KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:48 KJV ” Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?”

These Pharisees were really prejudiced about Jesus. After suggesting that the officers who returned from not being able to arrest Jesus, were also getting deceived by Jesus, they asked is there any of the rulers or Pharisees who believe in Jesus? How could Jesus attract such a large number of audience and there would not be some rulers or Pharisees among them who will believe in Him. Envy and a negative feeling can blind an individual from seeing and judging rightly.

 Evil feelings corrupt one’s thinking absolutely.

There is an Akan proverb that says “the one who hates you, will dance your dance with a twisted waist”

Dear brother or sister it is a big loss to your personal development to hate another person because he or she seems to succeed more than you. The following scriptures describes the man who envies or hates his neighbour 1Jn 2:11 KJV “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” The man who hates his neighbour is like one walking with closed eyes. It is a form of self-imposed blindness.

No child of God should live by hating or envying another individual, whether a Christian or an unbeliever. We are called to live by faith. Faith means having an assurance and confidence that God is in charge.

Whenever God is in charge, you have no worry over what someone has, does or has achieved. Secondly true faith works by love. With love in your heart there will be no grounds for envy or hatred. Envy makes an individual a slave to the one he dislikes. How miserable it is to be envious of your neighbour, especially if his success is of God, then you would be fighting Got. You must celebrate with every achiever and sincerely thank God for what He is doing in the brother ‘s life.

They asked, is any of the rulers or Pharisees a believer in Jesus? Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are the very two people who immediately come to mind. There were other people of great social status who were saved as well.

THOUGHT: ENVYING ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL IS SIMPLY FOOLISHNESS

FURTHER STUDIES

John 12:42 KJV ” Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:”

Acts 13:45 KJV “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.”