There were times when Jesus Christ brought out the worst in people. Why does this happen? What, or who, is behind it?

Can it be true that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could cause various people to reveal the bad side of their nature and character? He certain did, and one does not have to read very far in the New Testament scriptures to see how quickly this manifests its ugly self.

Early on in his ministry Jesus discovered that many followers found his teaching too much to bear, and they deserted.

When he saw this happen he announced that even among those who remained one would betray him. We know it was Judas.

Although he may bring to the surface the worst in certain people, he continuously seeks to put the best into people.

Unbelief was present within Jesus' own family. His brothers urged him to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Was Jesus' popularity beginning to fade and wane?

His family wanted to counsel Jesus. Take your campaign to the big city. Do your miracles in Jerusalem, where there will be crowds.

They thought they knew him, but they were looking at him christian mysticism churches  a purely worldly point of view.

There was a time when Paul looked at Jesus from a purely worldly point of view.

Jesus knew that it was all right for his brothers to go to Jerusalem, but the time is not right for me - at least not to go openly. Why?

There was a whispering going on in Jerusalem. Some declared Jesus was a good man, whilst others alleged he was deceiving the people.

Many detested Jesus because Jesus did not belong to the world. Later, he goes on to teach that this would become highly relevant for his faithful disciples.

At that time no-one would say anything about him publicly and openly, out of fear.

There was an attempt to seize him and arrest him. Jesus could not be found.
His time had not yet come. He knew his Father's timetable.

Of course, there were those men and women who followed Jesus and became His disciples and when you read of their lives and ministries in the book of Acts and in the Epistles you see just how these very ordinary lives were transformed and changed by the Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness.

In a day when there is such a wave of persecution around the globe against those how truly believe in Jesus Christ we see how this characteristic continues to prevail. But know who is behind that!

When we are aware of the battle against the Bible and against the principles and standards which God gave us in the Scriptures, know who is behind that too.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland. He has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, 12 visits to Israel, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya.