Lenten Devotion – Vindication from Unbelief John 7:1-13)
Day 14 – 20 March 25
“For not even his brothers believed in him.” John 7:5
Can you imagine your family or close friends not believing in you?
In John 7, Jesus’ brothers were going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Feast of Tabernacles. They egged Jesus on to show himself “to the world” (v4) as if to suggest that Jesus was seeking personal fame and renown. They did not believe he was anyone great.
It was remarkable that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him, having lived with the Son of God himself and witnessing or at least hearing about the miracles he performed. Like in John 6 where he fed the 5000 and walked on water. Or in John 2 where they likely attended the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine.
Instead of arguing that he was indeed sent by God, Jesus’ reply was, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”
His response to their challenge was that it was not the right time. He was neither defensive, nor did he call them out on their sarcasm and unbelief, but he simply stated the facts and allowed God to vindicate him.
After his resurrection, his family had a change of heart. For example, James, one of his brothers, became a key leader of the Jerusalem church and also died for his faith by stoning.
Perhaps like Jesus, some of those closest to you do not believe you – they do not believe in your ability to accomplish something, or in what you say.
Can Jesus identify with this aspect of difficulty in our lives? Most certainly. May we be encouraged that as long as we trust in the Lord and hold to the truth, he will vindicate us in such circumstances.
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” 2 Chronicles 20:17
Goh Zhengqin🙏✝️