Jesus’ public ministry was met with all different kinds of reactions.  Some were amazed and believed.  Many were curious.  Some followed until things got tough.  Some were directly opposed to Him.  Let’s look at some of the different reactions as Jesus goes to the Festival of Tabernacles and teaches.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. 45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. 47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

Today people still have a variety of reactions to Jesus.  Some appreciate His teaching but aren’t willing to follow Him.  Others just think He was an interesting historical figure.  Others reject Him completely.  As followers of Jesus we are called to embrace Him and His way of life fully.  Sometimes others biggest stumbling block to embracing Jesus is what they think of His followers.  This was true during Jesus’ day as well.  People were put off by the “sinners” that Jesus had around Him.  We are called to be people who love our neighbors well.  When we do that and when we live the kind of lives that Jesus calls us to people are drawn to Jesus instead of put off by Him.  I pray that by God’s grace we would live such lives of love that others would want part of the life we have in Jesus.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave