As the sons of Joseph made preparation to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, they saw that Christ made no movement signifying His intention of attending. They watched Him with anxiety. Since the healing at Bethesda He had not attended the national gatherings. To avoid useless conflict with the leaders at Jerusalem, He had restricted His labors to Galilee. His apparent neglect of the great religious assemblies, and the enmity manifested toward Him by the priests and rabbis, were a cause of perplexity to the people about Him, and even to His own disciples and His kindred. In His teachings He had dwelt upon the blessings of obedience to the law of God, and yet He Himself seemed to be indifferent to the service which had been divinely established. His mingling with publicans and others of ill repute, His disregard of the rabbinical observances, and the freedom with which He set aside the traditional requirements concerning the Sabbath, all seeming to place Him in antagonism to the religious authorities, excited much questioning. His brothers thought it a mistake for Him to alienate the great and learned men of the nation. They felt that these men must be in the right, and that Jesus was at fault in placing Himself in antagonism to them. But they had witnessed His blameless life, and though they did not rank themselves with His disciples, they had been deeply impressed by His works. His popularity in Galilee was gratifying to their ambition; they still hoped that He would give an evidence of His power which would lead the Pharisees to see that He was what He claimed to be. What if He were the Messiah, the Prince of Israel! They cherished this thought with proud satisfaction.

Hans samkvem med toldere og andre ilde berygtede mennesker, hans manglende ærbødighed for rabbinernes forskrifter, og den dristighed, hvormed han tilsidesatte de traditionelle krav med hensyn til sabbatten, syntes alt sammen at bringe ham i modstrid med den gejstlige øvrighed og vakte megen undren. Hans brødre mente, at det var en fejl af ham at skabe fjendskab med landets store og lærde mænd. De mente, at disse mænd måtte være i deres gode ret, og at Jesus begik en fejl ved at være i modstrid med dem. Men de havde været vidne til hans pletfri liv, og skønt de ikke regnede sig selv for at høre til blandt hans disciple, så havde hans gerninger gjort dybt indtryk på dem. Det tilfredsstillede deres ærgerrighed, at han var så elsket i Galilæa. De håbede stadig på, at han ville give et bevis på sin magt, som kunne få farisæerne til at indse, at han var den, som han hævdede at være. Tænk, om han virkelig var Messias, Israels konge! Med stolt tilfredshed hægede de om denne tanke.