John 7:1–13

John 7:1-13 - Daily Devotion - 11 April 2026 St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park 1 After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him. 2 However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. 3 So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. 4 For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.6 Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. 8 Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”9 Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee. 10 But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.11 So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”12 Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.”But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”13 Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.REFLECTIONSWritten by Tina BoggOne thing that stood out for me when I read this passage is how divided the opinions about Jesus were. This passage starts with Jesus avoiding Judea because the Jewish leaders were looking for a way to kill him, while his brothers were asking him to publicly show himself, and then in verse 12, it says that among the crowds there were mixed opinions, with some believing he was a good man and others thinking he deceived the people. One man, yet so many different beliefs about him and his ministry. In many ways, I guess it is similar in this day and age, when people have lots of different opinions about Jesus: a good teacher, a historical figure, a prophet, or the Son of God. This week I had an interesting chat with someone who only wanted their kids to hear the ‘gentle’ teachings at church – nothing about hell or death, just the good morals and being kind to one another. Jesus and all his teachings have to be taken together, which is why there were – and still are – such divided opinions about him. Without his teaching about sin, why would we need forgiveness? Without his teaching about death and hell, why would we need to be saved?My reflection is to thank God that Jesus didn't hide the truth from us, even when it meant he would be hated, because without all of Jesus’ truth, the good news wouldn't be nearly as good. Be encouraged and pray that God will give you the courage not to hide parts of Jesus' teaching that aren't easy to hear, even if it means you're hated or looked on differently. And if you are treated that way, ask God to help you know and trust that he will use it for his good plan. ABOUT THE AUTHORTina is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.