Luke 14:1

"Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely" Luke 14:1

Jesus never had a moment's peace. Everyone was watching Him. From the day He walked into the Jordan River to be baptized He took on celebrity status. The first year was wonderful. Everyone loved Him. The second was more trying. The third - well let's say it would have driven a mortal man insane!

The people watched Him because He did exiting things - and maybe, just maybe it would happen to them. People haven't changed much. We still like to think the good things will happen to us. They all hoped that Jesus would touch them, speak to them, heal them, deliver them. The Romans watched Him - He just might challenge the power of Rome and they couldn't have that! As His popularity grew, their eyes grew more jaundiced. A large crowd could certainly mean trouble in an occupied country. But it was the religious leaders who watched Him the most - and trusted Him the least. He spoke with authority. The quoted the old teachers as though they were afraid to have an original thought!

He fed the multitudes - they only taxed them. He healed the sick - they condemned them as sinners. He cast out demons. They thought that authority - though seldom used - was theirs alone. He raised the dead - not that had to be 'the work of the devil. No human could do that - not even the high priest - the most holy of them all (or at least the most politically savvy.) Yes, they watched Him like a hawk watched a mouse play in the field. They waited for Him to get too far astray - then they would swoop down on Him and do away with Him - then their power would remain strong.

Jesus didn't seem to mind. He just did what the Son of God would do even if they didn't watch. He healed the sick - even on the Sabbath! Didn't bother Him in the least. He raised the dead - even the gentile dead. He cast out demons - in the name of the Father. In short, He just did what Daddy said to do.

People are watching you. They want to see your faith in action. They want to see if you crack under pressure. They want to know if this Jesus you worship is real - real in you. They are watching. How do you respond? Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.