John 11:54-57

John 11:54-57 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the Feast at all?” But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

Observing Jesus' movements prior to Passover, we see him going to the region of Judea where his life was in danger and then journeying back to a safer area near the desert. Just as He delayed his coming to the house of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, his withdrawal to the village of Ephraim was directed by the leading of the Holy Spirit. His very being and the length of his days were determined by God. He did nothing expeditiously without listening to that still small voice. He waited on God and moved only when God told him to do so. He told the people: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34) Of course, looking at Christ's situation in the natural, we can easily understand Jesus moving to the desert to avoid danger, but we also saw him go into Judea where He faced possible arrest or death at any moment. Obviously fear neither motivated nor controlled his attitudes nor his actions. Jesus trusted in the written Word: In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4) More importantly, He trusted in his Father God and in the knowledge He would go wherever the Father sent him regardless of the consequences because He came to bring salvation to all people, to fulfill an new and better covenant with a fallen mankind.

As Jesus sent his 12 disciples to the lost sheep of Israel, He warned of persecution, betrayals, and imprisonments; yet he said, So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:26-28) Jesus walked by faith, obedient to the Father, in step with the Spirit, however difficult the path, knowing his final destination led to triumphant victory. This is the faith that overcomes the world, the faith that sets the captives free from death and the grave. We cannot walk in fear and faith simultaneously; just as we cannot serve two masters or try to follow the ways of Christ and hold onto our old patterns of living. We read in 1 John: We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1:4:13-18)

Those verses offer tremendous hope to sheep who have temporarily lost their way--that's all of us. Whether you have failed miserably, made poor or impulsive decisions, done wrong when you knew to do right, marred precious relationships, walked in fear rather than trust God, chose death over life, wandered into darkness; GOD IS STILL LOVE: HE IS STILL FOR YOU, WITH YOU, NIGH YOU. GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH: HE DOES NOT LIE. YOU JUST READ: HE HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT; JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD; GOOD LIVES IN HIM AND HE IN GOD; AND SO WE KNOW AND RELY ON THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR US. As we recognize and admit our need, we arise from the dark pits of doubt, fear, unbelief, shame dysfunction, sin, and bondage. We escape the agony, pain, guilt, and sorrow of the sins done to us and the sins we have inflicted upon others. The Lord says, "Come all who are thirsty, all who are weary and burdened down. I will make my love complete in you. I will cover you. I will be your everything, all you will ever need." He has loved you with an everlasting love. He entreats you--calls you NOW, but He will not make you come. Surrender is a faith choice. You have to say, "Yes, Lord. I am here. I am so sorry. Help me." Sometimes God gives a clear vision concerning what lies ahead; even then, our lives do not always turn out exactly as we thought they would. Other times He says, "Move NOW: Do not even gather up your belongings. Get out of that poison patch. Do not be afraid. There is no fear in love."