Do You Welcome Jesus—or Resist Him?
We like Jesus—until He challenges what we value most.
Have you ever encountered someone who harbored what felt like an irrational hatred toward another person? In today’s politically charged atmosphere, it’s not hard to find.
It makes you wonder—what happened to civility? Even when we disagree, shouldn’t we at least be respectful?
During the week leading up to Passover—what Christians now call Easter—Jesus visited friends in a village near Jerusalem. By then, His fame had spread everywhere. When He came to see Lazarus and his sisters, crowds gathered.
Why?
Because Lazarus had been dead for four days—and Jesus called him out of the tomb (John 11:38–44).
You would expect celebration. Long-awaited prophecies were being fulfilled. God’s power was unmistakable: the dead were raised to life, the blind received sight, the sick and lame were healed, and crowds were fed—the Messiah stood before them.
But instead of rejoicing, some people felt threatened and responded with hostility.
John 12:9–11 (NLT) tells us: “When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 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.”
Think about that. Hatred so deep that they wanted to kill a man who had already died—simply because his life pointed people to Jesus.
At first glance, it feels irrational. But before we judge too quickly, we should ask a harder question:
Would I respond any differently?
We like Jesus—as long as He stays within our expectations.
But what if He disrupted our world?
What if His power challenged our position, our security, or our sense of control?
Would we still welcome Him—or feel threatened?
Jesus didn’t just perform miracles; He exposed hearts. He revealed where loyalty truly lies. And that stirred controversy then—and it still does today.
We often assume we would have stood with Him. But history suggests otherwise. When truth confronts comfort, many choose comfort.
The real issue isn’t whether others rejected Jesus.
It’s whether we quietly do the same—preferring a version of Him that doesn’t interfere with our lives.
Yet God’s plan has never been about preserving our comfort. It’s about redemption. It’s about a Savior who entered our broken world, died for our sin, and calls us to follow Him fully—not selectively.
This Passion Week, don’t just observe the story.
Let it examine you.
Today, ask yourself: Am I truly following Jesus—or only embracing the parts of Him that cost me nothing?
Part of the Passion Week series: When Jesus Confronts Your Heart.
If this resonated, reply “read” or share this with someone who needs it.
