What to Do When You Are Surrounded By Evil: 

Watch Jesus! 25 Ways He Responds In Evil Times

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by evil, wickedness, darkness, or enemies? Attacked by a military force, coworkers, family, friends, or the demonic?

God has provided us eternal victory from our enemies through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is our hope and our life. Our physical bodies will one day die, yet if we love, trust, and follow Jesus, our spirits are alive forever.

  • John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (ESV)

Jesus warns us that as He has been hated and attacked in this world, we can likewise expect similar trials. Through His indwelling Spirit in believers, He provides help, peace, and powerful encouragement.

  • John 15:18–20 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

  • John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

God has also spoken to us directly and shown us in His Son Jesus an example of faithful endurance for our times of need.  Watch and follow Jesus, and He will encourage and guide you through your suffering. May His love overflow from you into the lives of others, even when you find yourself surrounded by evil.

  • Romans 8:35–39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

  • Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” (ESV)

  • John 13:15 “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

  • Colossians 3:13 “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

  • 1 John 2:6 “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

  • Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

  • 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

1 Peter 2:20–21 “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Here are 25 ways Jesus models for us how to respond and endure in the midst of an evil world:

1. Surrounded by the World - While Rejected by His Creation, He Chooses to Shine Brightly for the Adoption of His Children

  • John 1:9–12 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (ESV)

  • John 3:19–21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

2. Surrounded In Bethlehem - Escapes as a Refugee to Egypt

  • Matthew 2:13–15 “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’” (ESV)

3. At His Baptism - Surrounded & Encouraged - The Son Is Surrounded by His Father and the Holy Spirit

  • Matthew 3:16–17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”

4. When Receiving the News of John the Baptist’s Death - He Withdraws for Time Alone with His Father

  • Matthew 14:13 “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.”

  • Matthew 14:23 “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone”

5. At His Transfiguration - Surrounded & Supernaturally Glorified

  • Matthew 17:5 “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’”

6. In the Desert - Tempted by Satan’s Deceitful Twisting of Scriptures, Yet Believes and Speaks the Truth

  • Matthew 4:3 “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'”

7. In the Desert - Surrounded by Ministering Angels in a Time of Weakness and Need

  • Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

8. Surrounded by Great Crowds with all Sorts of Suffering - Responds with Compassionate Miracles and Teaching

  • Matthew 4:23 “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”

  • Matthew 9:35–36 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

  • Matthew 14:21 “And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

  • Matthew 15:31 “so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”

  • Matthew 15:38 “Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.”

9. Surrounded by Great Storm - Demonstrates Great Faith to Provide a Great Calm

  • Matthew 8:26 “And he said to them, 'Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

10. Interrupted by Strong, Demon Possessed Men - Casts Out the Demons

  • Matthew 8:32 “And he said to them, ‘Go.’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.”

11. Surrounded by Arrogant Sinners - Witnesses to them and Forgives the Repentant

  • Matthew 9:12 “But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’”

12. Surrounded by Apostles - Loves Them In Spite of Knowing They Would Abandon, Deny, and Betray Him

  • John 6:66–71 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.’ He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.”

  • Matthew 26:47 “While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.”

  • Matthew 26:56 “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.”

  • Matthew 26:69–70 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ But he denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you mean.’”

13. Surrounded by Opposition Trying to Destroy Him - He Never Cowers in Fear

  • Matthew 10:16–19 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”

  • Matthew 12:14 “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.”

14. Surrounded by Opposition Trying to Destroy Him - Has the Wisdom As When to Escape and Avoid His Enemies for the Continuation of His Ministry

  • Matthew 12:14–15 “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all”

  • Luke 4:29–30 “And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.”

  • John 10:39 “Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.”

  • John 7:1 “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.”

15. Surrounded by Enemies Trying to Entrap Him - Keeps Speaking Boldly

  • Luke 11:53-54 “the scribes and Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him to catch him in something he might say”

  • Matthew 22:15 “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.”

16. Surrounded by False Accusations - Responds with Wisdom & Condemnation

  • Matthew 12:24–25 “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.’ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”

  • Matthew 12:31–32 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

17. Surrounded by False Accusations - Responds with Silence

  • Matthew 26:60–63 “many false witnesses came forward. …the high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?’ But Jesus remained silent”

  • Matthew 27:12–14 "But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?’ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”

18. Surrounded by the Reality of His Impending Torture and Death - Stays Faithful Unto Death

  • Matthew 20:17–19 “And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.’”

  • Matthew 27:22 "Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’”

  • Matthew 27:26–31 “having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

19. Surrounded by Evil Religious Leaders - Verbally Rebukes the Pharisees, Scribes, & Sadducees

  • “You brood of vipers!” - Matthew 12:34

  • “An evil and adulterous generation” - Matthew 12:39,45; 16:4

  • “You hypocrites!” - Matthew 15:7; 22:18; 23:15, 27

  • “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

  • “child of hell” - Matthew 23:15

  • “blind guides,” “blind men” - Matthew 23:16, 19

  • “whitewashed tombs” - Matthew 23:27

  • “Inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools!” - Luke 11:40

  • You “neglect justice and the love of God” - Luke 11:42

  • “You are like unmarked graves” - Luke 11:44

20. Surrounded by Corruption - Physically Attacks the Evil that Is Invading and Occupying His “House” (The Temple)

  • John 2:15–17 “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (ESV)

  • Matthew 21:12–13 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

21. Surrounded by Soldiers - Sacrificially Lays Down His Life for Others

  • John 10:14–15 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

  • John 10:17–18 "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

  • John 15:13–14 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

  • 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

22. Surrounded by Temporary Things - Speaks Eternal Things

  • Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

  • Matthew 27:11 “Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You have said so.’”

23. Surrounded by Sorrow and Trouble - Prays Desperately and Dependently

Matthew 26:38–39 “Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’”

24. Surrounded by Darkness and Death - Faithfully Continues Calling to His Father

  • Matthew 27:45–46 "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ESV)

25. Surrounded by Evil - Rejoices In & Remains Focused on His Eternal Purpose

  • Matthew 5:11–12 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

  • Matthew 5:39–42 “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

  • Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

See also:

“How can I be saved?” https://www.spiritualwarfare.blog/saved

“What does the Bible say about enemies?” https://www.spiritualwarfare.blog/enemies