Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from." So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
Jesus must’ve seemed crazy. He went from being a humble carpenter to being a wanted man that had to sneak into Jerusalem. But once He rolls into town, He doesn’t hide out or keep quiet. He goes to the Temple, the center of the city, and CRIES OUT fearlessly. Why? Why didn’t He just lay low and wait till He was in a safer place or a town that appreciated Him more? He steps out and risks His life because He will stop at nothing to let people know what God is all about. He isn’t content with just preaching to people who admire Him, He is just as passionate about reaching those that want to take His life. He wants to cry out in Fairfax today, especially in those neighborhoods, homes, and hearts that most badly need to know who He is. And just like He was sent from the Father on a mission, so too are we sent out at the end of every mass. Do we really believe that we are sent, or do we just try to keep out of trouble from Sunday to Sunday?
CHALLENGE: Cry out once today. I don’t mean that you need to scream, but that would be cool I guess. Cry out by sharing the truth with one person today. Maybe that means you tell someone about your own faith even if it’s awkward and uncomfortable. Maybe it means that you let someone know that they are valuable even when everyone else seems to treat them otherwise. The time is now. After all, you’re on a mission.
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