As He is speaking, a woman shouts out from the crowd and interrupts Him.
Woman: How blessed is Your mother’s womb for bearing You! How blessed are her breasts for nursing You!
Jesus: No, how blessed are those who hear God’s voice and make God’s message their way of life.
Jesus was becoming more and more popular, and the crowds swelled wherever He went. He wasn’t impressed. (Luke 11:27-29, The Voice Bible)
I find this passage to be an interesting exchange. Jesus was in the middle of responding to critics who had accused Him of using demonic powers to do miraculous things. It doesn’t seem to be the most logical place for an interruption with such a gushing compliment that the womb and breasts of His mother are personified to such a point that they are blessed simply for having had contact with Him.
Of course that whole expression probably seems strange to us. It probably wasn’t strange within that culture at that time. In our culture, she might have said something like, “Your momma must be so proud of you! What a blessing you are!”
Now Jesus, being God in the flesh after all, would have been completely justified and totally accurate in saying, “You better believe it, sister! You don’t know the half of it!”
But notice the way The Voice Bible expresses verse 29: “Jesus was become more and more popular … He wasn’t impressed.”
Jesus was not interested in stirring crowds into a frenzy. He was not interested in popularity. So, when this woman gets caught up in the moment, he take the time to refocus on the mission. He doesn’t rebuke her, He simply redirects.
Here’s the Dr. G paraphrase: “You know what true blessing is? It is listening to God and doing what He says. That makes all the difference.”
Some of us do some very public things and have opportunities to be complimented. Some even have opportunities to become “popular” to some extent. As I heard someone recently say, “I’m really famous within a small group of people.” I can relate. Some of you can as well.
So what’s the best way to keep from being impressed with your popularity and to keep compliments from going to your head?
I don’t know the best way. I only know what I have learned and am trying to put into practice: be grateful and humbly redirect. “Thank you so much. It was a blessing for me to be part of what God is doing here.”
I’m not talking about faux humility. I’m talking about humility that flows out of walking with Jesus, consistently cultivating a sense of gratitude that God would allow me the incredible privilege of being used by Him for His purpose and His glory, and continuously praying that my motivation would be surrendered to His will .
Question: What other ways can you think of to acknowledge words of blessing without letting compliments become your motivation?
Comment below. I’d love to learn from your perspective.
