Fear Makes Us Take Wrong Decisions.

Saturday 4^th April 2020. Read Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31 and John 11:45-56)_

“What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on thus, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” (John 11:47-48)

The chief priests and the Pharisees with their scribes were thrown into a panic when they heard that many people had come to believe in Jesus. What was their fear? That if everyone comes to believe in Jesus as the Messiah (the King of the Universe), the Romans would come to destroy their nation.

This fear is concretely summed up in John 19:12 “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; everyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar.” Note that the Romans were their colonial masters at that time. The Jewish leaders were afraid of losing their nation and concluded that Jesus must be killed.

Like Herod who killed all the male children born at the time for fear of a rival king, the Chief priests and Pharisees were shaken with fear. Caiaphas speaking prophetically as High Priest noted: “It is expedient for one man to die than for a whole nation to perish.” Little did Caiaphas know that he had just summarized the entire mission of Jesus Christ on earth – “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Fear is such a dangerous thing. When we are gripped by fear, we begin to make serious mistakes, we take very wrong decisions, we fail to recognise our true friends and mistake even our saviour for an enemy.

If only the Chief Priests and the Pharisees knew Jesus was not seeking after earthly power and their fears were completely unfounded, they would have simply left Jesus alone. As Jesus would later say to Pilate, “My kingship is not of this world…” (John 18:36).

Nevertheless, Caiaphas was right, it was necessary for Jesus to die not simply to save the Israelite nation but to save the whole world from the bondage of sin. The question now is: To what extent do I behave like Christ? How willing am I to make sacrifices for others? Do I offer my time, talent or resources to others? When last did I go out of my way to save someone from dying?

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to love others as you love me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 5th Week of Lent. Bible Study: Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31 and John 11:45-56).