So, his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” John 7:3-4
These brothers, who do not believe, tell Jesus what He should be doing. Remember, a vast crowd has walked away from Jesus, but the brothers know how He can do better, so they offer Him some advice.
The suggested location
His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing” (7:3). All of the events in John 6 have been in rural Galilee. The brothers say, “You’ve lost the crowd here, but don’t worry. This is the wrong place and these are the wrong people. You don’t build a successful movement in a rural area. You need to go where the movers and shakers are. Move to Judea, and especially to the great city of Jerusalem.”
The suggested objective
The brothers go on to say, “For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly” (7:4). They assume Jesus wants to be known. In other words, “You want to be known. You want a following. If you want to make your mark, Galilee is not the place and teaching is not the way.”
The suggested strategy
The brothers end with a comment about strategy: “If you do these things, show yourself to the world” (7:4). “These things” is a reference to the miracles. “Jesus, here’s what you need to do—more miracles, less teaching. When you multiply loaves and fish, people follow you. When you give these long sermons, they leave you. More miracles is the way to go.”
In today’s terms it would be: Go and show what you can do to the culture shapers in Hollywood, the business movers and shakers in New York, and the political establishment in Washington. Win them and you win the world! Go show yourself to the world.
Have you ever felt misunderstood by family or friends?
