SET FREE IN THE OPEN

“At this they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a finger on Him because His hour had not yet come.” —John 7:30

Jesus repeatedly took His place publicly amid ferocious opposition and boldly proclaimed the Word of God. “This led some of the people of Jerusalem to remark: ‘Is this not the One they want to kill? Here He is speaking in public and they don’t say a word to Him!’ ” (Jn 7:25-26)

The keys to Jesus’ fearlessness are:

1) His relationship with His Father. Because Jesus knew that the Father loved Him (see Jn 5:20), He had total confidence that His Father would protect Him fully, until His “hour” of suffering arrived (see Jn 7:30; 12:27).

2) His knowledge of being sent by the Father to proclaim God’s Word. Jesus knew that He was supported by the full authority of God the Father (see Mt 28:18; Jn 5:36; 7:16). Because Jesus sought glory for His Father and not for Himself (Jn 7:18), His heart burned with zeal and did not cower out of self-preservation.

3) His love. “Love has no room for fear; rather, perfect love casts out all fear” (1 Jn 4:18).

Jesus said to His apostles, and now says to us: “As the Father has sent Me, so I send You” (Jn 20:21). Let’s confidently take our places in God’s kingdom. God will give us strength even in the sight of our foes (Ps 23:5). “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rm 8:31) Like the psalmist, we can say: “They attacked me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord came to my support. He set me free in the open, and rescued me, because He loves me” (Ps 18:19-20).

Prayer: Father, I know fear is useless. Increase my trust in You (Mk 5:36) and take away all my fear.

Promise: “Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” —Ps 34:20

Praise: For years, Dan resented his stern, unloving father. Jesus softened both their hearts and now they have a close relationship.