There once was a man who was labeled an apostate by the a “true” religion of his day, even those who considered themselves the chosen of God. He came completely outside the authorized channels. Repeatedly the accusatory question was asked “who authorized you to teach such things?” There was no apparent beauty in him that the people should desire to be his follower. He brought no earthly “bonafides” that his report should be believed. He was one of many anointed ones however only he bears the title THE Anointed. He is Faithful and True. His name means salvation, Yeshua. The work he did allowed those with eyes to see and ears to hear to be spiritually redeemed, to be cleansed from sin, to hunger not, neither thirst anymore. He is the light and life of the world. He marked the path that we can all safely follow. Those who rejected him did so at their own peril.
Would we have received this outcast or would we have clung to our traditions and given more heed to authority figures? Would we have risked offending the powerful so that we might be followers of this blasphemer from Nazareth? Would we have gladly been kicked out of the synagogue and cut off from the chosen of God to follow this apostate? Will we receive any future servant who might come in the name and power authority of Messiah in the last days? Only little children and those who seek to become as such can receive these things, for they are hid from the proud and the lofty. Who do you choose to become like? Who do you choose to follow?