Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
The feast in question is the Feast of Tabernacles. That feast continued for seven days and drew people from Palestine and other lands to Jerusalem to celebrate and give thanks for the year's harvest. At the beginning of the feast the Pharisees and rulers were looking for Jesus and asking where He was, but no one knew.
The Pharisees and rulers sought Him hoping to find grounds or an opportunity to condemn Him. They hoped to condemn Him for something He said or did. They were also watching for Him to have the authorities seize Him and stop Him from publicly reproving their sins. They were disappointed not to find Him among His relatives, because He had come secretly.
Beyond the rulers, people generally were actively looking for Jesus, and His absence had not lessened public interest, with people from many places hoping to see Him and discussion about Him widespread but quiet. Opinion about Him was divided, with some defending Him as sent by God and others accusing Him of deceiving the people, while fear of the religious authorities kept people from openly acknowledging Him as the Messiah. Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem quietly by a little-used route to avoid drawing attention and provoking the authorities, then entered the temple court in the middle of the feast while the dispute about Him was at its height. His sudden, unexpected appearance astonished the crowd and silenced their discussion, and His dignified, courageous bearing showed He was not intimidated by the powerful men who wanted Him dead.
As the One who comes to the feast and is present at sacred convocation meetings, He is to be sought at yearly gatherings by all who possibly can attend, because God requires it, and those who neglect these privileges grow weaker and weaker and have less desire to consecrate all to God. When they come, Jesus meets them and does for them what they need most to have done, giving peace and hope and a strong, clear sense of eternal things and a heart of willing obedience to yield all to Christ, which are of more value than farms and all the riches, pleasures, and glories of this world.
The feast in question is the Feast of Tabernacles. That feast continued for seven days and drew people from Palestine and other lands to Jerusalem to celebrate and give thanks for the year's harvest. At the beginning of the feast the Pharisees and rulers were looking for Jesus and asking where He was, but no one knew.
The Pharisees and rulers sought Him hoping to find grounds or an opportunity to condemn Him. They hoped to condemn Him for something He said or did. They were also watching for Him to have the authorities seize Him and stop Him from publicly reproving their sins. They were disappointed not to find Him among His relatives, because He had come secretly.
Beyond the rulers, people generally were actively looking for Jesus, and His absence had not lessened public interest, with people from many places hoping to see Him and discussion about Him widespread but quiet. Opinion about Him was divided, with some defending Him as sent by God and others accusing Him of deceiving the people, while fear of the religious authorities kept people from openly acknowledging Him as the Messiah. Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem quietly by a little-used route to avoid drawing attention and provoking the authorities, then entered the temple court in the middle of the feast while the dispute about Him was at its height. His sudden, unexpected appearance astonished the crowd and silenced their discussion, and His dignified, courageous bearing showed He was not intimidated by the powerful men who wanted Him dead.
As the One who comes to the feast and is present at sacred convocation meetings, He is to be sought at yearly gatherings by all who possibly can attend, because God requires it, and those who neglect these privileges grow weaker and weaker and have less desire to consecrate all to God. When they come, Jesus meets them and does for them what they need most to have done, giving peace and hope and a strong, clear sense of eternal things and a heart of willing obedience to yield all to Christ, which are of more value than farms and all the riches, pleasures, and glories of this world.