Hidden in plain sight

7-14-21
Today's devotion is based on Mark 6:2,3. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him."
Those who lived and grew up with Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth didn't realize what was hiding in plain sight. They knew Jesus as a carpenter. He was the son of Mary and Joseph, it seemed. He had brothers and sisters. They saw him in the streets and talked with him as they would talk with anyone else. When he started doing miracles and teaching the people as the Son of God, the people had questions and were offended. Could the Messiah that God promised be hiding in plain sight?
People are still offended by Jesus for the same reason today. They think he was nothing more than a moral man who had some helpful things to teach us. But Jesus wasn't just a moral man. Jesus was sent by God his Father. In plain sight, before all the world, he taught like no one else and did miracles like no one else to show that he was like no one else. While he grew up before the world with a mother and brother and sisters, he is God from all eternity come to do what no one else could do—save the world from its sin and reunite us to our heavenly Father. He is Jesus, the Son of God.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heaven Father, gracious God, creator and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; help me to always see your Son and my Savior. Thank you for sending Jesus for people like me. In Jesus' blessed name, I pray. Amen.