Columnist: Deborah Esther Nyamekye
"27...a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You.”
28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28 Berean Study Bible)
Jesus did not say "thank you" to the woman's open praises of his mother for giving birth to him, instead he changed the subject immediately and used the time as an opportunity to teach and counsel for the benefit of the listeners.
This is an indication that while Jesus knew his mother Mary was blessed, praises directed at him and his mother on a human level were not of importance to him. To accomplish his mission on earth was His number one priority and this was confirmed in his response when he diverted attention from himself and his mother and placed it on a person's relationship with God. The point Jesus was making is in his manner of response which was as follows:
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
He was saying that the reward of obedience to God is blessedness. This blessedness is of a value that far out ways the blessedness of his mother who bore him.
Brethren, in likeness to Christ, whatever we do in service to God which causes people to praise us, our mothers or families should not compel us to loose our focus on our mission or the message which is intended to bring multitudes to Christ or change lives for the glory of God. We should rather seize such opportunities as any other to glorify God in whatever manner befits the occasion as Jesus did in this account.
Poem: Obey God
Obey God
not by mere acts of motion, but out of love
for Him in every situation.
Obey God
not out of trembling fear but out of
reverential fear of God.
Obey God
not partially but completely,
void of the force of the rod.
Obey God
so that as an overcomer from strife,
He shall call you blessed and give
you the crown of life.
©January2017 Deborah E. Nyamekye
