The greatest threat to any earthly kingdom is the loss of its power. This threat is especially true when it comes to the kingdom of darkness, which is the core motivator of all evil on earth. When a threat to authority is discovered, those associated with that threat will also become targets.
After Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus became even more of a threat to the power of the ruling religious authority in Israel: “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen” (John 11:45).
As the Pharisees gathered and discussed what to do with Jesus, they said, to each other, “If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him” (vs. 48). As a result to their decision, they initiated a plan, “So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death” (vs. 53).
When those in positions of power feel threatened, they will do anything to destroy those whose actions created the threat. As a loss of their power begins to slip away, they will go after those who have become a living testimony of their loss of power.
As a result, “Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus” (12:10-11).
While the possibility of martyrdom is taking place in various locations around the world, before that time comes, there will be indicators that those in power are sensing a threat to their loss of power and authority.
This happens when people begin to publicly declare the truth that challenges a lie. At that point, a campaign of censorship will begin. Threats will be broadcast, and as a result, existing relationships will be challenged. Exiling of the dissenting voices will begin, and if nothing works to slow a rebellion, the opposing voices will need to be silenced permanently, hoping the challenge to authority will no longer exist.
With Jesus, there will always be a form of resurrection that takes place. When the ones who have attempted to silence the truth think they have won, a resurrection will occur, and the evidence of the truth will be revealed.
No matter how challenging our association with Jesus may become, a faith that has been tested in the furnace of conflict will be refined by the Lord and given the strength to endure what happens to them.
Resurrection is the greatest threat to the brokers of power. For over 2,000 years, that truth has kept the Church alive and prospering. That result will not change or diminish, no matter what the kingdom of darkness does to silence its testimony.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Aritha from Pixabay
