They were frantically eager to arrest Jesus and had sent the temple guards to apprehend Him (John 7:30,32). But the temple guards went back to the religious big-shots empty-handed!
Would Jesus have known that He was in danger when He saw the temple guards approaching? Was He frightened? Why not? Nothing will ever hinder God's purpose or interfere with God's timing.
If Jesus had allowed fear to drive Him into hiding, we would never have heard His great
prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
How does all this have anything which can apply to us? Do we truly know that we don't ever have to be afraid?
Think of something you are afraid of.
Now call that something the temple guards. Watch them coming for you, armed with evil intentions and powerful weapons, reaching out to destroy you. They come up ... threatening ... intimidating ... they hang around ... they back off and they go away; powerless to harm you.
God has a good purpose in even allowing them to come; to strengthen your faith and to demonstrate that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
AUTHORITY was what made the difference when Jesus spoke. Because we are "in Christ," we can exercise the authority that is in His Name ... and find all the temple guards powerless against us.
Remember again: Fear is the dark room where Satan takes us to develop our negatives.
But we are not ignorant of his devices.
With love & prayers,