Misjudged and Falsely Accused - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

When His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."

"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?" So they were offended at Him.

Even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Mark 3:21-22 NKJV; Mark 6:3 NKJV; John 7:5 NKJV

Misjudged and Falsely Accused
Think of what it must have been for the Boy Jesus to grow up in a home where there soon were younger brothers and sisters! He was unique, holy, absolutely sinless, ever helpful and obedient. At age twelve, when His mother scolded Him for staying behind at the temple, He neither complained nor talked back, but went down with Joseph and her to Nazareth "and was subject to them" (Lk. 2:48-51). What must the other children have thought of this Boy who never joined in their mischief, disobedience, or fights?

Joseph is never mentioned as still alive when Jesus was grown. The people of Nazareth called Jesus the carpenter's Son and also the carpenter. They were astonished at His teaching in the synagogue and marveled at His wisdom and at His mighty works. But when He engaged in public ministry, His own people wanted to lock Him up, saying He was out of His mind. Worse than that, the religious leaders, rather than appreciating His casting out of demons, accused Him of doing this by satanic might, even calling Him a Samaritan, a dreadful insult (Jn. 8:48). He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

He told His disciples (including us) that they (we) could expect the same kind of treatment from the world. The world that hated Him will also hate us, His followers, and will cast accusations and give us all kinds of labels, just as they did to Him.

-- Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.