Jesus finds new friends

Did you ever have a friend you didn't like? Some kids hang around all summer with "friends" who aren't very friendly just to have something to do. But when someone's always mean to you, it's better to find another friend!

Jesus had a problem like that. He did miracles all over the place; but when He went back to the town where He grew up, the people that were supposed to be His friends didn't treat Him very well. In this week's Gospel (Mark 6:1-6), we hear about it.

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.

A friend you don't like much probably isn't good to you. If you ride bikes together, he says your bike isn't as great as his; if you're jumping rope with her, you're always stuck twirling the rope while she jumps. You want to be friends, but you get tired of that!

Jesus would know how you feel. When He went back to Nazareth, He expected His old friends to be happy to see Him. Instead, they didn't listen to Him when He tried to teach them about God, saying, "You're not God's son, just a guy we grew up with."

Sometimes, you hang around with kids you don't like just because you're bored. It's a long summer, and you want people to spend it with! Jesus found an answer to that problem: When no one would listen to Him, He went to other towns where people wanted to learn about God and had faith that Jesus could do miracles.

Jesus proved that there's always someone better to be friends with than a person who treats you badly. Just like there were other towns for Him to go to, there are places where you can meet other kids: the town pool, the arcade, your church's summer programs. Jesus didn't give up on finding other friends -- and you don't have to, either!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me to find friends I can have fun with -- and to let go of the ones I can't! Amen.

(07-03-97)

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