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.

Da Josefs sønner gjorde forberedelser til at overvære løvhyttefesten, lagde de mærke til, at Kristus ikke foretog sig noget, der tydede på, at han havde til hensigt at gøre det samme. De så ængsteligt på ham. Siden helbredelsen ved Betesda dam havde han ikke været til stede ved nogen af folkets sammenkomster. For at undgå unødig strid med de ledende mænd i Jerusalem havde han indskrænket sit virkefelt til Galilæa. Hans tilsyneladende ligegyldighed for de store, religiøse festdage og det fjendskab, som præsterne og de skriftkloge udviste imod ham, forårsagede forvirring blandt folk omkring ham, ja, selv blandt hans egne disciple og hans familie. I sin lære havde han lagt vægt på lydighed mod Guds lav, men alligevel syntes han selv med ligegyldighed at betragte den tjeneste,som var indstiftet af Gud.