Journey With Jesus: 31 Days Devotion From the Gospel of MarkSample

One day, they will understand

You have just come to know Jesus, and you’re excited to share about His goodness with a friend or family member. After hearing you politely for about 20 seconds, they interrupt you and say, “Sorry, I’m not interested.” Your mum and dad advise, “It’s okay to believe in a religion, but don’t get obsessed with it.” Your friends poke fun at your faith, “How can you believe in something as dumb as the Bible? Are you ‘holier’ than us now?”

If any of that happened to you before, know that Jesus had it worse.

When He was surrounded by the crowd at His home, His family thought He was crazy and tried to restrain Him (v20-21). More insulting than being called a lunatic, Jesus was also accused of being a lackey of Satan, the devil. The scribes, who were teachers of the Law, claimed that Jesus could cast out demons because He was possessed by the prince of demons (v22)! This was such a severe accusation that Jesus strongly told them off for blaspheming (saying disrespectful things against) the Holy Spirit (v28-30).

When we follow Christ, people may misunderstand us. They could doubt our enthusiasm or be wary and sceptical of the changes that they see in us. We may experience misunderstandings and tension in our relationships as a result.

When misunderstood and falsely accused, Jesus remained steadfast in His mission. He defended His ministry with reason (v23-27). To Jesus, those who did God’s will were His true family (v31-35).

It’s natural to feel rejected, hurt, and torn between following Christ and pleasing our loved ones. Sometimes, the tension may be overwhelming, but we can always find encouragement from God and fellow believers.

Take heart also that God will give us the wisdom and strength to deal with opposition. He will empower you to bring about positive changes in your life so that others can see how good Jesus is. One day, those who object to your faith will understand your love for God and even come to know Jesus through your life.

Do you face obstacles and opposition because of your faith? Ask God to help you love those who misunderstand you, and pray that they, too, will one day know Jesus.