John 7  3Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.  4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret.  Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.  6Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.  

 

As a believer in Jesus, I have had close friends mock both me and my faith.  I have been made fun of and mocked and they have also mocked Jesus in front of me as a means to be a clown.

 

Growing up in the faith, this at first hurt me…..but I soon realized that I did not need to defend myself, or Him, unless I specifically felt Him ask me to do so.

 

After all, this is the guy who cleared the temple….with a whip….in broad daylight.  They had temple guards, they had Roman Soldiers, and they had religious zealots…..and all of them could have stepped up right then and there and taken Him on man to man….but they did not.  This simply shows me that NO ONE messes with Him unless He lets them.  We did not crucify Him….He willingly went in obedience to the Father and gave up His life for us.

 

And when He wanted to stand and wants to stand up….He does…..as is shown here with His own brother and brothers.  Think about what He says back to them as they mock Him……the time is not right for ME…..but for you…..any time is right.

In other words, in my words, He is saying:   “I have come to make a difference…..and you….make NO difference.”  OUCH.

 

I do not want Jesus to say to me:  “You make (or made) no difference”.

 

This is one of the things that draws me to Jesus….He is a fighter.  And it says in scripture that He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  I have more evidence to show Him as a Lamb (which is also His title) but I look forward to seeing Him also as a Lion.

 

But this is because I will not mock Him and I will not join those who mock Him.  In my lowest moment, He stepped forward and took the specific punishment that was reserved for me….He took the nails, He took the ridiculing, and He took the separation from the Lord and took the punishment of Satan.

 

When it was time to step up, He made a difference.  He made all the difference.

 

And He is ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE.

 

As we walk through our daily lives we need to remember this and put this out so that others remember this.

Jesus came.

He died.

And He rose again from the dead.

 

He did this so that we could be delivered and redeemed and brought to a place of true peace.  We sometimes darken this with our own sin or selfishness or pride….but we must never forget that He has done this for us…….and He did this for us so that we could make a difference.

 

When I talk to the Lord tonight when I go to bed.

When I talk to Him tomorrow as I walk out my day.

When I talk to Him next week as I continue into my routine.

And….when I talk to Him in heaven face to face……..

 

I want Him so badly to say to me:  You made a difference for MY KINGDOM….and for Me.

 

In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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Coach J