By: Juliet Constantine
“But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” (John 12:10-11)
It’s one thing to have a death threat hanging over your head by the government or anyone else. But a death threat from within the body of believers is frightening. Such was Lazarus’ experience. He was the next best choice since he was responsible for many Jews believing in Jesus. In Jamaican Creole we say: “If yu kian catch quako yu catch im shut”, meaning if you are unable to get to the person you need, you will take the next best. Since Jesus was proving to be so ‘slippery’ to their grasp, they would take Lazarus instead and make him a public example of what will happen to all who believe in Jesus. Imagine that, the leaders of the Church, who are appointed to be the intercessors between God and man on Earth, planning to murder?
Well, this was the intent of the leadership hierarchy of the Church. You would think these were the persons who would understand the mission and embrace its fulfillment; the ones to whom others would go in search of prayers, guidance, and perspective. The very ones, who were given the responsibility of spiritual leadership among God’s children hated the very office they represented. How do I know this? It showed in their actions! If your brethren and the leadership of your congregation refuse to rejoice with you, to whom can you turn? To whom do you turn when their hate needed a sharp knife to slice it away?
Lazarus was blessed to live again on this earth. God chose to raise him to life as a testimony so that others would believe. And many did. But those who are seeking a reason to criticize will always find one. Jesus had warned that the world would hate those who believe in Him, not because of what they did, but because they associate with Him and the blessings they received from His hands. The chief Priests hardened their hearts and choose not to believe that rough, hard characters could be subdued and changed. They preferred to believe a lie because, believing otherwise, they would have to admit they had become irrelevant and unneeded. They could not run the risk of losing their treasured positions in church, so they joined band with the evil one. The agreed consensus was: “Until we can catch Jesus, Lazarus must die!”
Do I hate others because of God’s blessing on their lives? That’s covetousness. Have I tried to undermine God’s work by killing others with my tongue? If I did Lord, please forgive. Jesus wants none of us excluded. He desires for us all to come in a close relationship with Him. Come, just as you are and watch as He transforms your life into something beautiful, something good. He understood all your confusion. He will guide you in unraveling the mysteries, and you will, by faith, experience the beauty to which He will lead you. You too can enjoy the blessings of God. There’s no limit on His blessings. Are you a hater? Choose to be a believer. Already a believer – that’s great. Continue and His blessings will overflow to others.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for blessings from above. Please help us to be the support You called us to be, and may our influence helps to perpetuate change that will be evident in lives surrendered to You. This is our prayer, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
