John 7, 2-5:
But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Just based on the first verse I could see where the “brothers” were some of his twelve disciples, and the “disciples” are the crowds of followers of Christ. But then that would not make sense with the last verse. And recall that in Nazareth most of the folks didn’t believe he was Christ, presumably some of His own family.
It almost seems like the “brothers” were baiting Jesus. And they also were mistaken in him wanting to be a “public figure” - presumably to be the leader of a revolt against the Romans.
As I posted way back, it seems that lying for a strategic/tactical reason against the enemy is not a sin. Just like others have posted, killing an enemy in battle or in self defense is not a sin.
I think the text is clear... His brothers or half-brothers didn’t believe He was the Christ, while the Disciples wouldn’t have been His disciples unless they did believe who He was.
And Jesus did not lie:
JOHN 7:8—DID JESUS LIE TO HIS BROTHERS?
PROBLEM: Jesus’ unbelieving brothers challenged Him to go up to Jerusalem and show Himself openly if He was the Messiah (7:3–4).
Jesus refused, saying, “I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come” (v. 8). However, only a few verses later Jesus “went up to the feast” (v. 10).
SOLUTION: Jesus did not go up to Jerusalem in the way in which His brothers suggested. They suggested He go and be “known openly” (7:4). But the Scripture explicitly declares that “He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret” (7:10).
http://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/John_7.8.php