“But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;” (John 12:10)
One thing that is guaranteed to enrage any captor is to hear that one of his captives has found a way to escape. The second is that others have begun to follow his example.
The Pharisees had an iron grip on the people, if they adhered to what the Lord Jesus Christ was professing, they would be cast out of the temple, and in a sense, the way to God. You could lose your means of survival, be ostracized from the community, killed for following the One who could set you free from their bondage.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
I am not sure many who are born-again understand that the truth spoken of in that verse, the freedom that comes with it, may mean our death. There is no surer or purer form of freedom from the wicked ways of this world, the wiles of our adversary, the deceitful lies of religious organizations and the continual harassment of our old, sinful nature than death.
The Orthodox sons of Jacob, the Roman Catholic cult, the sons of Ishmael and every religion that denies the truth of the sufficiency of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the means of the salvation of a man’s soul hate those who have been blessed with the truth of, and accepted it as truth, John 10:28
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
The assurance of salvation by grace through faith is what they hate, for it is the key that unlocked the cell door that allowed us who are hid in Christ to be free from their bondage of works for salvation, and as the Pharisees determined to do to Lazarus, they have through the centuries and continue to do today, done to us.
Either in bondage, complete control of, or disposed of, this is how evil men in positions of power think.
I do not know if they killed Lazarus, I do not know how many others besides Paul were sent out to capture and kill those who escaped their control, but I do know it did not stop when Jerusalem was destroyed, it simply shifted.
There is no shame in running for your safety when evil of this form approaches, but there is much more than shame awaiting you if they capture you, and you deny Him whom you profess to serve.
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4)
By the thousands every year there are brothers and sisters of ours in Christ who are freed from this life by those who hate Him whom we serve, this is a truth that cannot be denied. To them Philippians 1:21 is more than a truth, it is life itself.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
If you have honestly been born-again it is not death that you fear, not even the manner that your Father in heaven has determined for you to die. It is not persecutions, cruel mocking, being ostracized from the community you live in, the loss of all personal relationships with family and friends.
The only fear we have is that we may dishonor Him who saved us from our sins.
Perhaps not you personally my friend, but some who serve the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God are being hunted down, and if that truth does not assist you, encourage you to stand in these evil days, I do not know what will. The soldier who refuses to enter the battle is no soldier, but a coward.
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)
If you have been set free, you have a grave responsibility to the One who opened that cell door for you, and until the moment of your death, you are expected to stand for Him.
