Their eyes are upon me. What are they thinking when they look at me? I don’t feel like I fit in, but I remain standing in this crowd. Where do I belong? From across the street I see him standing there with welcoming eyes, telling me to join him. I want to cross the street to join him, but what will others think if I do? I may not be welcomed back into this crowd. I just want their approval and yet their approval seems so tentative. I look back across the street. I am drawn to him and yet…
Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. – John 12:42-43 (NASB)
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. – John 1:11-13 (NASB)
#Vignettes is an adaptation of #WednesdayWalk posts. These are short insights into struggles unknown people face juxtaposed with scripture related to Christmas.
© 2022, Chris G Thelen
140 Character Christian 
Our fragile human nature wants to feel approval. The paradox arrives with a clear choice in this vignette, yet many fail to believe.
So many things in this world attempt to draw us away from Jesus. May we have confidence in our identity in God. Blessings.
” I think I’ll go visit him at night.” 🌃 Nicodemus
Good example. Thanks for the comment. Later Nicodemus helped Joseph lay Jesus’ body in the tomb (John 19:38-42). I guess this could’ve been viewed as a supporter of Jesus, or maybe as just helping the family? Either way, as people do today, they wrestled with committing to following Jesus. Blessings.