Persecution By Association? John 12:9-11

Text:  “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master (Jesus Christ), and the servant as his Lord.  If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?

Matthew 10:25.

          “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with Eternal glory.  It is a faithful saying; For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.  If we believe not (fail and falter), yet He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

2 Timothy 2:10-13.

Good morning, Heaven-bound Christian!  You and I are Heaven-bound because Christ Jesus has suffered for us on Calvary’s Cross; made a full Atonement for our sins to our Holy Father God; and redeemed our never-dying souls for all Eternity.  Now, this is something that should excite us at the beginning of any new day.  Let’s hear it?  ‘Hallelujah!  Thanks be to God for such great Salvation!’

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again (born again) unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for YOU.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Oh yes, beloved Christian.  You and I are, by God’s great grace, Heaven-bound - but there is much that we must first suffer for such an infinite privilege while we are yet here below.   As Jesus suffered, so must we suffer - if we are true believers who seek to diligently serve our risen Lord God.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)

Today’s three verse portion of John’s Gospel, chapter twelve, reveals to us another vital concept: the world’s practice of persecution by association.

Persecution By Association:  Many of the Jewish people knew Jesus was among them due to the smell of the precious ointment that had been poured over Messiah Jesus by Mary, the sister of the resurrected Lazarus, .  Christ’s Presence can never be hidden, He is ‘…altogether lovely…’  Praise His Name.

Christ is ‘…the chiefest among ten thousand…’: His head, eyes, cheeks, lips, hands, belly, legs, countenance, mouth - are all described - in TYPE - in the Song of Solomon 5:9-16.  Read this account and worship Him, dear friend.

“His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.”  (Solomon’s Song 5:13)

When we, as true Christians, seek to be like Christ (I.e. Christian), then we too shall manifest, to varying degrees, a similar presence among men.  We will prove to all and sundry the truth of the Gospel - that there is new Spiritual life in Christ Jesus; that we have been quickened from the dead.

“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”  (Ephesians 2:1)

We Christians cannot, or certainly should not, be able to hide Christ’s light under any ‘…bushel…’ of worldly compromise.  We must shine for Him.  (A ‘bushel’ is a container holding a dry measure of 8 imperial gallons - I.e. for measuring grain, wheat, beans, etc.)

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”  (Matthew 5:15-16)

Christ’s Presence could not be concealed from the multitude, nor could the presence of the now, Supernaturally, risen Lazarus be denied - the living man was ‘…sat at the table with Him.’  (John 12:2)

However, the worldly response to Lazarus from the ‘chief priests’ vividly reveals our concept of ‘persecution by association’ .  They wanted to put Lazarus to death because - ‘…by reason of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus.’ (V.11)   Seeing was believing!

Lazarus was closely associated with Jesus, the Christ, Who had literally raised him from the dead.  Therefore, he too must be persecuted due to this close association with Jesus.  Nothing has changed today, Christian friend.

Thought: Jesus suffered infinitely to redeem us.  Are we closely enough associated with Jesus to suffer persecution for Him?  I hope so.  The Lord bless your day.