John 4:43-45
43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
John 4:43-45
In todays text we get a clear sense of a message John desired to communicate to his audience. John desires to include the detail that Jesus “testifies that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown”. Luke clearly records to a greater degree that when Jesus goes to the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth the hearers cannot get over the fact that Jesus is Jesus.
We will consider the specifics of the Luke text at a later time however today I want you to consider this thought. Might you miss God’s leading because of the messenger of His message?
I am 41 years old. I consider myself in the middle of life. From my perspective I get to sit and see the gracious work of Christ on the life of a person in their 90’s. I have had the privilege of sitting with and learning much about faith and decades of living a life with Christ as a major influencer within a home. On the opposite end of the spectrum I have the privilege to see young people whom I have studied and taught God’s Word too who have walked through their formative years and are now raising families allowing Christ to be a major influencer in their homes.
Here is a caution, as I am reminded by the text today, that I must consider in my personal walk with Christ. For me personally it is much easier to listen to and take Godly advice from someone older than I verses someone younger than me.
Jesus' hometown missed out on much. They had God Himself in their own synagogue teaching them yet they could not get over the fact of perception and missed out.
I challenge you today in prayer to ask God for conviction and forgiveness regarding where you have missed Him because of a preconceived conception of your own.
Several years ago a young man I had been leading in youth asked if he could preach. At the time I was leading youth in the church I now Pastor. I asked the Pastor at the time and we established a date for him to preach during a Sunday evening service. I will never forget what God taught us all through that awkward, shy, and tongue tied service. The young man stood and carefully read the text he felt needed consideration that evening. He then got completely sidetracked, lost his bearings, became flustered, and ended the service only minutes after he began it. It was awkward but awesome. Why did his sermon leave an impression on me and why am I writing about that night some 20 years later? Because of his obedience, faithfulness, and willingness to stand for God and His word in front of his church and also his extended family. Numerous times I have not wanted to do what I felt God would have me to do yet on many occasions God has used that example of faith to encourage me to persevere. I am thankful for that young teen who served as a Godly example for me that evening. What examples of God and His leading has the Lord used in your life? I caution you to not miss the significance because of the packaging!
