Read John 11:54-57
Jesus Couldn’t Get A Break.
Because Jesus was well aware that the Pharisees and Sanhedrin were wanting to kill him, he no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. In fact, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, isolated from those plotting to kill him, while being surrounded by his disciples.
This morning as I read this passage, I found myself looking at it in a brand new way: Jesus never got a break. Ever since Jesus started his ministry, he faced opposition from the religious leaders. They hated him and constantly was thinking of ways of killing him. More than once they picked up stones to kill Jesus and more than once they tried to seize him. No matter how loving Jesus was, and no matter how much truth he spoke, the religious leaders were vicious towards him. They called him several degrading names and accused him of being possessed by the devil. Didn’t matter how great a miracle he did, nor how much love he displayed in the miracle, he faced strong opposition.
If I faced such opposition in the Ministry God called me to, would I have quit? Not just because of the opposition, but because of how mentally and emotionally draining it would have been. These words were a constant “beatdown” to Jesus. You know as well as I do, that you only can take being “beat down” for so long. Eventually, you begin to believe the lies said about you, or begin to feel so worthless that you isolate yourself from God and from the ministry God has called you too. Beat downs often lead to the feelings of hopelessness and some wish they were dead because they can’t take it anymore. While others want to kill the very people beating them down.
Have you experienced any of these feelings? Jesus understands them. He experienced it and verse 54 gives two examples of what Jesus did to escape the “beat down.”
1. Jesus withdrew from the toxic area to a safe place.
2. Jesus surrounded himself with people who would support and encourage him.
When Satan attacks you and you feel beat down, find a safe place and surround yourself with people who will love you and speak truth into your life. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy!!
