JOH 7:6-7 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

>>As our Saviour brought forth the blessed testimony of His self-sacrifice saying, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" JOH 6:53, we read in JOH 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

>>The chapter before us begins saying, JOH 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

>>Not only the Jews who sought to kill Him, but His Galilean disciples had forsaken Jesus after all the miracles they had seen, and the gracious teachings they had heard.

JOH 6:67-69 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

>>We need to learn a good lesson from Jesus' example here; by His actions He teaches us not to tempt the Lord by exposing ourselves to unnecessary danger, "...he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him," V:1.

>>Our Saviour's actions therein teach us that we must use every precaution of self-preservation that we may be able to live for God's glory.

1CO 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

JOH 7:2 says, "Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." Our Saviour, though acting prudent, would not violate His Father's command in LEV 23 to attend The Feast of tabernacles regardless of cost, but He would act prudent, and go at the appointed time.

>>As we hold to the context of "after these things," i.e., after the Jews had sought to kill Jesus, and His Galilean disciples had forsaken Jesus and His teachings—we must pay special notice to the connecting word "therefore," and the word "also" in

JOH 7:3 His brethren therefore [i.e., recalling the former events] said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

>>This so clearly reveals that these "brethren," (who were Jesus brothers after the flesh), were totally void of any spiritual discernment—using only their carnal reasoning.

JOH 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

>>This word "also" in V:4 clearly indicates that these unbelieving "brethren" were insulted at the disgrace their Brother had just experienced; they offered their advice to go to Jerusalem—the capital city—to impress them with His wonder working power.

>>They thought of the multitudes there would be at this feast of tabernacles—and what an opportunity for Jesus to display the wonders of His miracle working power.

JOH 7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

>>These unbelieving brethren were challenging Jesus; in effect what they were saying to Him—If these works, miracles, and teachings are genuine, why confine them to these small villages—

>>Their human rational was that Jesus should go up to Jerusalem during this important Feast of Tabernacles, there He should display His powers—They being His closest relatives, really hoped they would share in His honour if He actually was to become such a mighty King!

>>See how their words betrayed the spiritual blindness of their hearts, "If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world," V:4.

>>Jesus' brethren believed not on Him, i.e., they were men of the world—they adopted its ways, spoke its language, and employed its logic.

>>The argument of Jesus' brethren, "shew thyself to the world," meant, come with us to Jerusalem—perform some startling miracle before the great crowds there—this would not only gain the center of attraction, but prove that He was the promised Messiah.

>>See how the unregenerate nature of their heart revealed itself.

1JO 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

>>What do we see in modern day evangelism? Crowds are drawn by parading the name and\or picture of some powerful preacher—What is this besides the present day expression, "shew thyself to the world."

>>Holy and perfect as Christ was, faultless and flawless as His character and conduct was, yet of those who were born of the same womb, brought up in the same home we read

JOH 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

>>How awesome!!! This brings out the same truth Jesus spoke unto the unbelieving Jews in

JOH 6:65 Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

>>The unbelief of Jesus own brethren after the flesh was prophesied in

PSA 69:8-9 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

>>Our text says in JOH 7:6, "Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready."

>>This expression, "My time is not yet come," must be held in context! His brethren had said, "...shew thyself to the world."

>>The Father's time for Jesus to do this was "not yet come," This was not the Father's time for His Son to vindicate His Name!!! His humiliation was to come before His honour,

PRO 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

>>Our Saviour never denied that there was coming a time in which He would publicly reveal the power, majesty, and glory which He was to receive as His reward for His humble obedience unto death.

MAT 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

>>When it is the Father's time to glorify His Son for Such perfect obedience—what shall the effect be upon those who believed not in Him?

REV 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

>>Oh how solemn will be the day when Jesus comes in His glory— and calls for those who "believed not upon Him" i.e., those who would not bow under His authority in this life, to come and give account!

LUK 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

>>How little did these unbelieving brethren understand our Saviour's answer, "My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready."

>>An open manifestation of our Saviour's glory—before the cross—would have left the world in their sin! There would not have been an atonement!

>>We must be most thankful that our God does not always grant everything we ask—which He denies in His wisdom.

ROM 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

>>This temptation of Jesus' brethren to take a shortcut to receive His kingdom—bypassing the way of the cross—was not the first time it was presented to Jesus.

MAT 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

>>Satan's attempt to use our nearest of kin to tempt us is not new—see what we read in

JOB 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

>>Instead of attempting to attract the attention to His power and glory to convince the world—Jesus cautioned those of His inner circle not to tell what they had witnessed of His glory until after His resurrection.

MAR 9:2-4 and 9 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

MAR 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

>>In His humble life upon earth our Saviour left us such a blessed example—

PHI 2:6-7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

>>Jesus told His brethren, "My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready." They were willing and ready to win the applause of men—and make themselves popular with the world—this is why Jesus said, "The world cannot hate you," V:7.

>>Our text says, V:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

>>Jesus said in V:6, "My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready," i.e., your time to court the smile of the world is always at hand—Therefore, Jesus said, The world cannot hate those of you who court its smile.

>>Oh how awesome the reason is for this!

JOH 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

>>Contrariwise, the world did hate Christ! But why? "Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil."

>>The holiness of Jesus' life testified "of" the world (not against it), that its works were evil.

>>When we feed upon that broken body, and that shed blood of Christ, i.e., that unleavened bread of sincerity and truth—not the leaven of malice and hypocrisy, the world can see "Christ in you, the hope of glory," COL 1:27.

MAT 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

>>Which are those good works which are so contrary to our fallen nature?

LUK 6:27-28 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

>>These labors of love do so condemn those who love the world that they will persecute you for such a Spirit of Christ.

LUK 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

>>See how contrary the law of love is to the law of nature.

LUK 6:24-26 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

>>Teachings of this kind whether by words, actions, or both throw light upon the wrong attitudes of the world and condemns them.

JOH 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

>>Much of our modern day teachings are but the modern symptoms of an ancient disease—The fault is not in the truth of God's Word, but in human nature.

>>When the sun shines on a swamp it brings forth malaria: the fault is not in the sun, but in the soil—Those very same rays call forth health and growth from the fertile ground.

>>So it is with the truth of God's Word—It yields spiritual fruit from the believing heart—but from the carnal mind it only evokes endless criticism and blasphemy. Our text says,

JOH 7:6-7 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.