Good morning Church,

In John 12:42-43, it says this:

“Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in Him. But they wouldn’t admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.” NLT

Paul, a former Pharisee speaks on this point: (you can read his testimony in Acts 26:4 and on)

“Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people-pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 NLT

Paul got it. We are not meant to be people-pleasers, but we are designed to seek the praise of God. Is it possible that Paul was familiar with the spiritual temperature back there in Bethany? (John 12:42-43) Would he have been one of the oppressive, suspicious Pharisees examining the other men in his sect, looking for any indication that they may be “Jesus-sympathizers” or even “Jesus-lovers”?

I wonder what it would have felt like, to be witnessing these miraculous acts of Christ and, having your heart awakened to the reality of it all, brimming with belief, but laced with fear.
What if someone finds out?
Are they watching me?
I don’t want to lose my job – or my status in the community.
I daresay that there are those among us who may have unknowingly fallen amongst the crowd of doubting, pharisaical types, but find that the Living God is revealing Himself to them in all sorts of tangible, believable ways. Hmm…dilemma. Everything that they have learned and experienced (or been told is their experience) declares that God simply does not exist in this way. And yet.
Jesus IS alive.
Holy Spirit IS actually a person.
People who used to be blind are being healed.
Those who were diagnosed with cancer are receiving clean bills of health.
Words of knowledge, things only God knows about us are being spoken by everyday believers through the power of God to bring about salvation.
The dead are being raised.
I’m not making this up to be shocking.
It’s not an exaggeration. It’s real.
Many people, including some Church leaders, believe in these things and it may even be a part of their ‘Christian experience’, but they won’t admit it to anyone or provide resources or support and encouragement in the places where God is moving because of their fear that they would be expelled from their place in the “religious community”.

They are those who love they taste of human praise above that of God.
Like those men of old, they remain ‘secret believers’.

Secret believers out of FEAR. We know from Scripture that fear is not from God. For God has NOT given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. (2 Timothy 1:7-8 NLT)

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood!
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood!
SASB 281