John 12:42-43
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
It’s one thing for an unknown poor person to decide to follow Jesus…but when it comes to people who have a larger group of friends…or a more significant sphere of influence…becoming “one of those people” can be a very difficult choice. For my wife and I, we had to eventually “come out” to both of our families, who were nominal Christians for the most part, as well as our circle of friends and co-workers, almost all of whom were without Christ. With some, we made our new allegiance known right away, both with most, it took time to allow our new natures to show themselves.
Are you afraid to “come out” as a born-again Christian?
Unlike today, early followers of Jesus in that Jewish culture faced major opposition from the religious authorities—the Pharisees. It was more akin to a middle eastern Muslim converting to Christianity, where they routinely face being kicked out of their family home, ostracized from their friends and neighbors, and in the most extreme areas…stoned to death. Throw into that first century mix a public water baptism by immersion and voila! You have made yourself an enemy of the religious state. It would be like denouncing Catholicism while working in the pope’s administration. Ouch.
“…for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it…”
The great bible commentator William Barclay said, “Secret discipleship is a contradiction in terms for, ‘either the secrecy kills the discipleship, or the discipleship kills the secrecy.’” It’s kind of like being pregnant: You can hide it for a while, but sooner or later, the condition becomes too obvious to ignore. Is your allegiance to Christ obvious…or more subtle? Perhaps you are still hiding in the closet, seeking solace in your anonymity as a follower of Christ? If you struggle to go public with your faith, not only are you choosing to deny Jesus in a significant way, but you are also settling for far less joy and Holy Spirit power than the Lord wants you to have! Don’t do that.
Making your faith obvious is not the end game of your faith…faithfulness is. Obedience to Christ is. Living (and loving) in a way that glorifies God is. When you do those things, you will find freedom from the fear of man and the joy of living the true Christian life…a life that God will use, bless, and multiply…and a life that your unbelieving family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers desperately need to see, hear, and experience. Set aside the opinions of the “Pharisees” in your life and walk in the freedom that Christ purchased for you on that old rugged cross! Once you break free, you will experience all that the Lord wants to give you!
