Rich Maffeo on Nostr: I started reading the seventh chapter of John this morning and did not get very far ...
I started reading the seventh chapter of John this morning and did not get very far when the Holy Spirit stopped me at verse five. Here is the context:
“After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
“Not even His brothers were believing in Him.”
And I suddenly wondered, “What did they think about their mother’s story of Jesus’ conception and birth? What did they think about Joseph, who corroborated it? Did his brothers believe it was a lie? And if a lie, what did that make their mother, Mary? Did they think, as the Pharisees thought, Jesus was born from fornication? (John 8:41)
Oh! How that suspicion must have torn at Mary’s heart. And at Joseph’s, while he was alive.
And then my mind took me to a modern application of the text. How hurtful it is – certainly not to the same degree – but still, how hurtful it is when families scoff when we tell them what Jesus has done for us, how He has changed us, how He has healed us . . . .
How hurtful it is when they rationalize it all away – even when they see the changes in our life.
Rich Maffeo
maffeo.richard@outlook.com
Blog: www.inhimonly.blogspot.com
“After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
“Not even His brothers were believing in Him.”
And I suddenly wondered, “What did they think about their mother’s story of Jesus’ conception and birth? What did they think about Joseph, who corroborated it? Did his brothers believe it was a lie? And if a lie, what did that make their mother, Mary? Did they think, as the Pharisees thought, Jesus was born from fornication? (John 8:41)
Oh! How that suspicion must have torn at Mary’s heart. And at Joseph’s, while he was alive.
And then my mind took me to a modern application of the text. How hurtful it is – certainly not to the same degree – but still, how hurtful it is when families scoff when we tell them what Jesus has done for us, how He has changed us, how He has healed us . . . .
How hurtful it is when they rationalize it all away – even when they see the changes in our life.
Rich Maffeo
maffeo.richard@outlook.com
Blog: www.inhimonly.blogspot.com