Reflecting on John 7:1-13“For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” (John 7:5)
In this chapter we see how people responded to Jesus and His message.
This comment about His brothers reminds me of Joseph and his brothers.
They wanted to expose him as a liar, and looked for a way to silence him.
Jesus’s brothers know that Jesus will be silenced if He goes public in Judea.
They did not believe in Him, despite His amazing words and actions.
How could it be that those closest to Him did not believe Him?
How could it be that His own family would want to silence Him?
I believe it is because His message was too personal and challenging.
He challenged peoples’ selfish love and hurtful attitudes and actions.
He modelled perfect love, but that exposed the unloving hearts of those listening.
I sometimes wonder whether Jesus’s family today believes in Him.
His message of gracious love is silenced, and replaced with wordly scheming.
Some turn it into a public performance, to become great in the eyes of the world.
Jesus’s radical message is not palatable, not even for His own spiritual family.
If Jesus’s brothers then could not accept it, do we as His family accept it today?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, it must sadden You when those close to You do not accept Your message or follow Your Way. Help us as Your family to join You in Your mission of radical gracious love. May Your brothers and sisters today believe in You, and follow You in Your Way!