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Throughput
Jeff WeinkaufJohn 2:23-25
During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.
It was a busy time of year. Passover in Jerusalem was a huge gathering of God's people from all over the known world. Into that heavy concentration of "religious" people steps Jesus. As he moved about doing the business of the father, people began to take notice. They noticed the fragrance of Jesus's lei was sweet. They noticed that what he did was not self focused, but rather was God focused. Because this so differed from what was going on in the religious circles they knew, they wanted to be a part of it. They wanted connection with Jesus. Jesus took that moment and used it correctly. The attention of the masses were on him, and the scripture says he was pointing them on to God. Not at all allowing them to put the focus back on him. It says "he knew them inside and out"' knew their motives.
My efforts can start out with a true God "smell". Sometimes after people notice though, its tempting to let the acclaim rest on myself instead of doing what Jesus did and pointing them on to the father. The take away for me is to be careful to act as a conduit (directing the flow towards God) as opposed to being a reservoir which gathers and holds recognition for myself. Jesus was distinctive, and he was attractive to people for a number of reasons. But he never failed to turn the focus back to God. So to, should God choose to elevate our status, may we follow the example of our savior and use that as a way to point people to God.
God you are deserving of all of my attention. Please help me to make it about you and not about me. Thank you for Jesus. Amen
