12 September Revd Andy Chislett-McDonald

Disbelief. Scripture, reflection and prayer.
​
John 7:1-9 "After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing;  for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”  (For not even his brothers believed in him.)

Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee."

Reflection. This is one of those paradox passages in Scripture. Oddly, I find it really encouraging. The simple fact that those closest to Jesus did not believe in him. We can readily associate with the fact that people do not believe our testimony about Jesus. 
We do want to be like Jesus.  But, perhaps not in this way. We want people to believe. We want people to come to faith in our Lord. Well, just like Jesus, some won't believe us. 

For Jesus, his time had not yet come. But Jesus did not stop his mission and message. 

For us, perhaps the time for our mission and message of Jesus may not be received today. But we will not stop telling the story. We will commit ourselves to share the Good News.
​
Prayer. Lord Jesus, help us to be just like you. When we are not believed help us to continue sharing your Good News. Amen.