System Manufacturer: iBUYPOWER
System Model: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-14700F
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-14700F, 2100 MHz, 20 Core(s), 28 Logical Processor(s)
Memory: (RAM) 32.0 GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA 4070
Storage: 2TB Storage
Monitor: OMEN 27S

David was an ordinary man from a small Galilean town, not far from where Jesus of Nazareth had spent his childhood. While their families occasionally crossed paths, David had never truly met Jesus. He only heard stories that circulated through the countryside: stories of miracles, profound teachings, and the gathering of devoted followers. Something about these tales planted a seed of envy in David’s heart. He was neither a disciple nor a skeptic, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed by Jesus’s growing fame. When travelers passed through, they would share anecdotes of how Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, and challenged the authorities, leaving David both fascinated and unsettled.

Although David’s life lacked much excitement, he found moments of contentment working alongside his father, a carpenter. On slow afternoons, he would carve small wooden figurines, fantasizing about a life that was just a bit larger than the one he knew. As the local buzz around Jesus grew louder, David began to resent the attention Jesus commanded. Why, David wondered, did all eyes turn to this teacher from Nazareth, instead of noticing the humble dedication David poured into his craft? Jealousy simmered beneath the surface, an ember waiting for the right wind to ignite it. And so it was that David found himself at a crossroads of faith and envy.

One day, David heard that Jesus would be passing through the marketplace near his hometown. Eager to see for himself what all the fuss was about, David decided to go. He arrived early, watching as people gathered in anticipation. Some were desperate for healing, others simply curious about the rumors. Eventually, Jesus appeared with his disciples. David noticed how Jesus spoke gently yet decisively. People pressed forward, hanging on his every word. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” Jesus said. Something about these words stung David. Wasn’t he meek, quietly laboring in his workshop? How, then, was Jesus the one captivating hearts and minds?

The crowd surged around Jesus, pushing David to the outskirts. Annoyed, he tried to catch a glimpse of the teacher’s face. In that moment, Jesus looked in David’s direction, as though sensing his presence. Their eyes met briefly. A curious warmth spread through David’s chest, which quickly gave way to a renewed pang of envy. Was Jesus somehow peering into his soul, discerning the jealousy that stirred inside him? David felt a surge of guilt. He turned away, hurrying back to his workshop, where the steady rhythm of sawing and sanding offered some solace. Yet his mind refused to let go of that encounter.

In the days that followed, David’s jealousy intensified. He overheard villagers praising Jesus’s wisdom, marveling at stories of lepers cleansed and demons cast out. Even David’s own father, a man of few words, occasionally referenced the “carpenter’s son from Nazareth” with a hint of admiration. Every utterance was like another drop of oil fueling David’s smoldering resentment. He found himself snapping at customers, carving too forcefully and ruining entire batches of wood. At night, he wrestled with restless dreams where Jesus stood above him like a radiant star, while David toiled in darkness, unseen and unloved. This bitterness gnawed at his heart.

One Sabbath, David ventured to the synagogue, where rumors claimed Jesus might speak. The building was packed with villagers and distant travelers alike. When Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah, a hush fell over the assembly, broken only by the occasional gasp at his interpretation. David listened, arms folded, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Despite himself, he couldn’t help feeling a quiet awe. Jesus spoke of delivering the oppressed, proclaiming good news to the poor, and granting sight to the blind. The atmosphere crackled with wonder. Yet David’s jealousy wouldn’t relent. He told himself that Jesus was just a man like anyone else—and one day, surely, the crowd would see it too.

Not long afterward, David received news that Jesus had traveled to Capernaum, performing miracles along the way. Countless people followed him, leaving David’s village quieter than usual. His workshop felt emptier. Hardly anyone came by to buy carvings or hire him for repairs. Instead, they were off chasing Jesus’s words. David stewed in anger. “Why not me?” he muttered. “I’ve got talent, I’m a decent person… how come no one listens to me?” His father gently suggested patience, urging David to focus on his craft. But David’s resentment had grown into a thorny bramble. He couldn’t stand hearing Jesus’s name repeated with reverence while he remained unnoticed.

In an effort to quell the gnawing in his soul, David decided to confront his feelings head-on. He packed a small bag and set off on a journey to find Jesus. Days of travel brought him along dusty roads, through towns abuzz with talk of healings and parables. Each retelling of Jesus’s wonders stirred a tumult of emotion in David. At last, he reached the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus was rumored to be preaching. Hundreds had gathered. David nudged his way through the masses, finally seeing Jesus standing by the water’s edge, compassion radiating from him like the sun. In that instant, David felt both drawn in and repelled.

Summoning his courage, David approached Jesus after the crowds dispersed. He found him seated on a rock, looking weary yet serene. “Teacher,” David began, voice quavering, “may I speak with you?” Jesus turned gently toward him, nodding. For a moment, David’s envy dissolved under the weight of the teacher’s kindness. He asked Jesus how to overcome anger and find peace. Jesus spoke of forgiveness, of loving one’s neighbors—and even one’s enemies. He spoke of humility. David listened in a haze of conflicting emotions. How could anyone be so calm, so certain? Part of him yearned to embrace these teachings, yet his jealousy roared like a wounded animal, refusing to submit.

That evening, David found a lonely spot under an olive tree. He thought of his life, and how Jesus’s overshadowing presence had consumed his mind. With tears slipping down his cheeks, he realized his jealousy wasn’t just about Jesus’s gifts or following—it was about the love people showed him. David felt unloved, invisible, and resentful. Yet he also recognized that Jesus had done nothing to harm him. His frustration stemmed from his own inability to accept his path. In a moment of clarity, David understood that to conquer his jealousy, he would have to face the emptiness within himself.

This quiet revelation did not erase the bitterness overnight, but it set David on a journey of self-reflection. Over the months and years that followed, he returned to his workshop, gradually finding contentment in the act of creation itself. He might never gather crowds or perform miracles, but he could carve meaning into every plank of wood he touched, forging a quiet purpose that required no audience. Though the memory of Jesus still stirred envy at times, David learned to counter it with humility and kindness, softening the edges of his jealousy until, one day, it became a shadow he could carry without shame.