Truth. A five-letter word that seems so simple yet sparks turmoil and discomfort. It’s the one thing everyone claims to desire but many fear to confront.

A Threatening Truth

Imagine a crowd buzzing with grief. Lazarus, a well-known man, has been dead for four days. In those times, his funeral would have been complete with professional mourners whose wailing echoes through the town. The more wealth a person had, the larger and louder the mourning. The evidence of Lazarus' death would have been overwhelming.

Then, in an event no one believed possible, Jesus walked up and called Lazarus out of the tomb. Four days after his death, when decay should have already set in, Lazarus walked out alive, wrapped in grave clothes. Freshly resurrected, a walking miracle. People who witnessed or heard of his return from the grave were amazed and moved, many choosing to believe in Jesus because of it. It was so powerful that even skeptics couldn’t argue with what had happened (this is why testimonies are so important!). But in the halls of power (the Sanhedrin), they were seething. A man has been brought to life, and they did not celebrate it (can you imagine? I see why Jesus was always on their necks for their hypocrisy) The Pharisees and Sadducees were desperate to stop the spread of Jesus’ influence. They stirred up deadly plots. The religious leaders of that time, infuriated by the mass exodus of followers defecting from their earthly influence, decided that they needed to silence this living testimony. In addition to Jesus, they even plotted to kill Lazarus (John 12:9-11).

Imagine people wanting you gone because you're alive! Well... there's no need to imagine, that's the reality of those who walk in truth, to this day!

Now, we don’t know if they ever succeeded in carrying out this plot for Lazarus, the Scriptures don’t tell us that. But what is clear is this: When you walk in truth (especially a truth that brings glory to God) you WILL face opposition. It’s a reminder that the enemy of our souls will stop at nothing to quash those who testify to God’s power and grace. Lazarus’ mere existence was a threat. And the religious leaders were already threatened by the way Jesus would criticize them in front of others. Jesus turned everything upside down, and the truth He spoke brought many to faith while infuriating those who loved their power and control more than God’s Word.

Freeing or Fleeing?

What is it about truth that can make people want to run, hide, or even snuff it out?

1. Truth Exposes Us
   • Jesus said, “For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:20). Truth has a way of shining a light on the dark corners of our souls. It can reveal pride, selfishness, or sin. This exposure can be painful, making us want to hide or deny it.
2. Truth Demands Change
   • Facing the truth often means confronting the need to change. The rich young ruler, when confronted with the truth about his attachment to wealth, walked away sorrowful (Matthew 19:22). Change is hard, and the cost of truth is sometimes too great for those unwilling to part with their old ways.
3. Truth Threatens Control
   • The religious leaders of Jesus’ time felt threatened because Jesus’ teachings undermined their authority. The desire to control our narrative, image, or circumstances is strong. When truth challenges that control, it can feel like a threat to identities or positions of power. This is still the same today.

Jesus declared, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). It lifts the veil, allowing us to see things as they truly are. But many flee from it because it cuts deep. It can separate us from relationships, institutions, or systems we once trusted. Remember Pontius Pilate's fateful question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The irony is thick. He asked this question while standing in front of Jesus, Truth incarnate. But Pilate, unwilling to confront what that truth meant for his own power, washed his hands of the matter.

Our Struggle with Truth Today

Sometimes, we avoid difficult conversations because we fear rejection. Other times, we hold tightly to false narratives that protect our ego. Social media, with its curated realities, often magnifies our desire to shape and escape from uncomfortable truths. Yet, we’re also drawn to stories that resonate with authenticity. Think about why testimony videos go viral or why people are moved by vulnerability. The truth, in its raw, unpolished form, can captivate us.

Walking in Truth: A Dangerous Yet Necessary Journey

The story of Lazarus is more than just a miraculous event; it’s a vivid illustration of the power of truth. It shows us that when we stand in the light, there will be resistance. When you choose to walk in truth, your testimony (& existence) is a threat. It disrupts the status quo or challenges deeply held beliefs. Spiritual attacks are inevitable. But take heart. Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul writes, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). For us, walking in truth may come with a cost, yet, it’s precisely in those moments of consequence that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Jesus Himself faced the ultimate consequence for truth, standing boldly before Pilate, the crowds, and the cross. He knew the cost but chose obedience to the Father’s will. And because He was faithful, we have the hope of eternal life.

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^{Let your testimony, like Lazarus’, bring others to faith, and trust that the consequences of truth are always worth the freedom and glory it brings.}‍

_{Self-Reflection Prompts}

1. Where in your life is God calling you to stand in truth, even if it brings opposition?
2. Are there ways you cling to comfort or status that Jesus might be challenging?
   
3. Does your life, like Lazarus’, testify so powerfully to God’s work that it stirs up both awe and resistance?
4. Think of a time when someone shared a difficult truth with you. How did it feel, and what changed for you as a result of facing it?‍
5. Reflect on a moment when you avoided a difficult truth to keep the peace. How did that work out?
6. Is there someone in your life who would benefit from a truth you’ve experienced, even if sharing it feels risky? How can you share that truth with love, considering both the impact on them and the cost to you?

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