When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him. John 11:55-57

The people wanted more of Jesus; the leaders wanted less of him – a LOT less of him. They wanted to arrest him.

Nothing’s changed over the years. Political leaders by and large want less of Jesus. To accentuate that idea, they imprison Christians and sometimes torture and kill them to try to squelch Jesus. The more they do that, the more the people want Jesus. And throughout history, the leaders have never really understood that correlation. Or if they did, they were conceited and believed that THIS TIME would be different. It’s happened countless times throughout history and it even happens today.

As we did yesterday, continue to pray for the Persecuted Church around the world. Pray that leaders and lay people alike will use discernment as they go about their daily life. Living in uncertainty every day can be very stressful.