Serve Jehovah Without Distraction

Conclusion of KEEP YOUR EYE FOCUSED

The last week of Jesus' human life was very stressful.  (Matthew 26:38; John 12:27)  He had much work to do, and he faced a humiliating trial and a cruel death.  Consider for example, what happened on Sunday, Nisan 9, of the year 33 C.E.  As foretold, Jesus entered Jerusalem on an colt, and the crowds  hailed  him as "the one coming as the King in Jehovah's name." (Luke 19:38 )   The next day, Jesus entered the temple and courageously threw out the greedy businessmen who were using God's house for extorting money from fellow Jews. -Luke 19:45, 46. 

Among the crowds in Jerusalem were some Greek proselytes who evidently were so impressed with Jesus that they asked the apostle Philip to arrange a meeting with him.  Jesus, however, refused  to be distracted  from the more important  matters that lay ahead. He certainly did not want to try to gain popularity in order to avoid a sacrificial death at the hands of God's enemies. So after explaining that would soon die, he said to Andrew and Philip:   "Whoever is fond of life destroys it, but whoever hates his life in this world will safeguard it forever lasting life."   Rather than satisfy the curiosity of those Greeks, he recommended  following his self-sacrificing course and promised: "If anyone would minister to me, the Father will honor him."  No doubt, Philip carried this positive message back to the inquirers. -John 12:20-26. 

Though Jesus refused to be distracted from his main purpose of preaching the good news, he was not always thinking about work. He accepted at least one invitation to a wedding and even contributed to the joy of the occasion by miraculously   turning water into wine.  (John 2:2, 6-10) He also accepted invitations to evening meals with close friends and potential disciples.  (Luke 5:29; John 12:2) More important, Jesus frequently bought out time for prayer, private reflection, and needed rest.  -Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:31, 32.  

Next time: Serve Jehovah Without Distraction - "THROW OFF EVERY WEIGHT"

From The Watchtower magazine