A lesson from Jesus on sharing your faith with family
As the time gets closer to His crucifixion, He tells those who want to follow Him, they have to take of His blood and of His body, and that they’re going to face sacrifice, loss and death (John 6:55-56).
That isn’t what they want to hear, and many who followed Him went back home. They stopped following Him (John 6:66).
In chapter seven, after these disciples had left him, Jesus walked in Galilee, which is the northern part of Israel. He avoided going south near Jerusalem because the Jews were looking to kill him. His earthly brothers encouraged Him to go into Judah.
“For even His brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5 NLV).
As far as we know, all four of his brothers rejected Him as the Messiah at this point in time. You can imagine the sarcasm dripping from His brothers’ lips, who were irritated that their big brother was doing miracles.
“Show yourself to the world, Jesus!” is really what his brothers are saying. “Don’t hang around here. If you’re such a hotshot, go to Judah. Go prove yourself.”
Jesus responds, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here (John 7:6 ESV). And he stays in Galilee. The message here is clear. He experienced rejection from His family.
You might be feeling that. If you’re getting together with brothers and sisters, people you know and love, but they reject your faith, your heart aches. You’re concerned for their wellbeing.
You are not alone. Jesus faced the same thing. He came to them, taught them and was rejected. He came and He was ridiculed by His brothers.
Check out Sharing Christ with Your Family Can Be Tough and find 3 Keys to Sharing Your Faith with Loved Ones.
