Day 247

Often leaders can be cowards, especially political leaders. Jesus was no coward! He was very much an “in your face” kind of person. When He saw two-faced activity, He called it out. And when that happened, His opponent’s true motives became evident. Jesus heals a man’s hand which probably prevented him from supporting his family the way he wanted to support them. His whole life and identity centered around that shriveled hand, and Jesus changes it in an instant. The religious and political leaders see Jesus as such a threat that these normal enemies join together to snuff Jesus out.

Jesus popularity gets in the way of His training of the Disciples. They have to be prepared to be in-filled with the Holy Spirit and tell what they have seen and heard. But the crowds push. Demons announce His credentials. Things are not as He wants, until He pulls them aside and goes to a quiet place alone with them.

It is important to find time, or should I say, make time to get alone with Jesus. I know that life pulls for our time and attention. If we let it happen, every waking moment will get filled with other people’s priorities. Soon we will have nothing of ‘us’ left in our lives.

Jesus selects the twelve by name. No random “You, you and you.” Even Judas is not just a “you” to Jesus.

Jesus’ family think He is nuts. The people entrusted with the purity of the Scriptures think He is an enemy infiltrator. But Jesus does not back away from the Truth. He confronts their false thinking and logic directly. And in the process they are condemned by their own words and actions.

Jesus has to even stand up to His own family. It can be hard when you come to know the Truth of the Gospel and your family thinks you have flipped, gone nuts, joined a cult. Words usually do nothing to help. Only your changed life can truly change them. When they see Jesus lived out in your life, then they might be open to what you have to say.

Jesus in essence says that His followers are closer to Him than His own flesh and blood family. Sometimes this happens in families today. Our church family becomes more of a support network and family than our kin. They get a higher priority in our daily planner than our family.