fear of rejection. John 12:42 is a good example: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (emphasis added). “Believed in Him” is a common Johannine expression for saving faith. (In John 8:30 we read, “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”) These rulers, then, had genuine faith, but they didn’t confess Christ. John, here in verse 42, is contrasting the believing rulers to