I Wonder If Jesus Ever Got Homesick
He was always surrounded, but stood alone; understanding, but seldom understood. People had expectations of Christ. Surely, He would throw out the Romans and return Palestine to its rightful owners. Without doubt, He would do miracles and all that was evil in the world: hunger, sickness, war, would go away forever. Palestine stayed in Roman hands, and evil continued.
He led, but His followers sometimes wandered off on other trails, pursuing rabbits instead of righteousness. He taught eternal truths to men with temporal minds. Like oil and water, they sometimes didn't mix.
Christ's mission was often misunderstood, even by those closest to Him. In the end, the vast crowds that had followed Him eagerly, dissipated. These "friends" were replaced by crowds who wanted Him dead. Sometimes the familiar faces in one were the same faces that appeared in the other.
Did Jesus ever wish He could just go home? Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we can be tempted (Hebrews 4:15). He never gave into the temptation.
The Lord stayed focused in spite of frustrations in ministry that dogged His steps. My verse for today brings me new insight on what it means to be like Jesus. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" —Matthew 20:28.
Can I, just for today, endure the loneliness, frustration, and misunderstanding that hold hands with service to God? Can I, just for today, remember that this life is not about the fulfilling of my expectations, but the completion of the mission He has assigned me? Can I, just for today, be a little bit more like Jesus?
He led, but His followers sometimes wandered off on other trails, pursuing rabbits instead of righteousness. He taught eternal truths to men with temporal minds. Like oil and water, they sometimes didn't mix.
Christ's mission was often misunderstood, even by those closest to Him. In the end, the vast crowds that had followed Him eagerly, dissipated. These "friends" were replaced by crowds who wanted Him dead. Sometimes the familiar faces in one were the same faces that appeared in the other.
Did Jesus ever wish He could just go home? Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we can be tempted (Hebrews 4:15). He never gave into the temptation.
The Lord stayed focused in spite of frustrations in ministry that dogged His steps. My verse for today brings me new insight on what it means to be like Jesus. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" —Matthew 20:28.
Can I, just for today, endure the loneliness, frustration, and misunderstanding that hold hands with service to God? Can I, just for today, remember that this life is not about the fulfilling of my expectations, but the completion of the mission He has assigned me? Can I, just for today, be a little bit more like Jesus?
I'll bet He WAS homesick, and he resisted. What an excellent example to us.
ReplyDelete