As kids on the school playground trying something that might be risky but worth it, there were always one who would run to tell the teacher even before you did it!  Remember?  Yes, we never liked tattletales who told a bigger story in their panicked voices of what actually happened or might happen, right?  As a teacher, I didn’t like tattletales, either.  I knew what was going on as I stood in a place where I could see all the kids at once time.  But still they came to report.  These were the kids too afraid to try anything themselves so they made sure no one else did either. 

Gossipers and naysayers, (yes it begins at a young age!), would look closely at any possible infraction of the rules and report first to each other, build their case and then come to the Teacher.  Most tattletales wanted most of all, the attention of the teacher or anyone else who would listen to them.  Tattletales, gossipers and naysayers sound the alarm in any given circumstance, not to help or alleviate the situation with a solution but to gain the attention of anyone who would listen.  They are power seekers whose only power lies within themselves with the false and exaggerated information they create to wow their listeners.

Am I one of these?  I must ask myself and repent of this act of selfishness that does not build others up but instead, breaks down the pieces God uses to build upon our foundation of Jesus Himself.  How solid is my foundation?  Is my faith built on Jesus Christ, the solid rock and nothing less like we sing…or not?

Jesus had his own tattletales, gossipers and naysayers in every detail of his ministry on earth.  Jesus was perfect (unlike us) who knew exactly how to handle every situation because He went to His Father first!  He knew His mission and did not deter from it.  Jesus knew to go to His Father before deciding each step to take.  God gave Jesus what to say, when to say it and what not to say.  We love this Holy, Perfect relationship between Father and Son! 

Because of Jesus, we can have the same relationship with God!  We can also come boldly to Him for salvation with help, protection, provision, love, mercy and grace filled with peace to live every day life on earth. God knows our hearts.  God knows when tattletales get you down or when gossipers try to hinder what He has asked you to be and do.  God even fights your battles for you.  Yes, God is FOR us, not against us.  When we think anything less than this Truth, we are listening to The Liar who truly is against us.

John—God’s Love

John 11:45-57

The Man Who Creates God-Signs

^45-48 That was a turning point for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. “What do we do now?” they asked. “This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.”

^49-52 Then one of them—it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year—spoke up, “Don’t you know anything? Can’t you see that it’s to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?” He didn’t say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God’s exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people.

^53-54 From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples.

^55-56 The Jewish Passover was coming up. Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the Feast. They were curious about Jesus. There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the Temple: “What do you think? Do you think he’ll show up at the Feast or not?”

⁵⁷ Meanwhile, the high priests and Pharisees gave out the word that anyone who knew his whereabouts should inform them. They were all set to arrest him.

WHAT WE LEARN…

Moments after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the naysayers and gossipers kicked into full gear while sending the tattletales running to the Pharisees to report.  They “told on Jesus.”  How childish this sounds, right? 

KEY STATEMENT: “This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.”  And there we have it—it’s all about their own power and has nothing to do with God.  They missed the point of Jesus’ Resurrection power!

God has not relinquished His authority.  God is still in control.  He speaks through Caiaphas who cluelessly prophesied what Jesus will indeed do to save the world from sin.

While Jesus lays low because it is not yet “His time”, the religious leaders plot to arrest and kill Jesus. 

Stay tuned.  Tattletales, gossipers and naysayers do not win in the end.  Truth wins.

Lord,

We are learning to come to you first and only before doing or saying anything.  Jesus did.  We want to imitate Him and be more like Jesus and less like our human selves.  We don’t want to be a tattletale or gossiper.  We don’t want to be distracted from what you have given us to be and do by those who try to bring us down while doing your work.  Fight this battle for us.  Deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes.  I want what you want for my life.  I believe.  I trust you with my life and no one else.  Show me the right way to go.

In Jesus Name, Amen