- So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:10-11 – Honestly I’m still trying to work through these verses myself. While I’ve read them many times in the past they hit me uniquely this morning. That they were willing to go as far as murder to stop people from drawing close to Jesus. Whether it’s was for selfish reasons because they didn’t want to lose their glory or good reasons in their own mind in wanting to help people not turn away from the law, they were willing to take drastic steps to keep people from Jesus. Let’s not be naive in thinking this doesn’t happen today. In all our efforts to share the gospel we have an enemy who is willing to go the distance to keep people away from Jesus. Willing to crush the miracles that have happened in our story and silence our story. That’s said, we must then never let up on our pursuit to show people what Jesus has done in our story. Yes the enemy will be doing his best to silence that message, we must just speak louder. Keep striving, keep sharing, and trust God to make your witness seen by those that need to see it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1404
- The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” John 12:17-19 – This passage here is probably one of my favorite evangelism passages! Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead and is entering Jerusalem. As He enters the city, hoards of people come to Him to worship and proclaim His praises. Yet why? How did such a crowd know He was coming and know about His wonderous works? Verse 18 tells us that answer, those who saw what Jesus did shared what they saw with those that didn’t see it. Now, because of such sharing, those that hadn’t yet seen Jesus and His power are now drawing close to Him to see Him and worship Him. If then we today want to see people who don’t know Jesus yet begin approaching Jesus, we who have seen must start sharing what we have seen of Jesus. Share of His love, grace, and goodness. Share how He changed your life and saved you from your pits of despair. Let them see through you who Jesus is. They may have never experienced Jesus in their life before, but you can help them know Jesus through your sharing. Share so often that our enemy acknowledges he has lost the world for it has gone after Jesus. Find somehow today to somehow share with someone something about our Jesus with them. Let the message of Jesus find its way into every conversation, especially when you’re talking with those who don’t know Him yet. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2762
Daily DEVO 