January 6th, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
If you had any doubt that Jesus suffered for you throughout his entire life, todays might set you straight. Today we will look into Jesus’ relationship with His brothers and His community. The picture is a sad one. It shows what life was like for Jesus on a daily basis.
Read Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Psalm 69:7-12
Many believe that Psalm 69:7-12 speak of Christ ‘s growing up years. If this is true, what do they tell us about Jesus’ early years?
Why would Jesus be a stranger and an alien to His brothers?
Where did Jesus get strength to endure the suffering? What do you think Jesus was learning from the suffering (Heb. 5:8)
Lets begin today by answering the question, “So how do we know this is a passage about Jesus?”. Grab your bible and go to John 2:17. In this passage, Jesus is ripping through the temple, defending the honor of His father’s name. I like this passage because we don’t see a wimpy, passive, shy, safe-space-seeking, snowflake Jesus. Jesus is really mad! When the disciples see Jesus’ reaction to the inconsiderate way the temple is being treated, a light bulb turns on in their heads and they have a flashback to when they were little Jewish boys sitting at the feet of the teachers. They remembered, “zeal for your house consumes me.” Do you remember reading these words? This is one of the ways we know this to be a Messianic passage.
I don’t know what stood out to you the most as we’ve studied Jesus’ early years but a few that are notable:
Jesus was dishonored- Ps 69:7
Jesus was a stranger and alien to His brothers- Ps 69:8
Jesus was insulted and scorned – Ps 69:9-10
Jesus was a byword, a joke to the people in the community- vs 11
Jesus was the talk of the elders in the city gates- vs 12
Jesus was a song for the drunkards- vs 12
Oh, how it must have hurt for Jesus to hear the songs of the drunks in town, singing about the bastard child of Mary, the loose woman who was pregnant before she was married. And lets not forget about Joseph, the sorry sap who though it was his. I bet the drunks had fun, at Jesus’ expense.
I can Imagine Jesus walking through the town, crying over the sin of His people and begging God to have mercy on them while the Elders and Teachers mocked him for his zeal.
One thing is clear: Jesus suffered his whole life for you and me. Not just during the last few hours of his life. He was, “A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isa. 53.3).
Sit there for a minute and let that sink in. Our salvation comes at no small price. I don’t want to paint a picture of Jesus’ growing up years as completely terrible. After all, He had obedient parents who loved him and cared for him. Can you imagine raising a child who never sinned? That would be enough to drive you crazy! Along the same lines, how do you correct a sinless child? WOW!
Jesus never sinned, he was always obedient, was always good. All the suffering that Jesus faced was undeserved, whereas most of the suffering that you and I face is well deserved. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 69 were given to us, not to make us think less of Jesus, but to help us appreciate the sacrifice he made to come and live among us.
Spend some time today thanking Jesus for going through that for you.
What observations stand out to you? Share them below!
Read Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Psalm 69:7-12
Many believe that Psalm 69:7-12 speak of Christ ‘s growing up years. If this is true, what do they tell us about Jesus’ early years?
Why would Jesus be a stranger and an alien to His brothers?
Where did Jesus get strength to endure the suffering? What do you think Jesus was learning from the suffering (Heb. 5:8)
Lets begin today by answering the question, “So how do we know this is a passage about Jesus?”. Grab your bible and go to John 2:17. In this passage, Jesus is ripping through the temple, defending the honor of His father’s name. I like this passage because we don’t see a wimpy, passive, shy, safe-space-seeking, snowflake Jesus. Jesus is really mad! When the disciples see Jesus’ reaction to the inconsiderate way the temple is being treated, a light bulb turns on in their heads and they have a flashback to when they were little Jewish boys sitting at the feet of the teachers. They remembered, “zeal for your house consumes me.” Do you remember reading these words? This is one of the ways we know this to be a Messianic passage.
I don’t know what stood out to you the most as we’ve studied Jesus’ early years but a few that are notable:
Jesus was dishonored- Ps 69:7
Jesus was a stranger and alien to His brothers- Ps 69:8
Jesus was insulted and scorned – Ps 69:9-10
Jesus was a byword, a joke to the people in the community- vs 11
Jesus was the talk of the elders in the city gates- vs 12
Jesus was a song for the drunkards- vs 12
Oh, how it must have hurt for Jesus to hear the songs of the drunks in town, singing about the bastard child of Mary, the loose woman who was pregnant before she was married. And lets not forget about Joseph, the sorry sap who though it was his. I bet the drunks had fun, at Jesus’ expense.
I can Imagine Jesus walking through the town, crying over the sin of His people and begging God to have mercy on them while the Elders and Teachers mocked him for his zeal.
One thing is clear: Jesus suffered his whole life for you and me. Not just during the last few hours of his life. He was, “A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isa. 53.3).
Sit there for a minute and let that sink in. Our salvation comes at no small price. I don’t want to paint a picture of Jesus’ growing up years as completely terrible. After all, He had obedient parents who loved him and cared for him. Can you imagine raising a child who never sinned? That would be enough to drive you crazy! Along the same lines, how do you correct a sinless child? WOW!
Jesus never sinned, he was always obedient, was always good. All the suffering that Jesus faced was undeserved, whereas most of the suffering that you and I face is well deserved. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 69 were given to us, not to make us think less of Jesus, but to help us appreciate the sacrifice he made to come and live among us.
Spend some time today thanking Jesus for going through that for you.
What observations stand out to you? Share them below!
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13 Comments
Good challenge to think on, and be thankful for, Jesus and his willingness to live a difficult 33 years so that we could spend forever with him.
It breaks my heart to think about the pain and suffering that Jesus endured for us, for ME. I have been hurt and rejected by the people I love the most, family and friends and how heartbreaking that is. I remember one morning a few years ago, crying and praying to God for answers of WHY has my family turned their backs on us. Begging and pleading for God to rescue me and my family from this storm. Feeling so lost and broken. Then I audibly heard Jesus say to me, "Tammy, now you understand how I felt and what I went through for you AND for them. I am with you and no weapon formed against you shall prosper." That storm in my life gave me a whole new perspective on what Jesus endured for me. I don't deserve that kind of love and sacrifice but he says I'm worth every drop of blood he shed. WOW! Jesus understood that the sin in this world would trip us up, cause us pain and suffering and could lead us to eternal death, but God made a way. Jon, as I have been reading and studying your devotions this week, John 16:33 has daily come to mind. "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world." I'm so grateful God sent Jesus to earth to teach us how to live and bring us peace and hope!
There is just no other love on earth that compares to His great love for each of us.
The scripture.."A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24 ESV...also comes to my mind when I think on this reading today.
Just so thankful today for the kind of love that would allow Jesus to take my place, and endure the pain, suffering and rejection in life and through death.
Oh, I LOVE THIS, Tammy. Thanks for sharing!
We tend to forget Jesus went through every temptation we have. When I think of this- I know everyone has different temptations… that is a lot!
This gives me confidence that if Jesus knew it was worth being obedient to God, it is also worth it for me, and I am able to choose to be obedient just like he did.
Jesus showed us the way, he wouldn’t have done that if we were incapable of following. ❤️
That gives me hope!
This is one of the most difficult things for me to grasp, after all he Is "God in the flesh" to live a sinless life, I'm sure he had at least an advantage, according to inerrant scripture that cistern does not hold water, Heb. 4:14-16, Titus 2:13-14, The dedication to my Soul, our only hope! Thank you my Savior and Lord!
Reading about the teasing and mocking Jesus went through reminds me of kids in school. Kids are the cruelest at times! When they latch on to the fact that another child is less fortunate than them they tease, mock, make fun of a child, and most of the time they do it as a group.
This happened to Jesus in his home town. Only, it wasn't just the people his own age. It was everyone in town including his own siblings! Perhaps the siblings were jealous of him. Perhaps they were envious of him. Perhaps they were embarrassed about him and what the population of the town knew and thought of his birth. I think it took courage on Mary and Joseph's part to return to Nazareth to live.
Jesus suffered for us. What are we doing for him?
As someone who is a teacher of high school students, ages ranging from 13-19 years old, it’s awful to see the bullying and the mockery they make of one another. It makes it worse that it wasn’t only his peers, but the elders and other adults around him. You said it best when you said Mary and Joseph had courage, they truly did!
Today’s study, especially, makes my mother’s heart ache for Mary. Most of us have children that have gone through the agonizing teen years. It hurts us nearly as deeply when they are wounded or shunned. Mary had criticism in all directions. Even likely under her own roof. As an all knowing God, He called on Mary knowing that she would have to bear up under those struggles and confident that she could do it. What an honor! I’m sure that Jesus loved and appreciated her deeply. My youngest is reading this study with me. It’s good for her to realize that even Jesus shared some of her current struggles as a teen.
Jesus’ zeal amazes me!
As someone who is young”ish” and a teacher of high school students, I can’t imagine someone at that age to have such zeal, but Jesus! All the suffering he endured for our sake, we deserved it and he did not! That is something to truly be thankful for, today and everyday!
I think something we all take for granted is that Jesus never sinned. I mean think about that, we can’t make it a day without sinning, let alone our whole life. So, THAKK GOD FOR JESUS, coming to save us. Hallelujah!!!
I do resonate well with the image of Jesus flipping tables.
But on a more serious note; I value the peace and comfort that comes from being home with my family. I love when my sister comes down from Ohio and I get to spend time with her and her kids. It would be so hard to endure all the mocking, snickering, insults etc.. and then to come home and not feel welcomed by your siblings. To not be able to call on them for comfort or enjoy the camaraderie and games would break my heart. I just imagine that Jesus felt pretty lonely, and it makes me sad.