Everyone's special somehow

Jesus went to Nazareth, His hometown, and tried to teach at the temple there. People who heard Him couldn't believe it. "Isn't He just a carpenter?" they said. "We know His family; He's nobody special." Jesus was sad that they didn't have faith in Him, so instead of doing any miracles, He left town.

Everyone's special, but you don't always feel that way! Even if you're a good soccer player or people say you have beautiful hair, you might wonder what the big deal is. It's not like you have great hair AND you're the best-looking person in your school AND you won a soccer trophy, right?

Some people in Jesus' time felt like you. In this week's Gospel (Mark 6:1-6), Jesus tries to show people one thing He's good at -- teaching about God -- and they just laugh. They don't think it's a big deal that He's a good teacher, because He's worked as a carpenter. He's not famous or rich, they say, so who cares if He can teach?

But like a kid who tells great jokes or loves soccer, Jesus does have something special about Him. Without having lots of money or even going to college, He knows how to make people understand God loves them -- and that's enough.

Everyone doesn't have everything. Not even Jesus had a knack for making money! But whatever gifts you have (from nice hair to cooking) are enough, because God gave them to you. You're special just because of who you are, without doing everything perfectly.

The people at the temple didn't listen to that idea. But when they laughed at Jesus, He did a smart thing: He left. You can do that, too. You don't have to listen to anyone who tells you you're not special -- not even yourself!

(7/03/03) [[In-content Ad]]