Sunday 4th August
Read John 12:9-11
“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.” (NIVUK)
The life Jesus gives is contagious. Anyone who catches it is a threat and, like Jesus, must be eliminated. The history of the church bears out this simple truth, a truth Jesus warned those who followed Him about.
This small observation contains truths we do well to heed. We don’t need to do anything to ‘attract’ people to Jesus – they are drawn to Him. Our role is to simply follow Him faithfully and devotedly. Jesus is attractive enough, but His life in us has consequences. Life and death consequences. Yet Christ is our hope in life and death.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16) (NIVUK)
