Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
This seems strange. We don’t see anything about Jesus that should be repulsive to anyone. Yet, here Jesus indicates not everyone responds favorably to Him.
We know this is true. After all, Jesus will be rejected and crucified. He explains it by saying some people are never satisfied!
To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
These people are not going to be happy no matter how God approaches them. They rejected John’s message and manner and now they don’t like Jesus’ teaching and style either.
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."
Jesus says this is more serious than they realize - the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves…
Truth isn’t simply a matter of personal preferences. God is involved and it is His purposes that should be the chief concern.
What is God’s purpose for us today? What tune is He playing?
Isn’t it the music of the Teacher, Jesus Christ?
Hope we like it…
How do we react when people question us?
ReplyDeleteHow do we react when people criticize us?
How would we feel if a friend or relative questioned our motives?
If people aren't on the same page as we are, do we tone down, do we hesitate to bring up God or Christ or religion?
How are we at standing up for our beliefs?
Jesus was questioned by John's disciples, yes. However, the question came from John himself!
The religious teachers of the day looked down on the way both John and Jesus taught. They didn't agree with how they read and interpreted scriptures.
Neither backed down.
John didn't. Jesus didn't.
Maybe it was easier for Jesus because his works spoke for him. Shouldn't our works do the same?
It's easier to be bold and stand up for what we believe in when people can see and know that our lives agree with what we say.
How are we doing at that?