Seeing and Believing...
The Gospel of John
John Chapter 10
Scripture: John 10: 24b, 25 – 26, 31 - 33 (New International Version)
…If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.”
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them “I have shown you many miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man claim to be God.”
Observation: Wait a minute…didn’t they say, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly?” Jesus tells them and he shows them, and still they want to kill him? The key to understanding this, is found in verse 26, they were not Jesus’ sheep! In their heart they did not believe enough to surrender their heart. They didn’t want to miss out on all the hype and activity but they never were willing to give their hearts, to commit their lives to him. Sure, in their minds they wanted to join in the discovery of the Christ but he had to be what they wanted him to be. In John chapter 10 verse 7, Jesus says, “…I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” In verse 14, he declares, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” These inquiring minds never really believed enough to submit to Jesus’ authority. They are like those mentioned in Matthew 7: 15 – 23, who say, “Lord, Lord” and Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” To follow Jesus and to understand who he is requires a surrendered heart. Unless the Holy Spirit draws you to Jesus you would never know him any way. When the Holy Spirit reveals who the Savior is, and shows you yourself, you must surrender your life and lay down your will to be a “true disciple.” A sheep is dependent upon the life of the shepherd (see Psalm 23). ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being,…’(Acts 17:28). Belief requires a commitment to surrender to and to follow Jesus. Without this commitment we are simply there for the show; for what Jesus can do for us, for what he can show us. Jesus simply becomes a genie in a bottle or a circus performer. Without belief, after awhile, even the miracles won’t be enough to change our hearts and lives!
Application: Are you a follower or a believer? Are you there for what Jesus can do for you or are you there to surrender? Does Jesus have to prove Himself to you or do you KNOW who he is? He is LORD! Our lives reveal that we are His sheep for His sheep hear His voice and follow Him; they obey what he says and they follow where he goes.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you again today. You are my Shepherd and I want to follow you. You are my Lord! May I obey your voice today!
John Chapter 10
Scripture: John 10: 24b, 25 – 26, 31 - 33 (New International Version)
…If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.”
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them “I have shown you many miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man claim to be God.”
Observation: Wait a minute…didn’t they say, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly?” Jesus tells them and he shows them, and still they want to kill him? The key to understanding this, is found in verse 26, they were not Jesus’ sheep! In their heart they did not believe enough to surrender their heart. They didn’t want to miss out on all the hype and activity but they never were willing to give their hearts, to commit their lives to him. Sure, in their minds they wanted to join in the discovery of the Christ but he had to be what they wanted him to be. In John chapter 10 verse 7, Jesus says, “…I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” In verse 14, he declares, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” These inquiring minds never really believed enough to submit to Jesus’ authority. They are like those mentioned in Matthew 7: 15 – 23, who say, “Lord, Lord” and Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” To follow Jesus and to understand who he is requires a surrendered heart. Unless the Holy Spirit draws you to Jesus you would never know him any way. When the Holy Spirit reveals who the Savior is, and shows you yourself, you must surrender your life and lay down your will to be a “true disciple.” A sheep is dependent upon the life of the shepherd (see Psalm 23). ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being,…’(Acts 17:28). Belief requires a commitment to surrender to and to follow Jesus. Without this commitment we are simply there for the show; for what Jesus can do for us, for what he can show us. Jesus simply becomes a genie in a bottle or a circus performer. Without belief, after awhile, even the miracles won’t be enough to change our hearts and lives!
Application: Are you a follower or a believer? Are you there for what Jesus can do for you or are you there to surrender? Does Jesus have to prove Himself to you or do you KNOW who he is? He is LORD! Our lives reveal that we are His sheep for His sheep hear His voice and follow Him; they obey what he says and they follow where he goes.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you again today. You are my Shepherd and I want to follow you. You are my Lord! May I obey your voice today!
I just prayed for you and your ministry! Looks like you guys have a God Thing happening before your eyes. It's exciting!
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