The illusionist has his own special way of pulling the wool over our eyes. The hand really is quicker than the eye. Just how do they pull a rabbit out of a hat, make a dove disappear and then reappear, or any number of other tricks?
We’ve all learned to be even more skeptical. We’ve seen enough of TV and movie magic to know that our vision can be easily fooled. A walk in front of a green screen can become anything from a walk on the beach, to a walk on the moon. In the digital age nothing is impossible.
Jesus did the impossible. He opened the eyes of the blind so that they could see. The lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, nothing was impossible for Jesus.
- 23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
John 2:23-24 NIV
John doesn’t tell us exactly what miracles Jesus performed while in Jerusalem at this first Passover, but he does tell us how people responded. Many believed in his name. Jesus however did not “believe” or entrust Himself to those who believed (the Greek uses the same word in verse 23 and 24).
The same miracles had different effects upon people. Some believed while others rejected Christ. For instance Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus believing that He was sent by God while many other Pharisees rejected Jesus. Why? I guess that even with Jesus, seeing is not believing.
Jesus is full of God’s grace from which we receive one blessing after another (John 1:16). In some cases these are nothing short of miracles just like Jesus preformed in Jerusalem. However, Jesus came with more than grace. Jesus also brought truth (John 1:17).
We’re drawn to His grace; we may even say that we believe in Jesus because of His grace. But Jesus doesn’t stop with grace. Jesus speaks truth. God’s word exposes the truth of who we are. That’s why Jesus didn’t entrust Himself to those who believed in His name. Their faith was incomplete for they had not yet accepted the truth. Truth brings conviction which calls for a response. We will either confess our sins agreeing with God’s truth about our lives to receive His forgiveness, or we will harden our hearts and reject Christ—both His truth and His grace. What do you think?
1 comment:
I don't believe it could be stated any better than in Heb.11:1 re. what faith is exactly. For space sake I will not type the scripture verse out, but, it is one I have memorized, and recite to folks frequently. I especially enjoy the "sure" and the "certain" part of the verse. Those words strengthen me.
I heard on WCRF that Billy Grahm went to Carl Sagan when he was dying to try to get him to accept Jesus. Carl Sagan said adamantly, he could not believe in something or someone he had never seen," to which Billy Grahm promptly responded, "But, you have never seen a black hole, yet you believe in those!" Carl Sagan, looked surprised, and then confused, but, still died unsaved. Interesting isn't it?....our human stubborness.
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