We don’t usually picture Jesus as someone who said “no.” We imagine Him as endlessly available—teaching, healing, feeding, and caring for the crowds. But if you look closely at the Gospels, you’ll see that Jesus actually said no quite often. He said no to good opportunities, no to people He loved, and no to cultural expectations. And every no wasn’t about rejection—it was about protecting His yes to the Father’s will.

One example comes from John 6, where the crowds wanted to make Jesus king after He fed the five thousand. On the surface, it was a “good” thing—power, influence, and recognition. But Jesus slipped away to pray. Another time in Mark 1, after a night of miraculous healings, people begged Him to stay. Instead, He told His disciples they needed to move on to other towns. Jesus wasn’t motivated by popularity or opportunity—He was motivated by purpose.

Jesus also said no to people, even close friends. In Matthew 16, Peter tried to steer Him away from the cross, and Jesus sharply rebuked him: “Get behind me, Satan.” And He often resisted the expectations people placed on Him—refusing to act as an earthly judge in Luke 12 or to abandon His mission to honor family demands in Mark 3. These nos may sound harsh, but they were rooted in a deeper love and a sharper focus.

What can we learn from this? Boundaries aren’t selfish; they’re faithful. They create margin for what matters most. When we say no out of obedience, we’re actually saying yes to healthier priorities—yes to rest, yes to deeper relationships, yes to God’s unique calling on our lives. Boundaries allow us to love more fully, not less, because our energy isn’t divided among obligations that don’t belong to us.

So here’s the question: what do you need to say no to this week? Maybe it’s an opportunity that looks good but doesn’t fit your calling. Maybe it’s the pressure of other people’s expectations. Maybe it’s the guilt of overcommitment. Whatever it is, remember that Jesus Himself said no—and it was His nos that freed Him to give His greatest yes. And when we follow His example, we discover the same freedom: the courage to say yes to God’s will and the life He designed us to live.