After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles [Leviticus 23:33-44; Deuteronomy 16:13-17] was at hand. (John 7:1-2)
Remember when Jesus was born, the wise men from the east came looking for Him, and asked the Herod, the Roman leader over Israel at that time, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2) This had upset Herod, ...and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16) But ...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” (Matthew 2:13) People had been seeking to kill Him from the beginning of His life on earth.
After a period of time in Egypt, ...an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” ... But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:19-23) So, Jesus has returned to Galilee, to His hometown and to his family home. And His brothers, Joseph and Mary's children are giving Him their opinion of what He should do. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. (John 7:3-5; see Christ Childhood: The Missing Years)
Two things: 1. Jesus was not afraid to die because He acknowledged For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45); 2. Jesus had often told people, after He performed miracles for them not to tell anyone. He wasn't trying to do anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. (John 7:6-9) All the Jews were preparing to go to Jerusalem for the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice. “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: ...; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:15-17)
While all the Jews were looking forward to going to Jerusalem for the feast, Jesus was looking toward Jerusalem knowing what would happen to Him when He got there. It was about time for Jesus to be taken up into heaven. He turned toward Jerusalem and was sure that nothing would stop Him from going. He sent men on ahead of Him. They came to a town in Samaria. There they got things ready for Jesus. The people did not want Him there because they knew He was on His way to Jerusalem. James and John, His followers, saw this. They said, “Lord, do You want us to speak so fire will come down from heaven and burn them up as Elijah did?” [II Kings 1] Jesus turned and spoke sharp words to them. He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you have. The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives. He came to save them from the punishment of sin.” They went on their way to another town. (Luke 9:51-56 NLV)
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-60; Matthew 8:18-22) And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62)
Jesus is traveling towards His destination, His resurrection from the dead, but first He had to "go through" dying on the cross for our sins. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26) The cost to follow Jesus is great by the world's standards. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10:37) Once we commit our lives to God, through faith in Christ Jesus, there's no turning back, nowhere to lay our head, moving forward and let the dead bury their own dead, and no looking back.
Just as Jesus ...steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, (Luke 9:51) let us keep our focus on Him. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ... But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (I Peter 2:19-25)
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