“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.”
Few things are tougher than going against your family’s wishes. Parents and siblings are always certain that they know more about you than you do yourself. Add in a calling from God that leads you to do strange new things and you’re really in for problems.
Jesus has returned to Galilee, his home area, because Jewish religious leaders are trying to kill him. But there’s a problem: the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the major feasts, is approaching. As an observant Jewish male, Jesus should go to Jerusalem, but it’s too dangerous. Jesus’ brothers are absolutely no help, for they urge Jesus to go to Jerusalem and preach there. Obviously, Jesus’ brothers have no conception of who Jesus is, and in addition, they are likely embarrassed by Jesus recent teachings about being the bread of life. Then there’s Jesus’ statement about people eating his flesh and drinking his blood-too weird! Not only do Jesus’ brothers not understand who he is, but they fear that the religious authorities-and possibly also the Romans-are going to swoop down on Jesus, killing him and taking vengeance on his family as well. Far better for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and act out there rather than remaining in Galilee, attracting unwanted and deadly attention to his family.
“Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.” Jesus always does things in his Heavenly Father’s time, not on a schedule dictated by those around him. So far, Jesus has not received a release from God the Father to go to Jerusalem, so he’s staying in Galilee.
It’s tough going against the advice and wishes of family and friends. The man in the picture who is carrying a cross and waving a Bible is Arthur Blessit. During the Jesus People movement, Blessit was running a Christian coffee house when God called him to take down the 12-foot cross from the wall of the coffee house, attached a wheel to the lower end, and begin carrying it on Christmas Day 1969. Until Blessit’s recent death on January 14, 2025, he carried that cross around the world through 323 countries and territories, logging 43,340 miles, or to about 86 million steps and shoes he had to re-sole or replace several times every year. During these travels, Blessit was shot at, chased by wild animals and snakes, and persecuted. In India men tried to set the cross on fire.
No matter where Blessit went, he preached salvation through Jesus Christ and moved other pastors to invite people to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Sometimes, people would fall to their knees when they saw the cross. When Blessit went to Westminster Chapel in London in 1982, he turned the place upside down, encouraging all who heard him to go out and invite people to follow Jesus. Only eternity will tell us how many people were led into the Kingdom by Blessit or by someone whom he inspired.
Undoubtedly, when Blessit began carrying that cross, there were many who thought he was crazy, and many more who were offended that he would take such an action. But God had spoken to Blessit, and Blessit had such a passion for God and His Will that he picked up the cross and began walking. Blessit even had an aneurysm and had been warned that his health was failing; yet, the aneurysm never burst and Blessit kept walking.
It’s quite likely that God will never call you to do something as radical as carrying a 12-foot cross throughout the world. But God delights in forcing us out of our comfort zones. When I was a surgery resident, the hospitals where I was training had no hospital chaplain. One Sunday while in church, I felt God calling me to begin leading a Bible study in one hospital. I got permission to use a vacant conference room and advertised the weekly Bible study. Some days I was the only one attending the study. I would write out the main points of the Bible study on the blackboard in the room, figuring that someone would read it, even if it was only the janitor cleaning the blackboard! I also prayed for a chaplain and nine months later, God raised up a chaplain who sought me out to introduce himself. I hugged the man and wept, for God had answered my prayers and I was released from the Bible study.
Did I want to occupy an empty conference room and appear foolish? Absolutely not! Did people think I was crazy? Probably. But a hospital chaplaincy was born from that empty conference room. Who knows how much comfort and how many people have found their way to God because I was willing to appear crazy?
May God help all of us, so that when He calls us to do something radical, we will obey and not argue or listen to well-intentioned friends and relatives who would stifle the call of God!!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow You and not listen to those who would force us away from Your call on our lives. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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