It is
important to note the distinction mentioned here is NOT between Christian
and Jew, but between Galilean and Judean. So, the “Jews” that are
mentioned here are people from the region of Judea, and not those who
simply had “Jewish beliefs.”
2 Now
the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
Again this
is a regional distinction. The area of Samaria lies between Galilee and
Judea. The Samaritans also kept the Feast of Tabernacles. However, having adopted the practices of the northern kingdom of Israel, their
feast was often a month later, as it is to this day.
11 Then
the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he’?
12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some
said, He is a good man: others said, No; but he deceives the people.
13 Howbeit no man spoke openly of him
for fear of the Jews.
Again, it
is important to realize that these visitors to Jerusalem were religiously
Jewish. They had traveled to Jerusalem in accordance to the command in
Deuteronomy 16.
Deuteronomy 16:16
16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God
in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and
in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
They were
also nationally Jewish. They were descendents from those who returned from
the exile in Babylon. In addition, many of them were from the tribe of
Judah. The “fear,” however, was of certain people who lived in the region
of Judea.