The Seed Blog: Growing Pains

Dysfunctional Families! Now let's look deeper into Jesus' Early Years...Because... When you put the pieces together...There is actually a bit more Written in Scriptures than we realize! The average Christian sees Baby Jesus…Born into a sweet and caring family...And growing up in the best of atmospheres...Cuddled in love... In a stable and well-functioning family...After all... He is the Son of God...And God would have made sure He was in the best of situations! Until He l [...]

Dysfunctional Families!
 
Now let's look deeper into Jesus' Early Years...Because... When you put the pieces together...There is actually a bit more Written in Scriptures than we realize! The average Christian sees Baby Jesus…Born into a sweet and caring family...And growing up in the best of atmospheres...Cuddled in love... In a stable and well-functioning family...After all... He is the Son of God...And God would have made sure He was in the best of situations!
 
Until He leaves His home... And His family business...To begin His Calling... At 30yrs old! Well. Let's start with THIS Verse...When Jesus was returning to Minister in His home town during His Ministry!
Mark 6:3 (NKJV)
"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?"
 
Jesus Had 4 brothers... And at least 2 sisters...So He grew up in a home of at least 7 children! With 4 brothers and 2 sisters...Who were not the Messiah! But NORMAL little brats!
 
So Jesus had all of the experiences of Childhood as us!...And "Mr. Perfect" probably got the brunt of the abuse by the others! It is most probable that Jesus' Purpose was not shared with the siblings when they were young... Nor anyone else.
Even Mary and Joseph probably did not know the extent of what Jesus' Mission would be... Or that He Came to Die... And not free the people.
 
But it is certain...That His siblings heard the rumors in the small town…
Saw the shameful way Mary was treated…And probably knew Jesus was only a Half-Brother…Which brought them shame to the family!
 
It is certain…That Jesus learned early on…Exactly what His purpose would be...And even at an early age... He dedicated Himself to God and His Learning of the Word!...As was apparent by His actions at only 12yrs old!
 
Luke 2:41-51 (NKJV)
41  His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43  When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44  but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45  So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46  Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49  And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51  Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
 
It is also very reasonable... Based upon evidence...That Jesus had already displayed acts…Of Faith and Power in the Spirit...Which showed the Father's Anointing on Him...Because Mary came to Jesus at the wedding in Cana...Already understanding and expecting Jesus to help her supernaturally!
 
John 2:1-5 (NKJV)
1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2  Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3  And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4  Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 5  His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
 
In this beautiful Passage...Not only does Mary know fully well…What Jesus is capable of doing...But she has an intimate assumption of trust... That He will fulfill her wishes... Even though He is Reluctant at first!
 
We can only imagine the things she might have witnessed…In her private years with Jesus on earth!  Healings… Help in times of need... Help for poor...There is Scriptural proof... That as Jesus grew older... And began to answer the Calling from His Father... His already tarnished and branded reputation...For being a poor, uneducated, bastard son...Grew exponentially worse!
 
All of His friends, neighbors and customers...Of the extremely small, close town of Nazareth...A semi-isolated population of about 350 at that time! Everyone near and dear to Him in His earthly Life...Completely turned on Him... Condemned Him... Judged Him...And literally sought to take His Life!
 
Mark 6:1-6 (HCSB)
1  He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him. 2  When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished... 3  So they were offended by Him. 4  Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5  So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6  And He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.
 
Luke 4:16, 20-21, 28-30 (NKJV)
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read… 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”... 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
 
We’ve read this Passage many times…Not realizing these were people who INTIMATELY KNEW JESUS! This would be like every friend you've had since childhood...And all the people of this church...Completely turning on you... Calling you a scum criminal...And even saying you deserved to die! Leaving you no one... BUT your family!
 
Oh... But wait... Scriptures show us that Jesus could not even turn to THEM for Comfort or Love at this point...
 
John 7:1-5 (HCSB)
1  After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. 2  The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3  so His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. 4  For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5  (For not even His brothers believed in Him.)
 
His own brothers not only didn't believe Him...But mocked and ridiculed Him…
Just as the rest of the community was doing!...And listen to Jesus' strange...
And seemingly harsh reaction to His family in this Passage:
 
Mark 3:31-35 (HCSB)
31  Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him. 32  A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for You.” 33  He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34  And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35  Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
 
Why did He not go out to them?Why did He cling to those sitting with Him instead?
 
Mark 3:20-21 (HCSB)
20  Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21  When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
 
Jesus did not go out to meet them...Because they were there to remove Him...
From being a public shame to them... In embarrassment! So even... And especially... His very Own, Intimate Family... Those He had loved dearly... Took care of as an older brother...Shared His life with to this point! Mocked Him... Rejected Him...And considered Him an embarrassment!
 
Has anyone here ever had a close family member turn on you?...Or degrade you terribly?...Had a parent, or sibling tell you that you were worthless? 
Or a failure? Or crazy and stupid?...And you lacked support or
encouragement from anyone...Even from your own family? Leaving you completely isolated? Talk to HIM… HE’S BEEN THERE!
 
The Broken Heart Of Jesus! 
Do you think Jesus was unaffected by this in His Human Life? For thirty years He had Grown up with...And Grown close to these people...With the same ties and emotions that you and I have for our families...Most assuredly, even more so... Because of His Deep Love!
 
There are passages in an often missed Psalm...A proclaimed Messianic Psalm...Attested to by NT Writers...Quoted prophetically more times than any Psalm in Scriptures…Other than Psalm 22... As speaking about the Life and Death of Jesus…This Psalm gives intimate knowledge…Of the Pain in Jesus' Heart and Mind...As they describe His relationship with His Own family...And the community... As they BROKE HIS HEART!
 
Psalm 69:7-12, 19-20 (HCSB)
7  For I have endured insults because of You, and shame has covered my face. 8  I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons 9  because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. 10  I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults. 11  I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them. 12  Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me... 19  You know the insults I endure— my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries. 20  Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.
 
In His 100% Human Emotions, Desires... And Great Love...Jesus still deeply longed for... And coveted...The support, acceptance and love...Of His closest family... And His Life-Long Friends!
 
He was abandoned by His community...By all of His Life-Long friends...By almost all of His family...By the many followers who at first flocked to Him...
(For their own benefit)...Until... Out of everyone in His Life...There was nothing but a handful of misfit followers...And in the end...Even THEY turned on Him...
Leaving His Heart Broken... And His Soul in Despair! Listen to that familiar Passage in Isaiah again now…And recognize the Emotional Grief of Jesus…
As it describes how He was affected by all of this...Over 700 years before He was Born...In perfect detail!
 
Isaiah 53:3-4, 7-8, 10-11 (NLT)
3  He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care... 4  Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!.. 7  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8  Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people... 10  But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11  When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
 
God Could Have Allowed Jesus to Come to this earth FULLY MATURE…And Die for our sins…BUT HE CHOSE TO ALLOW…AN ENTIRE CHILDHOOD OF REJECTION AND PAIN! WHY?!
 
BECAUSE… Jesus did not JUST DIE for you and I...From the First Breath ever Drawn into His Tiny Lungs...On that first Noel...Jesus LIVED every Day of His Life... For you and I...GET THIS… With a completely HUMAN HEART...He Lived a Life of extreme emotional loneliness and isolation... From everyone He held dear...That has made many people today... With similar lives...Give up in despair and feelings of worthlessness!
 
He did it as part of the Punishment…That He Chose to Endure for our rebellion...But He ALSO did it...So He could WALK WITH US through the horrors of this world...That He has to SEE US ENDUE...He did it so we could...In an absolutely real way...With complete confidence...Come to Him in our struggles and pain...And be Heard by Someone Who has really been there as well!
 
THAT'S... MY JESUS!
 
PLEASE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND... THAT IS HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO HIM! THAT IS HOW FAR HE HAS GONE TO WIN YOUR LOVE...AND LET THAT EVIDENCE BRING YOU LOVE & WORSHIP!
 
IF THE ENTIRE WORLD SEEMS TO HAVE TURNED AGAINST YOU...IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE DRIVEN EVERYONE AWAY...DO WHAT JESUS DID...
AND DRAW CLOSE TO THE ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS... KNOWING HOW MUCH HE DESIRES TO HEAR YOU...KNOWING HOW HE WANTS TO SHARE IN YOUR LIFE!
 
THERE IS NEVER A TIME WHEN YOU ARE NOT LOVED…NEVER A TIME YOU ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD! YOU ARE NEVER ALONE IN YOUR STRUGGLE!
 
YOU WILL GET THE STRENGTH… HOPE… AND EVEN THE LOVE…NOT ONLY CONTINUE IN LIFE JOYFULLY…BUT EVEN LOVE AND CARE FOR THOSE WHO HURT YOU!
 
HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN THE TIME IN INTIMATE PRAYER…TO TELL JESUS THAT YOU SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE…SEE WHAT HE’S EXPERIENCED… FOR YOU? AND JUST THANK HIM… PRAISED HIM… LOVE HIM…FOR IT?