In John 7:1-2 the word “walked” is the same as recorded in 6:66 where we were told concerning the followers of Jesus that they, “went back and walked with Him no more”. In other words there were those who found His words too hard to accept and chose not to walk with Him but He continued to walk after them. It was during this six month season that Jesus went up to Caesarea Philippi near Mount Hermon where we have recorded (Matt. 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30 and Luke 9:18-21) Peter’s 2nd confession “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” and now He has returned to Galilee.
Hey friends I find it quite reassuring that though I may come to a place where following Him seems too difficult for me so much so that for a time I turn back and choose to not walk with Him. But note this my hurting friend, Jesus hangs around the area waiting for our hearts to change towards Him. There are times we may give up on Jesus for a season but He has not given up on us. Notice as well that we are told in verse 2 that Jesus stayed away from the followers in Judea for over a year and a half as they sought to kill Him. A continued hard heart towards Him will keep His love away from you, but what a tragedy.
The timing of these events are of further interest as we are told that it took place around the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles, which is in October,and in chapter 6:4 we were told that at the start of that chapter that it was around April so around 6 months has passed. The “Feast of Tabernacles” looked back to Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness and at the same time forward to the time when the Messiah would come and “dwell among” them as John spoke of in 1:14.
The nation camped out in their tents and celebrated the fact that for 40 years God camped out, “tabernacled among” them, and there in their midst was the very One in whom John spoke of in 1:14 who was doing what they were celebrating. Hey friends, could it be that right now during your wanderings that our Lord has His tent right next to yours protecting you, providing for you even though you have wandered from Him? Won’t you open the flap of your heart and peer out into the haze of your life and see Him at the door of your heart?
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