Today I was reading from John 12 about how the Pharisees were upset that Jesus was getting so much attention. They were jealous that so many people were responding to Jesus all because he brought Lazarus back to life. While we know that the Pharisees were out to kill Jesus, we now find Lazarus being thrown into the middle of this struggle for power. We find out in 12:10 that the Pharisees who plotted on Jesus were now also plotting to kill Lazarus. What did Lazarus do? He simply died and was brought back to life.

Have you ever been thrust into some conflict that you never intended to join? It happens all the time. We become guilty by association, simply because we harbor a friendship or entertain a conversation. If this has never happened to you, it will. But what we must remember is that when push comes to shove, we are loved by our Father (John 3:16, I'm pretty sure you know it), that the truth sets us free (John 8:32, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free), and that God is always with us (Matthew 28:20b, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age). In those three promises, as well as many others found in the Bible, we can find encouragement in those trying times.