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1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

 

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee;

About six months passed between the events of chapters 6 and 7. Jesus spent this time in Galilee in public ministry and discipling His followers. The synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) delineate the activities of Jesus during this time while John does not.

for He did not want to walk in Judea,

Ministry in Judea at this time would not have been profitable for Jesus because He had too many enemies there. Jerusalem was the storm center regarding Jesus. Galilee and Judea were two different political jurisdictions. It was safer and circumspect for Jesus to minister in Galilee for this reason. For Jesus to walk openly in Judea would have been very dangerous for Him.

because the Jews sought [were keeping on seeking] to kill Him.

The Jews were actively seeking to kill Jesus in Jerusalem and Judea. This verse foreshadows the coming hostility to Jesus. He lived on borrowed time. He could no longer move openly without putting Himself in danger.

PRINCIPLE:

Timing in ministry is important.

APPLICATION:

Sometimes pastors launch or change ministry without regard to timing. It is important for a congregation to be contextualized about the need for the change. Until the congregation comes to that point, it is dangerous to change ministries because the pastor will not have his congregation with him for the change. His people may not want to kill him but they may revolt at his leadership!

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