“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.”

It’s a tough thing to preach the gospel. Everything will come against you, both friend and foe, and you will deal with the Tempter. He’ll do his best to get you down, just as they sought to kill Jesus [1 Pet 5:8]. He wants to silence your message. He doesn’t want us preaching Christ in the Spirit’s power, so let us go to the Father for this very strength, when we are assaulted. Being weak in ourselves, we’re strong in Him. Having nothing in the flesh - no macho power - we are mighty through Christ who strengthens us [Isa 40:29].

We must not cower or waver, but counting the costs, press forward into the power of His might, and stand firm like a lion, mighty as an elephant, and triumphant through Christ’s strength. Control yourself, child of God. Do battle with your fears by remembering that He saved you from sin, He is worthy of your suffering, and He’ll give sufficient strength for the consequences of obedience [Gen 22:8; Heb 11:17-19]. Let us put Christ first, and let the devil do his best. He can do nothing without God’s permission, and He sent us to obey. Preach Christ, and do not stop. Preach the truth with conviction and gentleness. Do not cower for men.

Secondly, we’ll have opposition from our own homes. vs3-5

“For not even his brothers believed in him.”

A man’s foes will be his own household [Matt 10:36]! What shall we do? Will we cower and keep quiet? Will we for money or for a wife’s shrink back from duty. We will not. We will go forward, compelled by love and thankfulness. We’ll go in the fear of the Lord, knowing there’s NO OTHER WAY to walk with Christ and to be happy. Obedience is mandatory. We must build His house [Haggai 1:7-9]. We must serve the Lord.

Let them leave, if they must, and He will be your friend [1 Cor 7:15]. Ps 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.” It doesn’t matter who we lose in this earthly realm, so long as we have the Comforter! He comforts us from the inside, so that we can comfort others, telling them of the sufficiency of Jesus [2 Cor 1:4]. We believe amidst trials and distresses, and therefore we speak. We keep our eyes on the unseen.

Be an example to your people, dear pastor, in the fear of God. Show them a man of uncompromising and fearless character. Show them that you are willing to lose everything. Faithfulness means more to you than the world, because this is the commandment.

Finally, fear will lead many to hell. vs11-13

“Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.”

Many know the truth, but they won’t preach it. Compromise is the order of the day. They’d rather have human praise than Jesus. They’d rather be approved of men [Gal 1:10].

This is foolish. Who comforts the soul? Who satisfies you? Our all comes from Jesus Christ, and He is the Savior. He is the One that paid our sins, and He sends the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Do you remember how oppressed you were? Overcome by the weight of sin? Do you remember what it was like under guilt and bondage, fearing God’s wrath? How about when He came to you and revealed your sins had been pardoned? He gave you peace, when He could have cast you away. He revealed we’re hell-worthy to save us from it. These are the good things of God’s grace. Remember where your bread is buttered.