Why did Jesus tell His brothers, "My time is not yet come"?

When Jesus said, “My time is not yet come,” He meant that the moment chosen by God for Him to act openly and move toward His death had not arrived. His brothers wanted Him to go up to the feast to gain public attention, but they were thinking in a worldly way. Jesus moved according to His Father’s plan, not human pressure. Their “time” was always ready because they were not in danger for speaking or acting, but His steps were tied to God’s saving plan. This teaches patience and trust in God’s timing.

Why did Jesus first refuse to go to the feast and then go later?

Jesus did not refuse the feast itself. He refused to go in the way and at the time His brothers suggested. They pushed Him to go openly, as if He should put on a show. He waited until they had gone and then went up quietly, without public display. This protected Him from those seeking to kill Him and kept Him in line with His Father’s will. His delay shows that He would not be driven by pride, fear, or family pressure, but only by God’s purpose.

What does Jesus mean by "judge not according to the appearance"?

When Jesus says, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment,” He is warning them not to make shallow or unfair judgments. They were angry that He healed a man on the Sabbath, yet they themselves would circumcise a child on the Sabbath to keep the law. They judged Him by outward rules and by where He was from, not by the goodness of His works or the truth of His teaching. Righteous judgment looks at the whole matter, in line with God’s will, not just what seems right on the surface.

What does "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" mean?

When Jesus cries, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink,” He is speaking to people who feel their emptiness and need before God. Thirst here is not about water, but about a dry heart that needs forgiveness, life, and closeness to God. To come and drink is to trust in Him, to believe His words, and receive from Him what the soul lacks. The passage explains that He is talking about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believe in Him would later receive after He was glorified.

What are the "rivers of living water" flowing from the believer?

Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will have “rivers of living water” flowing from within. The text explains that He is speaking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to believers after Jesus was glorified. This picture of flowing water means that the Spirit does not only satisfy the believer’s own thirst, but also works through that person to bless others. A person who trusts in Jesus becomes like a spring, not a dry pool, because the Spirit brings life, strength, and grace that cannot be kept in but spreads outward.

Why were people so divided about who Jesus was at the feast?

At the feast some said Jesus was a good man, others said He deceived the people, some called Him the Prophet, others said He was the Christ, and some doubted because He came from Galilee. The leaders were hostile, many were afraid to speak openly, and others only looked at human ideas about where the Christ should come from. They did not see or did not want to see how His words, works, and life matched God’s promises. The division shows how the same truth can draw some to faith and stir others to anger.

Why did the temple officers say, "Never man spake like this man"?

The chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus. But when they heard Him teach, they returned empty-handed and said, “Never man spake like this man.” His words carried a weight, wisdom, and authority that they had never heard before. He spoke plainly about God, exposed sin, invited the thirsty, and did this without seeking His own glory. His teaching reached their hearts in a way the leaders’ harsh commands did not. They could not bring themselves to seize the One whose words had so deeply affected them.

Who is Nicodemus in this passage and what does he say?

Nicodemus is a ruler of the Jews who had earlier gone to Jesus by night. In this passage he speaks up when the Pharisees and chief priests are angry that the officers did not bring Jesus. He does not boldly confess Jesus, but he does appeal to fairness, asking, “Does our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” He reminds them that even their own law requires hearing a person before condemning him. Though they mock him, his words show a small but real step toward justice and truth.

What does this passage show about the world’s hatred of Jesus?

Jesus says, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” The world here means people who remain in unbelief and love their sin. They were comfortable with empty religion and outward show, but Jesus exposed their hearts and their failure to keep God’s law. That is why the leaders wanted to kill Him and why many feared to speak about Him. The passage shows that faithful witness often meets with hatred, not because of harshness, but because truth uncovers what people want to hide.

John.7.1

John 7:1

King James Version (KJV)

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

Chapter:

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

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.

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

6 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.

8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Is Jesus the Christ?

25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?

26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.

34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.

35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?

Living Water

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Division over Jesus

40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

53 And every man went unto his own house.

Context:

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

Cross References

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