Good Morning Friends,
“When the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was
near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so
that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a
public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself
to the world.’ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” (John 7:2-5)
Jesus had four brothers, James, Joseph,
Simon, and Judas. (see Matthew 13:55) At this point it was fairly late in
Jesus’ ministry. He’d already been teaching for some time and had attracted many
disciples. Yet, His brothers were not among His followers. His brothers did not
believe in Him. They did not acknowledge Him as the Messiah.
Many of you also have family members who do
not believe in Jesus. It’s encouraging to know that Jesus understands what it
is like to have family members who do not believe, and do not understand why
you believe.
The fact that His brothers did not believe
did not keep Jesus from having a relationship with them. He continued to be
with them and talk with them. Notice that Jesus didn’t preach to them in this
encounter. Not every opportunity to be with your non-believing family members needs
to be a time of preaching. Preaching every time you see them repels much more
than it attracts them to what we believe.
Eventually, at least two of Jesus’ brothers
became believers. James became the most prominent leader of the church in
Jerusalem and wrote the book of James. Judas also wrote one of the letters of
the New Testament, the book of Jude. Although they did not believe during most
of Jesus’ ministry, they were watching Him. His life and His teaching finally
attracted them to Him.
Be encouraged if your family members do not
believe. Jesus understands. Watch your life and your testimony, so that God can
use it to attract your family to the One you follow.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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