“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” said Einstein. Whereas Vladimir Lenin thought the best way to control the opposition, was to lead it. Opposition. It’s becoming more of a thing lately, isn’t it? What do you do when you are faced with opposition? Most people are tempted to either defend themselves or to blame others as a way to protect themselves. Jesus did not do either of those things when He faced opposition. So did He just walk away? Not answer the haters? Did he do a Taylor Swift and “Shake it Off?” Well, He did answer His accusers, by pointing them to God. He was always ministering, always telling people the truth that would set them free. “What on earth are you talking about?” you ask. Let me explain. John 7 describes people who opposed Jesus and how He dealt with it. Let’s look at a few of His reactions in order to learn how to better handle opposition.

First of all, a festival was going on and Jesus was trying to avoid people at the festival who were trying to kill Him (John 7:1). That seemed like a good idea, right? Avoid the people with guns aimed at you, literally. These were legit death threats. People all over the world and even here in the states face death threats because of their faith in God. If you or someone you know is in that situation, understand that Jesus understands. He’s been there. He gets it. But Jesus’ own brothers, His own blood kin teased Him and said things like, “stop hiding and show yourself to the world” (John 7:3-4 paraphrased). They didn’t get it. They did not realize the seriousness of it all. Jesus simply responded to them by pointing out the differences between Himself and His brothers as well as the differences between God and the world. With that, He plainly told them to go to the festival without Him (John 7:6-8). Can you imagine his brothers having conversations with people?

• Where’s that big famous miracle working brother of yours? I was craving some of those miraculous fish and chips we had the other day.
• Oh, Jesus? Yeah, He said something about the whole world being against Him so He stayed home. Weirdo!
• That’s too bad. I was hoping to beat Him in a game of two truths and a lie. That man can’t lie to save His life!

You know they had to be saying even worse things behind His back than they were saying to His face. But let’s move on to some other opposition. Because nearly everyone has some family member that just says too much.

Next, Jesus faced opposition in public. Jesus did end up going to the festival, but privately, so to avoid being killed. Maybe He wore sunglasses and a trench coat. Maybe he died His hair lime green so as not to be recognized. Maybe He got a solar eclipse T-shirt and glasses so He would blend in with the crowd. Either way, He went privately. But why? Because He loved fireworks and elephant ears? Or that guy claiming to sell manna straight from Heaven? No. Jesus went to teach, to do the Lord’s will! Someone there needed to hear what He had to say. So halfway through the festival, He started teaching in the temple (John 7:14).

Those who heard Jesus’ teaching wondered how He taught so well without being taught Himself… “Jesus answered, ‘My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?’” (John 7:16‭-‬19).

In Jesus’ brief response, He explained what everyone was wondering, why He was teaching. Jesus said He spoke to bring glory to God, not Himself. The constant selflessness of Jesus is hard for us to wrap our sinful minds around. Also, Jesus clearly had some supernatural self control because He could have totally struck those haters down dead in an instant! Instead, He kindly answered their question and then asked them why they were trying to kill Him (John 7:19). Ah! Jesus found them out! That made their blood boil!

Some more opposition came when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being demon possessed and crazy. Instead of answering Jesus’ question about why they wanted to kill Jesus, they blame shifted and name called. Jesus responded by pointing out the hypocrisy and incongruity of their argument, questioning them again, and pointing them back on the path of truth (John 7:21-24). Jesus did not just walk away, but answered their questions. He did, because others were watching, others who would eventually believe! That’s the thing about opposition. Others are always watching how we respond. Be it our kids, friends, family, or even the public, people are always watching, and learning! They might learn a godly way to respond to opposition, or what is really in your heart.

“At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, ‘Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that He is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where He is from’” (John 7:25‭-‬27).

The people started pondering the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. The people were comparing what they heard from others to what they knew from the Bible. They were thinking for themselves. They wanted to know where Jesus was from. The people thought Jesus was from Galilee, but the Scriptures said the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem. Before we look at what Jesus did say about that, let’s think of a couple things He could have said.

1. “I was born in Bethlehem you Goons! Don’t ya know!” JK, Jesus wouldn’t talk like that. But He could have told people where He was born and how that actually did line up with Scripture. But He didn’t. That might have made the people feel dumb for not knowing all the details. That wasn’t Jesus’ goal. He allowed them to wrestle with the truth and possibilities and seek out truth on their own. He might have also spared that detail to protect His family.

2. Another way Jesus could have responded would have been to say, “My Daddy is the Living G-O-D! Don’t ya know! I’ve been, like the song goes, ‘born of the virgin Mary,’ but He didn’t. Mentioning Mary could have put His mother in a very unwanted spotlight. But for real! Couldn’t He just get a blood test, load it to ancestry.com and be like, “SEE, told ya so! Goes straight back to God!” But did Jesus physically look like Mary and Joseph even though He was supernaturally conceived? We may never know.

So what did He say? Without saying any of the above, He said all of the above, below.

“Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, ‘Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me’” (John 7:28‭-‬29).

It’s like He was going on national News or something. He didn’t use the words “God,” “Mary/Mom,” or “Bethlehem.” Yet He told them that He was from God and had a message for them. The Pharisees continued trying to kill Him. Yet Jesus continued preaching, despite their accusations. Jesus did not throw His family under the bus or get into arguments about how His life and birth fulfilled the Scriptures. He protected His mother while still preaching God’s Word!

What if He didn’t? What if Jesus mentioned being born of a virgin? Wouldn’t all the news broadcasters show up at Mary’s door for an interview? Jesus didn’t want her in the spotlight. He wanted God in the spotlight. By focusing on God, many people believed (John 7:40-41). Jesus did God’s will, God’s way and accomplished God’s purpose.

How hard! At the risk of His own life, He preached, to save others from death. How easy is it to view our own difficulties as unfair? Or to view opposition as unique to our situation. Jesus lived on earth to show us how to live. If He faced opposition when obeying God, then we surely will too! We should not be surprised, (James 1), but press on!

What do we do with this? I can’t stop thinking about how incredibly awkward and alone Jesus must have felt at the festival. He did not go there with His disciples, yet He preached still! He did not go with His family. In order to avoid being killed, He had to go alone! Alone! Then He didn’t blame shift or correct people’s theology when they legitimately questioned Him. He stuck to His purpose of sharing God with those who needed to hear it. He stuck to doing God’s will, not His own. He didn’t even get an elephant ear, ya’ll! (I mean, at least the Bible doesn’t say He did, so I guess we’ll never know.)

Back to our point: How do we do that in our own lives? How do we speak only as the Lord leads, go only where He desires, do only as He calls? How do we do it even for just one day? How do we do it alone and often in the face of opposition? I actually know a pastor and his wife, who I believe do this very well. Every day, they live life to the fullest. They eat and exercise in order to give them enough energy to do all God has called them to every day. They make every conversation count, asking the hard questions when necessary. They serve. They give. They live for the Lord, not themselves, daily. Do you know anyone like that? Someone who is all in for the Lord’s purposes and not their own? Pray about what it means for you to selflessly live for glorifying the Lord today, even amidst opposition. Amen!