These events happened about six months or so before the events of Easter at Passover. It is now the feast of Tabernacles. Jesus had been staying in Galilee, avoiding Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him. This was not out of cowardice, but because the time was not yet right. Later on we see how Jesus resolutely went to Jerusalem and to the cross when the time was right. There are several lessons we can learn from this:
- There is a time to avoid confrontation and a time to face it. We have already seen this, and will do so again. There are times when a contentious issue arises and far from backing down Jesus makes the point of confrontation even sharper. And as we have already noted, when the time was right He went resolutely to the cross. But we see here that Jesus did not seek confrontation or trouble for the sake of it. We see the same pattern in Paul’s life and it is something we should emulate as well. We need to exercise wisdom.
- Things that seem bad are not always bad. The Jewish leaders being out to kill Jesus seems like God is not in control, but as we know the precise opposite was the case. So when we see intrigue and conspiracy around us we should not fear. The words of God to Isaiah (Is 8:12,13) are well worth remembering.
- The Jewish leaders were deliberately planning to kill Jesus, the One who could truly save them. Men will plot evil against God, but the plans of evil men will not succeed.
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