May 14 - Silenced By Fear.

John 7:11
“Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?”
 
In the chaos of our world today, many seem to be asking the same question.
 
Where is Jesus?
 
The people who were not His disciples were looking for Him.
Yet, the disciples neglected to share the Answer to the question.
 
Perhaps they did not know the Answer.
 
The people of the Jews were murmuring amongst themselves concerning Him.
 
Some said He was a good man.
Others disagreed.
 
John 7:12
“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.”
 
The saddest part was that His disciples stayed silent.
 
John 7:13
“Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.”
 
Their silence was driven by fear of what other people would think of them. 
 
How similar to our circumstances today. 
 
People are searching for Jesus, yet they do not know where to find Him.
 
Perhaps because we, His disciples, have stayed silent for so long. 
Now, we are silent out of fear of what others will think of us.
 
Somehow it has become more important about what others think of us, instead of what they think of Him.
 
The circumstances are still the same today as they were when the disciples went up to the feast. 
 
They were unaware that Jesus was there them.
 
John 7:10
“But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”
 
He was watching to see what they would do, what they would say, how they would answer the question of the Jews that sought Him, “Where is he?”
 
He is watching to see how we will handle the same question. 
 
Will we stay silent out of fear…
or will we choose to proclaim the Answer?
 
Refuse to be silenced by fear today.
 
 
Bible Reading:
1 Samuel 23   |    1 Corinthians 2