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Secret Opinions

John 7:12-13
Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, ‘He is a good man.’ Others replied, ‘No, he deceives the people.’ But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. (NIVUK)

Jesus could not be ignored.  What He said and did was so authoritative and memorable that the crowds tried to understand who He was and what motivated Him.  Their opinions were divided.  Some thought He was good, but others concluded He was bad, deceiving the people.  However, the possibility that He might be God in a human body, the Messiah, never occurred to them. Even the trainee apostles did not understand fully until the Holy Spirit came (John 16:12-15).

Fear and whispering tend to go together.  Although everybody had opinions about Jesus, they were afraid of what the religious leaders might do to them if they spoke openly. In fact, the only time when they were encouraged to do so, the crowd shouted, "Crucify, crucify!" (John 19:6)

The history of the church shows that whenever people are afraid to speak what is true about Jesus, Satan works in the whispering and the church withers.  But whenever God's people proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, the church grows with new believers.  

The lesson is not to be silent about the truth of Jesus.  It may be difficult or even dangerous to speak the truth about Jesus Christ, but as we do, some will be saved: if we do not, then Satan's lies about Jesus will keep people in their darkness.  So, practise using the name of Jesus, speaking of your relationship with Him, every day.

Prayer 
Dear Lord God. Thank You for Jesus. I am sorry for the times when I have not spoken about Jesus because I have been shy or frightened. Please help me to speak about Him and the relationship I have with Him, so that others might be stirred to seek Him and find Him. In His Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams