Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 7:11

"The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?" — John 7:11 (ASV)

Jesus did not plan to go immediately to Jerusalem; he would wait until “the right time.” His brothers may have intended to make a show of his arrival (cf. v.4), and Jesus wanted to avoid this. Therefore, his secret departure for Jerusalem was not an act of deception. It was an attempt to avoid unwelcome publicity. Jesus’ enemies were watching for him, obviously for the purpose of arresting him (cf. v.1).