NOTES for Joh 7:1-13
What is wrong, it would seem, with what Jesus' relatives suggest? They are concerned for the success of His preaching, so that He can gain new disciples in Judea. This is so natural, and therefore for those accustomed to the ordinary behavior of promoters of their own ideas, the evangelist's remark that even His brothers did not believe in Him can sound unexpected. If the brothers had spoken mockingly, that would be one thing, but they appear to have offered their advice quite seriously. In what, then, does their unbelief consist?
It is already shown in the fact that the brothers advise Christ to resemble a person who seeks to make himself known. They still find it hard to understand that He is not striving for His own glory, but seeking glory for the heavenly Father and receiving it only from Him. In addition, the advice to go and gain popularity in a situation where people already want to kill Jesus recalls how Satan tempted Him by offering Him the chance to throw Himself down...
Jesus bears witness that the works of the world are evil not only by the words of His preaching, but by His whole presence. That is why the world cannot tolerate Him, regardless of His words and signs. His presence is a silent reproach to an uneasy conscience, not because He wants to rebuke, but because beside Him it is simply impossible to remain indifferent.