What Jesus Did! 'Opposition to Jesus' — John 7:47-49

Smug rejection is such an obnoxious trait. Yet we see it often. When others don't want to grapple with the truth of Jesus or the perplexing and demanding challenges of genuine discipleship, they smugly look down their noses and speak of believers as idiots and imbeciles. Some do it more subtly than others, but the smug arrogance is still there: "If only you were as educated or smart or street-wise as we are, you would know that Christianity is a bunch of fluff for the weak." We need to remember, however, that many reject Jesus because his demands are hard, not because his existence is questionable. The religious opposition in Jesus' day was rooted in the religionists' not wanting to have to change their lives, their perspectives, their places of power, their positions, their... So when they could not explain Jesus away, they had to put down his followers and any who had an interest in what he had to say. If you listen closely today, you will continue to hear their voices. Just don't heed them! Decide for yourself, on your own, based on what you read and see of Jesus.