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May 28, 2005 “37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that sees me sees him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (Gospel of John Chapter 12: 37-50) Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead shortly before he spoke these words. He had entered into the city in triumph; many people shouting “Hosanna!” He had also just finished telling the people that the Son of Man was going to be killed; to rise again after three days. That was hard news for the people. They believed the words of the Pharisees that told them when Messiah came he would set up his kingdom and the Jews would no longer be under Roman domination. Of course, the Pharisees were struggling with the words of the Prophets who spoke of the Second Coming; especially those who did not believe in resurrection. Jesus had completed many miracles and there were some who believed his words because these miracles backed his claims. Many more were unconvinced, even when faced with the proofs provided by Jesus. Much of this was prophesied by Isaiah and other of Israel’s prophets and even the disciples struggled with much of what they were witnessing. Many of those who believed held their voices for fear to Roman retaliation; after all, Caesar was the god, certainly not this son of a carpenter. The “praise of men” was much more important to these believers who would not “confess” their belief. I am very much reminded of the e-mail I have been receiving lately about needing to “see”; needing physical proof of these claims as if God is going to repeat something he has already claimed is a completed work. Jesus is again declaring his equality with the Father. If you believe on him, it is really the Father you believe, because it is the Father who not only permitted his son to sacrifice himself for the world, but who personally wrote the testimony of the event. Jesus is not the judge. Jesus is the savior. “He that rejects [Jesus] has one that judges him” and that judgment will be against the words spoken by the Son. The words of the Son are eternal life; a rejection of which will end in a judgment that will only permit God to reject the unfaithful one. Jesus tells us that even his words are not his, but they are the property of the Father. The Father told Jesus exactly what to say to the people so they would have the opportunity to believe. The ones with “ears to hear” would hear and believe and find everlasting life. The scripture says: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation, and it is with the heart you believe and are justified. I know there has been no effort spared to destroy the faith of ages. There are those of us who understand and believe the historical records of the Prophets and the Apostles and the Fathers of the Early Church. Through our belief we have gained the seal of the Holy Spirit of God who guides us into all spiritual truth. No, the Holy Spirit does not teach mathematics; we have to learn that from other source materials. ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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