Fear Destroys His Message

“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?  But YOU HAVE MADE IT a ‘den of thieves.’ "

"And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how THEY MIGHT DESTROY Him, for they FEARED Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching." (Mark 11:15-18)

Clearly the scribes and chief priests feared Him, for He was overturning what they had made. Their response was to destroy Him.

"Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John (the Baptist) had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is NOT OFFENDED BECAUSE OF ME." 
(Matthew 11:1-6)

This is the same John who recognized Jesus, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" Again the next day, "Behold the Lamb of God!"(John 1:27-37) What had happened? Even those closest followers of Jesus, when faced with questions regarding their fate, have to decide whether to turn from Him or continue with Him.

Jesus' answer? "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to THIS MOUNTAIN (that blocks or routes away from, rather than toward), 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26)

Fear destroys the working of His message. Faith awakens, reminds and quickens His message in us.