Kheh te lar, Yud daq chaw ve awg hox awg nax teq pa awg khuhn liz, laex ghad yawd haq yonr vehr che yaog. Kheh ma khuhd, Yud daq chaw teq pa ve bon awg mor awg khuhn ghaq tuhz ax che haq i hehd maq gha phud tug, i hehd yonr liz Phar rir sehd teq pa haq kuhz cheaq te lehq, yonr che yaog lehd i hehd ma koz tuhz.
What Does This Mean?
This verse says that many important people believed in Jesus but didn't say so openly because they were afraid of being kicked out from the synagogue by the Pharisees.
Explained for Children
Imagine you really like a new kid at school, but your friends don’t. If you tell everyone how great this new kid is, you might not be allowed to play with your usual group anymore. That’s kind of what happened here: important people liked Jesus but didn't want to lose their place in the synagogue.
Historical Background
John wrote this Gospel around A.D. 90-100 for a Christian audience familiar with Jewish customs and beliefs. The Pharisees were strict religious leaders who controlled many aspects of life, including synagogue membership.
Living It Out Today
Sometimes we hold back from speaking our true beliefs because of fear. Consider the risks and benefits before deciding if it’s worth sharing what you believe, especially when it might affect your social standing or job.
Topics
belieffearsocial pressureconsequences of faithPhariseessynagogue