Brothers to the End?

   The story of the past few days continues in John 7. Jesus brothers, half brothers to be sure want Him to go down to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, but He told them no.

   Why did Jesus tell his half brothers that He was not going up to Jerusalem to this feast, when, in fact He did go, just not with them? Did He say this because He knew that they wanted to bask in His fame, such as it was, but did not believe in His words. Are we like that, wanting to appear to follow Him and support His work, but just wanting people to think we are His? His brothers did not know what associating with Jesus might mean in the long run, they just wanted to look for their 15 minutes of fame. They seemed to have wanted Him to push Himself forward so that He might gain more followers, but did not realize what they would mean. They could reap some personal benefits from this close association without truly believing in what He did and said, but be prepared to back away if it did not work out as they thought it might.

   The brothers had seen the people in Galilee flocking around Jesus, some of these had become His disciples and met with Him continually, soaking up all His words. They may have been astonished when He told them that the world around them actually hated Him. All the people they saw held Jesus in high regard and, perhaps, they thought that if more people could actually see Him close up and hear the powerful, yet confusing , words that he said, he would gain more and more followers and become somebody in the whole country.

   There was a real divide between Jesus and those He grew up with. He knew the whole story, all of the forces that were arrayed against Him, even in His own land. He knew His path and the times for accomplishing His purpose, they only saw His current fame.

   Perhaps I am putting words and thoughts into His brothers, but the telling phrase in all this discourse, is the fact that they did not believe in Him, not really believe. They had heard His words and seen His miracles, but had not grasped the full intent of His mission. He was one of them, how could He be much different than they were? He was familiar, He has lived with us every day, what is there to believe?

   But I see myself in the brother's shoes a lot of the time. It is nice to be around Christian people, even be a part of the Christian church, even be a leader in this church, but not be fully committed to Him, only coming along for the ride while the going is easy and profitable for me. I can look good in a Bible Belt society that honors, to some degree, such participation, but not give up much to do this, not even really know the person I say I follow.

   Would the brothers want to stay around Jesus and reap His suffering when the way gets tough in Jerusalem, when to be know as His brothers might bring their death too? Will I?