“And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me” (Isaiah 49:2)
Jesus “flew under the radar” of the Pharisees as long as He didn’t do or say anything. When He began His public ministry, He began to be the target of their hatred and disdain.
How much of Christ’s hidden life in Nazareth was a preparation for the scorn He would face in Jerusalem? Do not despise a day of obscurity. How well we handle being a “nobody” is a good indicator of how well we will handle being a “somebody.”
No matter how well you are received by some, you will always be rejected by others. Jesus was not the Pharisees’ “type.” They took issue with His words and His actions. His doctrine and practice did not align with theirs. He was a threat to their hegemony. They bristled with envy at the sight of others praising Him.
Success always comes at a cost. The success of Jesus brought out the most vicious instincts of the Pharisees. In the end, they were compelled to kill Him. But His refusal to repay their evil with evil was His greatest triumph.
To endure persecution and hatred requires meekness and lowliness of heart. Such is learned in carpenter’s shops where we are content to be a “nobody” in men’s eyes.