“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:” (John 12:42)

There are a lot of people in this world that believe on Jesus, or believe in Jesus; but there are just as many who will not confess Him. Confession of Him is More Than Just Words. It is a lifestyle, a matter of the heart.

In our text, we see that many of the chief rulers believed on Jesus, but were afraid to confess Him for fear of being “put out of the synagogue” by the Pharisees.

What about you? What is your reason for not confessing Him before men? Is it because it is not “cool” to confess Him amongst your peers at school? What about at the work place, or in your community – are you afraid to confess Him for fear of what people may say or think about you?

2 Timothy 2:12 says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 10:

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)

The author of this devotion again expresses the thought that Confession is More Than Just Words.

Jesus expresses this same thought in Matthew 15:8:

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

When you have a heart for God, you will have no problem with confessing Him before men.

The man who was blind from birth, whom Jesus healed in John 9:1-38, made his confession regardless of the consequences. He told the Pharisees:

“Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.” (John 9:32)

“If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:33)

And because of this confession, he was cast out by the Pharisees (verse 34). If Jesus has been made real unto us – Why should we care what people say or think about us?

Not only do we confess Christ with our mouth; we also confess Him by our lifestyle. Does your lifestyle reflect Jesus Christ? What can your neighbors, co-workers, or friends say about you, concerning Christ?

The Apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear that our confession of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour are More Than Just Words, when he says, in Galatians 2:20:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Our Confession of Jesus is More Than Just Words, it is our lifestyle.

Do we confess Him in word and deed? Or are we afraid of how others may see us, and therefore do we deny Him?