The Beginning of Wisdom

Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, in what some scholars believe was Jesus’ last miracle, prior to his crucifixion.

Sadly, while many were rejoicing, others were plotting.

Those that were plotting against Jesus reasoned with themselves, “if we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:48

Note that it is God’s work that revealed the heart of man, not the judgment of Christ, but in this case, God’s work revealed that these men had things they were willing to kill to protect.

See, up until then, Jesus had been somewhat containable. He had demonstrated his power to raise the dead before, but this time was different. This time, the person that Jesus had just raised from the dead had been dead for FOUR days, which meant that there was absolutely no logical way to explain to a rather large group of people that Lazarus was now alive. The same people who had prepared Lazarus’ body for burial and those who were actually present when they buried him, were now seeing Lazarus walking around, alive and well.

It made no sense.

The only explanation that was left, that had any sort of credibility, would be that Jesus was telling the truth when he said,

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11: 25-26

Yet these men had become so consumed with their own agendas that they were not only plotting to kill Jesus, but they were also plotting to kill Lazarus, “whom he raised from the dead” John 12:9

Jesus was standing right in front of them.

God himself was in their midst.

He was healing and changing lives.

Yet, the leaders had traded their own personal agendas for the will of God, and the men and women that were leading, and some that were being led, had learned to find comfort in the glory of man, so they were no longer thirsty for the glory of God.

I’ve been there.

I’ve lost sight of who I was put on this earth to please a time or two, but by the grace of God, I pray that I never lose sight of it again.

For I never want someone to write about me,

“Though [Jesus] had done many signs before them, they still did not believe in him. . . Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:37, 42-43.

I have learned that to avoid repeating my mistake I need understanding and wisdom, and I also know that I need wisdom now more than ever, as Revelation 17:9 plainly states, these days call “for a mind with wisdom”

See, in this day and time, I need to know who I can trust and who I cannot trust, because it is not my desire to be distracted by the agenda of men.

Instead, it is my desire to be about my Father's business.

Therefore, it is imperative that I have the ability to discern, and know for myself, that I can trust the motives of those that I have chosen to lead me.

And God’s Word reminds me, “that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding”, so God will give me that understanding, if I will ask. 1 John 5:20.

However, understanding does me no good, if I refuse to acknowledge the truth even when it is revealed to me, which is why I cannot ignore that his Word also warns, “so little children, keep yourselves from idols”. 1 John 5:21.

Lest my idolatry of man, prevent me from seeing the glory of God.

Because the truth is,

The fear of the Lord (not the fear of man) is the beginning of wisdom . . . Proverbs 9:10