The Pharisees said to Jesus, “Who are you anyway?” Jesus responded, “I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first.” (John 8:25) All throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ, you can see the repetitious pattern of Jesus teaching, and the same people just not comprehending the message.
Nothing has really changed with people in the last 2000 years. Sure we have iPhones, and HDTV, and the amazing internet, but as far as our human characteristics go; we are still pretty much the same.
It amazes me how simple the Gospel is. Man sinned, man must be punished, God takes away punishment by becoming a man and sacrificing His life. That’s it! All we have to do is believe that, and we’re saved. Yet, so many people won’t do it. Their stubbornness has made them deaf and blind to the message. Like I said, nothing much has changed.
Jesus performed miracles, lived a sinless life, and delivered words that stumbled and baffled even the smartest religious people of His time. Yet, He still couldn’t get them to believe He was who He said He was. The battle goes on today, and I can’t help but to get frustrated when I see the stubbornness in people. It reminds me of the man that got his sight back after Jesus rubbed mud on his eyes.
He answered, I already told you and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Can it be that you wish to become His disciples also?
And they stormed at him [they jeered, they sneered, they reviled him] and retorted, You are His disciple yourself, but we are the disciples of Moses.
We know for certain that God spoke with Moses, but as for this Fellow, we know nothing about where He hails from.
The man replied, Well, this is astonishing! Here a Man has opened my eyes, and yet you do not know where He comes from. [That is amazing!] (John 9:26-30)
So, if you’re reading this now, and you still can’t believe that Jesus is who He said He is, then you have been warned. You’re judgement is out of my hands. You can cry and whine all you want that a loving God wouldn’t send people to hell, but you are sending yourself there by simply not believing in the free gift that God has made available to everyone.
Well written, Justin. This reminds me of John 3:19-20:
“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.”
Comment Submitted: May 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
God in action is always more powerful than God in words.
That is no way a substitute to preaching the Gospel, but if we examine how Jesus ministered the Word. You find that He never spoke a sermon on healing, but He healed all who came to Him. He was truth not only words, but truth in action. For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. Paul did not need to use persuasive words, the “demonstrative” power attested to the absoluteness of what he spoke.
Peter didnt have to make a “touching” sermon, the supernatural event that took place on the Day of Pentecost drew over 2000 to the Lord in just one day!
Paul presented the Gospel by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.. When this is left out, there is no reality of God.
Today people scorn at the miracles of God because they say satan can do the same signs and miracles too. In Moses’ day the people of Egypt could do what Moses could, but the difference? The power of God was greater and the power of God was attesting to truth. What is truth? God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.[1 John 5:11]
I mentioned this because the Church needs to get back to presenting the Gospel in the power of the Spirit.
Sidharth
Comment Submitted: May 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am