Life Spark: Recognize life-givers and life-takers.
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. (John 7:1, NIV)
Jesus came to bring deep, unending life to the people on this planet. So if God comes to earth to bring life and everyone wants more life, life should win by a landslide, right? Why would anyone want to take life from a person whose whole mission was to give life? (John 3:16) Maybe beings who have become life-takers hate life-givers.
Jesus’ skeptical brothers needled Him, satirically encouraging Him to go to Judea for the upcoming festival and whip up some miracles. Misreading His motives, they accused Him of lusting for world-wide popularity. For even his own brothers did not believe in him. (John 7:5, NIV)
Jesus’ brothers were making fun of Him and the religious officials were trying to find a way to murder Him. That’s murder in different degrees. Many who would never shoot a person or strangle a person will take a smaller piece of life from them by criticizing them, gossiping about them, or speaking to them in a demeaning way, like the Lord’s brothers did to Him. I had a fifth grade basketball coach that told me I was clumsy. I still remember it, and how it deadened a little piece of my heart.
If we had been in Jesus’ sandals at this point, most of us would be bummed out, and maybe even buying more life insurance. But Jesus didn’t miss a beat. He knew that the Father believed in Him even if His brothers didn’t. He knew what mattered most.
Jesus purposely stayed away from the first degree murderers in Judea, but He didn’t stay away from Judas or His brothers, second degree murderers. Sorry to say that sometimes those very close to us, sometimes we ourselves, are life-takers. Parents, siblings, teachers, relatives and Judases can be murderers. Only with the Spirit’s help can we know which murderers to stay away from.
Life-action: Today thank God for being a life-giver, then thank two other positive persons who add quality to your life.