KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:1 KJV “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,”

When the Lord started ministering, many came to him, and were baptised by His disciples. This raised lots of impressions among the Pharisees. In the days of Jesus, various teachers called rabbis had disciples who followed them. It was a great honour to have lots of disciples. The moment people started flocking the ministry of Jesus, the Pharisees started saying among themselves, “this Jesus is baptising many”. This act of the Pharisees and the reaction of Jesus has two major things to teach us. These are

1. How people develop wrong impression because of lack of verification.

2. Right reaction to a wrong impression.

1. Many people wrongly judge others and hastily make conclusions without verifying the truth. Certain good relationships have been destroyed because of wrong impressions. It even gets worse when people wrongly imagine falsehood about others without properly verifying the truth. The bible says Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Rev 12″10. Devils continually interpret false information about others, especially, those who are very close to you. These Pharisees could have gone beyond what was said about Jesus and visited Him, to know the truth for themselves.

Wrong impressions may come but always maintain a policy never to accept a view or impression, until you have verified the truth about it.

2. The Lord Jesus   responded wisely to the wrong feelings he knew or heard about what the Pharisees were having about Him. (One’s feelings can be expressed through his words) He just went on with His Holy Spirit led program. The bible said He left Judea and came again to Galilee. The growing animosity of the Pharisees could have created an early assault on His life, although He had come to spread the good news to a larger region. Dear brother or sister, do not allow your life to be dictated by what people may be saying, but always follow what the word says about the situation. You cannot determine what or how people may say, or act towards you, but you can always determine your reaction towards them. God’s word is the best and proven way to react towards people who may act wrongly towards you. A further word of advice is that, do not be easily shocked by the actions of others, to the point of breaking you down. Decide that, no matter the actions of others, whether good or bad, you WOULD RESPOND FROM A SCRIPTURAL POINT OF VIEW.

THOUGHT:  LOVE IS THE SAFEST ACT TOWARDS OTHERS AND YOURSELF AS WELL

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 13:10 KJV “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Rev 12:10 KJV And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.