Would You Have Been His Enemy?

This morning, my personal study led me through Mark’s account of the Crucifixion of Jesus. We finished the book with the last two chapters, but it was words at the beginning that got my attention: Pilate knew they sought to kill him out of envy, and to appease the crowds, he knowingly put an innocent man to death. Though Pilate initially tried to save Jesus, he still made himself Jesus’ enemy to appeal to the mob formed by the priests, scribes and Pharisees. It got me thinking: out of self-preservation, or out of envy, it’s easy to be Jesus’ enemy, but it is the hardest thing in the world to call Him Lord. In John’s Gospel, we see Nicodemus taking Jesus’ part when they’re plotting against Him, but he’s quickly shut down.

At the Cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus quietly retrieve, prepare and bury Jesus, but in secret, for fear of those in power. Even these men, influential though they were, were terrified of publicly being found out as Jesus’ followers. All of Jesus’ followers hid themselves. It wasn’t until the coming of the Holy Spirit that they were able to be bold enough to proclaim His excellencies. And many of them died proclaiming just that. I say all that to say this: following Jesus is most difficult, loved ones, as it requires complete trust in Jesus, and not leaning on our own understanding, but following the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. We have to completely let go of ourselves and die to them, so that we may be raised to life again in Jesus. And then, we must do all we can to let every breath, thought, word and action bring Him glory, not to be saved, but because we’re saved.

It is hard to be a follower of Jesus. Envy, appeasement and apathy still seek to root Jesus out of the public square, and those who would be their own gods want to devour those who bend knee to Him as Lord. So, I ask this morning: would you, in desiring to run your own life, be Jesus’ enemy out of envy like the leaders of Judea, or would you be His enemy to preserve your own life or position, appealing to the crowds as Pilate did? Would you have been His enemy if you lived back then? Are you making yourself His enemy while singing about Him on Sunday? Consider the Cross. Take up your own, daily, and follow after Jesus.

Luke 9:23-25

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.