What have you to fear?
Have you ever been afraid to
speak for fear of repercussions? There were people in the days that
Jesus
walked the earth who were so afraid to believe that He was the Messiah that
they never mentioned it because they thought that they would be kicked out of
the Temple! These were Jewish leaders who froze in their tracks, one must
wonder if the made it to heaven or died in their sin of omission?
But the people couldn’t believe,
for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their
hearts—so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and
they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” Isaiah was referring to Jesus
when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. Many people did believe in him, however,
including some of the Jewish leaders. But they would not admit it for fear that
the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the
praise of God.
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If
you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when
you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine
in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain
in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have
come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my
message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I
don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what
to say and how to say it. And I know his
commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
John 12:37-50
Jesus came to earth as man so
that we could believe. All that the Pharisees had to do was read their own text
to understand, but they did not see it. I think it was because they loved the
power they had over the people, they had all they needed and then some. If they
admitted they had been wrong at first and that Jesus was the Lord, the Messiah
said to come, they may loose that power. Power over other people is an
intoxicating thing for some people! When that power is taken from us, even
simple things like the power to go walking in the store without a mask, can
seem like a huge thing. It can leave us feeling helpless and meaningless.
God has a plan for you and I, just
as He had a plan when He came to earth to walk among us; He planned to save us
from our sins. He planned to teach us of His ways and show us how to walk in
His paths for us! How to follow Him.
You know, if the Jewish leaders
had realized, I mean really thought about it, Jesus was the one to listen to
and with the belief in Him for real they would not have feared for repercussion
from man because following God is what they should have been doing in the first
place! Later Paul will come to his senses when he meets Jesus on the road to
Damascus, but what happened with the rest of them we only can imagine. Even if people
do not seem to be believers we need to love one another, treat them as Jesus
did those who did not believe. He told them the truth and allowed them to
figure it out.
Keep on loving each other as
brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some
who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those
in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated,
as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage and remain
faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are
immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what
you have.
For God has said, “I will never
fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord
is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Remember your leaders who taught you the word
of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow the
example of their faith. Hebrews 13:1-9
If we follow the example of those
who truly were following Christ then, we too will walk where He walks,
following the path that Jesus has laid before us. We just need to keep our eyes
on God and listen to the teaching of Godly men and women who line up with the
Word in what they preach or teach. If they do not line up, then let them know,
or let them go.
Do not follow the wrong path. It
can be so easy to get excited and follow a crowd, but that crowd could lead you
off the edge of a cliff! Be careful who you listen to, then follow the Christ
where He leads you.
Dear Heavenly Father, give us
discernment to know the truth, and the true path You have put before us, help us
to follow only after You and Your people. In Jesus name, amen,
Suggested Readings: Hebrews
13:1-25, John 12:1-50 and Hebrews 12:1-29