Day 11 of #DailyMark. The first scene in Mark 11 seems like a bright spot in the life and mission of Jesus. The crowds adore him, they support him, and they are behind his cause (or so they think).
Have you ever felt the support, endorsement, or encouragement of people around you? How did it make you feel? How did you respond? It can be addictive, can’t it.
The challenge of reading chapter 11, though, is that I know what happens in chapter 15. I know that the crowds will turn on Jesus and call for his death. As a result, it is hard for me to read chapter 11 and be excited. Instead, I feel sad.
I think I am occasionally haunted by the story of the crowds and Jesus. Sometimes, when I receive positive public attention for something I have done, in the back of my mind I wonder if it is sincere. I wonder if people will turn. Hmm … having a public role is weird sometimes. 😉
But, of course, my role is to point people not to myself, but to God. In a way, I have nothing to lose (or gain). In fact, my kind of public leadership just might be the best kind, and there is often a strong sense of freedom that comes with it. So … having a public role that points to someone else is pretty good sometimes too. 😉
What about you? How do you respond to public praise?
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