Going Up Unto the Feast - John 7:10

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His brothers, “Go you up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee”, and in chapter seven and verse ten of his book, John shared, “when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast” where we read:

But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast,

not openly, but as it were in secret.

The verse reads, “But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, ...” John began with the words, “but when his brethren” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment Jesus' brothers” “were gone up” which means “ascended and went forth toward Judaea”, “then went he also up” or “at that time Jesus even so and indeed left and departed” “unto the feast” which means “to the festival in Judaea”. John shared how Jesus waited until His brothers were already gone to the “feast” before He departed to Judaea.

The verse continues, “... not openly, but as it were in secret.” John added the words, “not openly” which means “in no way or manner plainly, clearly or manifestly”, “but as it were in secret” or “nevertheless and notwithstanding like it was concealed, clandestine or hidden”. John shared how Jesus did not go to the “feast” in a “plain and open” way, but rather went in a concealed manner.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus did not want to draw attention to Himself as He entered the “feast” area. Though His brothers went “openly”, He did not. This is all part of God's plan for the “salvation” of mankind, and because it was not His timing at this point, Jesus did not make Himself known. God has a plan for each person's life, and when they yield to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will lead them both “openly” and “secretly” to fulfilled His purpose and plan for their lives. Let all who read these words submit to Jesus and allow Him to lead.

Next time John shares how, “the Jews sought him at the feast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".