DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I’ve started reading the Bible every day, and I’ve been surprised at how many people opposed Jesus and even wanted to kill him. It doesn’t make sense because they should have welcomed him. Why did this happen? — V.K.

DEAR V.K.: You’re right — it doesn’t make sense that some people opposed Jesus and even wanted him dead. After all, wherever he went, he healed the sick and gave people hope for the future. As the Bible says, “He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).

And yet immediately after Christ’s birth, King Herod sought to kill him, forcing Mary and Joseph to flee to Egypt until after Herod’s death. Once Jesus’ ministry began, some people turned against him and wondered if it might not be better for him to die. After he was arrested, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, gave in to the cries of the crowd demanding Jesus’ death, and condemned him to be crucified.

Why were some people so opposed to Jesus? A major reason was because they were afraid they’d have to give up the control of their lives to Jesus — and they didn’t want to do that. Instead, they wanted to run their own lives, without any interference from God. Like the people in one of Jesus’ parables, they said in their hearts, “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14, KJV).

Why do some people continue to reject Jesus and want nothing to do with him? They may give many reasons — but often the real reason is simply that they don’t want to give Jesus the control of their lives. Don’t let that be true of you. He alone gives us hope — now, and for eternity.