John 7:10
But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for festivals typically journeyed in large groups for safety and fellowship. Jesus's solitary or small-group travel avoided attention. His mid-feast arrival (verse 14) rather than opening-day presence further controlled exposure. This parallels His earlier pattern of avoiding premature publicity—commanding healed persons and disciples not to reveal His identity until the proper time (Mark 1:44, 3:12, 8:30). First-century Jewish festivals were massive gatherings—Josephus estimates up to 2.5 million people at Passover. Tabernacles, though smaller, still drew enormous crowds. Jesus's quiet entrance demonstrates strategic wisdom. The early church learned similar principles—Paul occasionally traveled secretly to avoid opposition (2 Corinthians 11:32-33), and persecuted believers met secretly. Faithfulness sometimes requires discretion.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we distinguish between faithful discretion and faithless hiding or shame?
- When is it appropriate to avoid publicity in ministry or witness?
- What does Jesus's strategic approach teach about wisdom in hostile environments?
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Analysis & Commentary
But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. The conjunction 'but' (de) signals contrast—while refusing public journey with the brothers, Jesus does attend the feast. 'When his brethren were gone up' (hōs de anebēsan hoi adelphoi autou) indicates their departure. 'Then went he also' (tote kai autos anebē) shows Jesus attending according to His own timing. The negative 'not openly' (ou phanerōs) contrasts with the brothers' advice (verse 4: 'show thyself to the world'). The qualifying phrase 'as it were in secret' (hōs en kruptō) doesn't mean Jesus hid, but He traveled quietly without public fanfare. This demonstrates wisdom—entering Jerusalem openly would provoke premature arrest or mob attention. Jesus controls the revelation's timing and manner. Reformed theology emphasizes that God's methods often contradict human wisdom—He works through hiddenness and weakness rather than worldly power displays.