John 7:10-13

VARING IDEAS OF THE MULTITUDES

Text 7:10-13

10

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

11

The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he

12

And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him: some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray.

13

Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Queries

a.

Why did Jesus go up to the feast in secret?

b.

What is the significance of the varying opinions concerning Him?

Paraphrase

But after His brothers had gone up to the feast in Jerusalem, then Jesus went up to Jerusalem and the feast also, but Jesus traveled in secret and not openly with the crowds going to the city. Consequently, the Jewish rulers kept searching for him at the feast, asking, Where is that fellow? There was much whispering and guarded murmuring among the multitudes of people concerning Him: some whispered, He is a good man, while others said, No, He is not good for He deceives and misleads the people. But none of the people dared speak with boldness their convictions concerning Him on account of their fear of the Jewish rulers.

Comment

It should be plain from John 5:18; John 7:25 the reason for Jesus-' secrecy. The Jewish rulers were constantly dispatching officers to search Him out to arrest Him. Therefore, He waited until His brothers had departed and then, beckoning His twelve disciples to follow, He took a road through Samaria that would not be traveled by Jews on their way to the feast. Luke 9:51 ff. informs us that Jesus went through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem at this particular time. It also shows the hostility of the Samaritans toward the Jewish worshippers. Jesus and His disciples could travel here without being discovered by the Jewish rulers. He probably did not let anyone know of His departure from Galilee or His arrival in Jerusalem. The word secret is krupto in the Greek and our English word crypt is derived from ithence cryptograph means secret writing.

We will soon find Jesus teaching publicly and boldly in the Temple at the feast. Why does He not remain incognito? It is relatively safe for Him to reveal His identity as He is surrounded by the great throngs of well-wishers, for some believe Him to be a prophet. The rulers of the Jews are themselves afraid of being stoned should they harm Jesus in public.
The sullen contempt of the rulers is brought out vividly in the Greek as it reads literally, Where is that one? They will not so much as do Him the honor of mentioning His name. The imperfect tense of asking indicates that these rulers were continually questioning the multitudes as to His whereabouts, They seemed to have been expecting Him.

The hundreds of thousands of worshippers were also on the tiptoes of expectancy concerning the man of Galilee. They were probably gathering in small groups whispering their opinions and discussing Him and His teachings and works.

Some were whispering that they thought Him to be a good man. He had healed lepers, made the lame to walk and had even raised the dead in Nain; He had just miraculously fed multitudes in Galilee, Others, however, murmured that He was a false prophet and was leading the people astray. They could remember Theudas and Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:36-37) and other false Christs who deceived the people and brought Roman retaliation and punishment upon the whole Jewish nation.

Whatever their attitude, not one of the multitude was willing to declare openly and boldly just what he thought of Jesus. It is plain from the text that their secrecy was due to fear. Everyone preferred to remain in the good graces of the hierarchy. To say the wrong thing would mean excommunication from the synagogue which would in turn ostracize one from all other social contacts. Barnes has a comment worthy of repetition here: There are always many such friends of Jesus in the world who are desirous of saying something good about Him, but who, from fear or shame, refuse to make a full acknowledgment of Him. Many will praise His morals, His precepts, and His holy life, while they are ashamed to speak of His divinity or His atonement, and still more to acknowledge that they are dependent upon Him for salvation.

Quiz

1.

What route did Jesus take on His way up to the feast?

2.

Why would He be relatively safe from discovery on this route?

3.

How could Jesus drop His secrecy and teach publicly in the midst of the feast?

4.

Why would some of the multitude say that Jesus was leading people astray?

5.

What kept the people from speaking openly and boldly of Jesus?