Handling the naysayers…. (devo reflection)

John 6:41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Jesus faced critics. He faced those who thought, derisively, “Who does He think He is?!? That’s Joseph and Mary’s Son. There’s nothing special about Him!” When I am struggling with those who are putting me down, who are questioning why I think I have a right to do something, my compassionate Savior understands because He has lived it Himself. Thank You, Jesus.
John 6:42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven‘?”
As I reread these verses this morning, I am struck by the way He handles the naysayers. I internalize everything. The doubts others express become doubts I feel I have to wade through, to justify. But not my precious Savior. He knows who He is. He knows Whose He is. His reaction is much more of a “shake the dust off your feet” (Luke 9:5) instead of a “take the doubts to heart and struggle with your identity.” Thank You, Jesus.
John 6:43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for such a positive example of how to handle doubters, especially when we are engaged in Your kingdom work. There is so much that I don’t know, Lord, so much that I don’t understand, but I know that You love me fiercely. I know that You want me to show others Your love, especially those who don’t understand it, who don’t realize they can’t earn it or be worthy of it, that Your love is Your gift to Your children, freely and lavishly given. Give me strength to tell others. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them….
Have a blessed day.