Frontline Ministries International, Inc.  

How close someone is to you does not make it easier for him or her to believe what you say. Doing everything right in a corrupt world makes you a target, not a magnet. Growing up, we often heard the term, "Teacher's Pet" in school. Later on in  the work place, there was always a "Boss's Favorite," or "Fair-haired Boy/Girl." There were other nicknames for these people that were not as polite. The truth is that none of these names were intended to be complimentary. In fact, these terms usually indicated our resentment for the person who seemed to have the greatest degree of favor. The favor we wanted to have ourselves, but somehow couldn't seem to get. We weren't good enough to earn it, no matter how hard we tried. As the oldest brother, Jesus would have found Himself in many a tough spot when He was asked to explain what was going on around Him, especially when things weren't going right. He would not have covered up, lied, mislead, or deceived. He would have been the ultimate "goody-two shoes," and the resentment that accompanied that perception would have been intense. Now they are calling Him the Messiah; His family rejected that claim. Jesus knows first-hand what it is like to be rejected by those closest to you, especially when what you offer them is the thing they need most. But Jesus continued to do what the Father commanded Him. The Bible records that even though his brethren didn't believe Him then, they eventually did. This is an excellent fulfillment of the Scripture, "Grow not weary in well doing, for in due season, ye shall reap, if you faint not." Continue to preach the good news of Jesus, even when others continue to reject it. There may come a day when they will believe it. Praise God!