John Chapter 7, Verse 4
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4: ουδεις γαρ εν κρυπτω τι ποιει και ζητει αυτος εν παρρησια ειναι ει ταυτα ποιεις φανερωσον σεαυτον τω κοσμω
4: For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he
himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things,
shew thyself to the world.
4: For there is no man that doth any thing in secret, and he himself
seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, manifest thyself to
the world.
For there is no man, &c. The brethren of Jesus supposed that he was influenced as others are. As it is a common thing among men to seek popularity, so they supposed that he would also seek it; and as a great multitude would be assembled at Jerusalem at this feast, they supposed it would be a favourable time to make himself known. What follows shows that this was said, probably, not in sincerity, but in derision; and to the other sufferings of Jesus was to be added, what is so common to Christians, derision from his relatives and friends on account of his pretensions. If Jesus was derided, we also may expect to be by our relatives; and, having his example, we should be content to bear it.
If thou do, &c. It appears from this that they did not really believe that he wrought miracles; or, if they did believe it, they did not suppose that he was the Christ. Yet it seems hardly credible that they could suppose that his miracles were real, and yet not admit that he was the Messiah. Besides, there is no evidence that these relatives had been present at any of his miracles, and all that they knew of them might have been from report. See Barnes "Mk 3:21".
