Last Sunday's livestream teaching from our pastor featured parallels between incidents in the lives of Joseph and Jesus. Both, for example, went willingly in response to their fathers' directives.
Another parallel was raw hatred of others directed toward Joseph and Jesus. This comparison led to John 11:48, where it was noted that Jewish leaders plotted against Jesus from the early days of His ministry:
"If we let him go on like this, all men will
believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our
nation." John 11:48
For a few minutes during this Bible teaching I was stuck on that reality: tragedy in the midst of the ‘triumphant’ entry and joyous reception from the people of God's city Jerusalem.
I realized that the same is true today in regard to the preaching of the gospel: “If we let them (the Christians) go on like this, all men will believe in Him…”
Satan’s desire always is to deny Jesus and shut down -- even kill -- His followers, warning of dire consequences (in this world) if The Truth is shared. So it is that on many occasions Jesus issued warnings to His followers: "In this world you WILL have trouble."
May we take comfort, Lord, in the fact that You promise to walk with us every step of the way through this life, never leaving or forsaking us. May we continue to see Your strength, to act and speak in accordance with Your will as we battle continuously with Satan and the natural world. May hatred inspire us to respond in love. May the joy of our relationship with You prompt us to introduce others to You. We love You, Jesus. Amen.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2
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