John 7:9-10
New International Version (NIV)
9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.
This is an awfully short little passage, to be sure, but I do think there's a lesson here. Jesus didn't do the things he did to be praised by men. It's something we know, but something we probably don't spend much time thinking about. Of anyone who ever lived, Jesus, of all people, deserved the praise of men. But he didn't seek it out. So many times, even if we don't exactly do things to be praised, we still expect some praise for it. And when we don't get it, we consider others to be ungrateful, or we pout, or we're secretly disappointed. Jesus, though, made special effort on several occasions to worship or serve in private.
I understand that there are several reasons why he needed to lay low. But his underlying spirit was always one of humility. And one we need to emulate.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.
This is an awfully short little passage, to be sure, but I do think there's a lesson here. Jesus didn't do the things he did to be praised by men. It's something we know, but something we probably don't spend much time thinking about. Of anyone who ever lived, Jesus, of all people, deserved the praise of men. But he didn't seek it out. So many times, even if we don't exactly do things to be praised, we still expect some praise for it. And when we don't get it, we consider others to be ungrateful, or we pout, or we're secretly disappointed. Jesus, though, made special effort on several occasions to worship or serve in private.
I understand that there are several reasons why he needed to lay low. But his underlying spirit was always one of humility. And one we need to emulate.
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