we love you, go away

Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2413

John 7:1-5

Joh 7:1 And after these things happened, Jesus moved around in Galilee, since he did not want to move around in Judea because the Jews were looking for him to kill him.
Joh 7:2 The Jewish Festival of Shacks was near.
Joh 7:3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave from here and go to Judea so your disciples can see your works that you are doing.
Joh 7:4 Because no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking to be public. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Joh 7:5 (Because not even his brothers believed in him.)

we love you, go away

You would think that Jesus’ home region would welcome him back with open arms, seeing that he had a reputation for literally being a miracle worker. But that is not how it was. It was more than just the “prophet without honor in his own country” thing. After Jesus started explaining the “why” for his miracles, people everywhere starting rethinking his superstar status. Was their world big enough for another I AM?

Even his brothers got this. When it came to the question of redefining their world, they were not willing to do that. If Jesus was going to keep talking about his special relationship with his Father — not meaning Joseph — It would be easier if he did that kind of thing from a distance. Their response to Jesus was “we love you, go away.”

If you have ever felt like an unwelcomed stranger in your own country or family, you have had a taste of what Jesus felt like. Ironically, Jesus was the only one with the words about permanent life, and their rejection of him was a rejection of hope.

LORD, draw us to Jesus, don’t send him away.