 7:1. _After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him._ It is a very painful truth, that those who were the near relations of the Saviour were not believers in his divine mission; at any rate, at first. He was truly a prophet who was without honour in his own country, and among his own kindred; and, on this occasion, they half taunted him concerning his claims. In effect, they said to him, «If indeed you are a prophet, get out into the world, and prove it....

CHAPTER 7 _ 1. My Time is not Yet Come. (John 7:1 .)_ 2. Departure from Galilee; Sought by the Jews. (John 7:10 .) 3. In the Temple Teaching. (John 7:14 .) 4. Opposition to Him. (John 7:30 .) 5. The Indwelling Spirit Promised. (John 7:37 .) 6. The Division Among the People Because of Him. (John 7:40 .) 7. The Returning Officers and the Defense of Nicodemus. (John 7:45 .)

JOHN 7. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. John 7:1. The Remonstrance of the Brethren. This incident is often now used to support the view that in the original draft of the gospel no visit to Jerusalem before this was recorded. Excision and rearrangement can, of course, accomplish anything, but a more natural history of the ministry can be written on the lines of the gospel as it stands. The connexion of this chapter with John 7:5 has been mentioned. John 7:1 is the natural sequel of work in Jerusalem or Judæ a. The Lord's brethren share the unfavourable judgment, if not the disillusionment, of the crowd. If He has any claims to be Messiah they must be decided at the capital, not by hiding in Galilee. Jesus, knowing the rulers-' attitude from recent exp