DON’T TAKE THE BAIT

John 7:1-9
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus and His Brothers

1 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going[a] to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.

Footnotes:
[a] John 7:8 Some manuscripts read not yet going.


When the fisherman puts the bait on the hook, he carefully hides the hook. The fisherman’s intent is not to feed the fish but to catch them.

Jesus’ brothers were baiting Him. ‘If you are all you claim to be, go to Judea and show off your stuff. The crowds will be huge … that’s where you can find fame. That’s where you can get yourself on the front page … be the lead story on the evening news … get top billing in Hollywood.’ They were baiting Jesus, all the time expecting if He tried, he would crash and burn.

Jesus wouldn’t take their bait. He was about His Father’s business, not His brothers games.

You and I must not allow ourselves to be baited. The bait may be fame, riches, popularity, relationships, position or material things. In all these things (of themselves neither good or bad), Satan may have a hidden hook. If these things are for you, they will come to you, in God’s time. Jesus waited in Galilee until it was the right time to go to Judea.