The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Wednesday
March 19, 2008
After this, Jesus stayed in Galilee, going from village to village. He wanted
to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon
it was time for the Festival of Shelters, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to
Judea for the celebration. "Go where your followers can see your miracles!" they
scoffed. "You can't become a public figure if you hide like this! If you can do
such wonderful things, prove it to the world!" For even his brothers didn't
believe in him.
John 7:1-5
Over and over people wanted Jesus to prove He was who He claimed to be. Apparently, His brothers knew the Jewish leaders were looking for him because they wanted to put an end to His ministry - He was getting far too much acclaim from the people. After He had healed the man on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders were furious. I mean, after all, the Sabbath Day was set aside to offer sacrifices to God and worship Him. They claimed that Jesus was going against the Law of Moses when He performed this miracle. Yet, Jesus was not one who could be intimidated.
Although Jesus told His brothers that He wasn't going to the festival ¾ He went anyhow ¾ secretly. John 7:14-15 records this for us, "Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. 'How does he know so much when he hasn't studied everything we've studied?' they asked. So Jesus told them, 'I'm not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who present their own ideas are looking for praise for themselves, but those who seek to honor the one who sent them are good and genuine. None of you obeys the law of Moses! In fact, you are trying to kill me.'"
Jesus knew the hearts of these men. Time and again through the prophets God warned the people that He was tired of their empty worship and false religion. He wanted people to get real. Is that what He is still saying to the church today? Does He want us to be real before Him and before people? Does He want us to be vulnerable and confess our sin to one another and receive forgiveness and healing? Does He want to heal us on the Sabbath? Does He want us to put on a false face in church ¾ pretending we have no weaknesses or shortcomings? Does He want us to strictly obey the law and not meet the needs of the blind man?
Who could have known Jesus better than His own brothers? There was another man in Biblical history whose brothers knew him and tried to destroy him ¾ Joseph. Yet, in the end it was Joseph who kept his brothers ¾ his family ¾ from starvation and destruction. So did Jesus. Jesus died that all may receive salvation, healing, and hope.
Many times all people can see when they look at us is our shortcomings - just as Joseph's brothers did and just as Jesus' brothers did. That is why our focus must stay on Jesus and not on other people ¾ what they think or say. Let us pray for one another that we will look to Jesus for instruction and guidance.
