AFRAID OF THE JEWS
The opposition group in Jerusalem were interrogating the parents of the man born blind. They replied, “‘Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him’” (John 9:21b-23).
Now, this account unfairly uses the term “the Jews” to identify the Pharisees in opposition to Jesus. They were all Jews, including Jesus and those who defended Him. The one thing that’s clear is that these religious leaders ruled by fear. If you didn’t agree with their philosophy, you were “put out”, or disfellowshipped, or excommunicated. No one wanted to be kicked out of the synagogue, just as no one wants to be kicked out of a church.
But, we can’t control people in church by fear. That’s how tyrants seek to control opposition groups in countries like Iran and North Korea. God’s people should be influencing one another by love, not fear. Let’s each work hard to love people into the Kingdom.
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