“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;” vs42

The fear of man is a snare, causing us to not trust Christ. We must break this yoke, and be free of human opinion. We must stand for Jesus to enjoy the reward of Him standing with us. Paul says,

2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

It can’t be avoided. There’s no way around it. Many miss out on Christ for the fear of man, when He would have delivered us.

I’ve had the fear of man, and it had horrible consequences. In fear, I took a man’s word over God’s word, and God rebuked me by removing His presence. I wasn’t wise enough to get it back, so I went in my own strength for 18 years, uphill with the wind in my face, until I almost quit following Christ. Don’t let this happen to you.

Confess the Lord Jesus, and confess Him boldly! When men hate the gospel, preach it clearly and lovingly. Do not draw back!

Secondly, we’re either judged by Jesus, or we’re saved by Jesus. Vs47-48

"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."

You must choose. What do you want from God? Do you want Him to be a friend, love you, and save you… or do you want to perish under His wrath forever [Deut 30:19]?

Don’t let Satan deceive you that the consequences are small. Like Moses, forsake the short lived pleasure of sin (and the praise of men,) for the ETERNAL REWARD.

Hebrews 11:24-25,

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin."

Jesus is giving the best He’s got. He already gave up His life to save sinners from the wrath of God, and He gives abundant life now, and Paradise forever. He gives a reward that is too sweet to imagine. Listen to William Huntington,

"Then shall the elect, gathered from all winds, shine forth as the sun. They shall blaze in electing love, exult in divine joys, shine in everlasting light, solace in endless pleasure, and hymn particular redemption, till self-existing divinity fail, and eternity finds a period."

What can be better than that? Nothing. All the while escaping eternal hell.

On the other hand, the wicked have nothing but wrath coming [Eccl 8:13]. It shall not be well with those who don’t fear God. They give up eternity for a little bit of time. They do it at the expense of their souls, ignoring Christ's petitions. They are the biggest fools, because they go down to the Pit.

Devils cannot escape wrath, but you can. You must, therefore, no matter the costs… no matter the sufferings of today… no matter how men treat you… you must give up your life to gain it [John 12:25]. Trust Christ to save your soul and to walk uprightly. Live to save others, as evidence of your salvation in the supernatural power of Christ. Trust Him for this grace through His blood. The gospel is a do or die matter of eternal consequence. Choose wisely.

Thirdly, the Lord Jesus has eternal love to His own that won’t let us perish. John 13:1,

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

He saves by grace. He laid down His life for the sheep, so He makes us hear His voice. The Father gave us to Him in election, and He loves us unexplainably at the cost of His own life. Infinite and able to suffer, He poured out His life, when His soul was made an offering for sin [Isa 53:10]. He did not stop short… not at any cost… and He won’t stop short now. He has bought us with a great price, and we are redeemed.

Trust this great Savior’s love, and you’ll make it to Paradise. His love has no end; it overcomes trials, temptations, and losses; it overcomes gross sin, and it bears patiently; it can never be taken away, for all sins are washed in His blood. Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins. "