After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. [John 7.1-9]
Doesn't it seem odd that Jesus' brothers would say, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” if, in fact, they did not believe in Him?
And yet we are told they said this because they didn't believe in Him.
We are witnesses here of a most profound picture of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus. Sadly though, most, if not all of us don't really see it at all...
Believing in Jesus is NOT watching Him in His preaching, teaching and doing miracles.
Believing in Jesus is mirroring Him in our preaching, teaching and doing miracles!
The context of the passage above confirms this: Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime.
How many times, in a time of need, have we heard a believer in Christ say, "I wish Jesus was here!"?
What Jesus taught His brothers in John 7.1-9 is the same as He is teaching us yet today. And that is, that if a believer in Christ is present, then Christ Himself is present!
When Jesus' brothers suggested He go to Judea to reveal Himself in all His power, Jesus turned it back on them and told THEM to go reveal Him in all His power! Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. To go for what??? The context of the conversation is clear: so the people could "see Your miracles" - His power!
Jesus consistently and repeatedly told His followers they would and should mirror His life on earth:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” [Matthew 16.19]
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [John 15.16]
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18]
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]
In fact, Jesus declared this "mirroring" as a practice He Himself utilized in succession to the subject passage above:
So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. [John 7.16-18]
Jesus was assertive and quite compelling in this fact elsewhere too:
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. [John 5.19]
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. [John 8.28]
No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” [John 10.18]
I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. [John 12.49]
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. [John 14.23-24]
So, when Jesus told His followers to "do what He was doing," He was only passing along what He was successfully practicing Himself.
If we are Jesus' followers, we WILL unapologetically say and do what Jesus said and did. To argue otherwise is a ludicrous denial of Jesus' teaching.
Father, thank You for Jesus. Forgive me for not taking Jesus seriously by not mirroring Him with my life. I know it is not a matter of my "willing" it to be so, but entirely a matter of "giving up my will" so that He might "do Himself" through me. Jesus showed me what this looks like in both living and dying. May all who see me see Jesus... So be it.
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