However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

“as it were in secret” (KJV) = not as definite as “in secret” (NIV). Jesus does not join a caravan to go to Jerusalem as is the custom; He goes up by Himself so as to not attract attention. He is not hiding, but He is also not making a big publicity statement as His brothers had advised. Jesus does go up to the feast but not in the way His brothers tried to get Him to go. Other people do not create the pattern of the actions of Jesus; He is the Master of what He does. “So now He goes up when He is ready, and in the way He chooses.” (Morris 401)

John records Jesus as going up to a feast four times:

1. as purifier of the temple in John 2:13-16
   Joh 2:13-16  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
2. as one of the pilgrims in 5:1
   John 5:1  Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews.
3. in this verse as a prophet
4. as King in 12:12-13
   Joh 12:12-13  The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”