Passage Read: John 9-10
Meditation Verses: 10:24-27
Thought
The Jews, the holdouts among them, saw the miracles and knew in their hearts that only a righteous, God-honoring man could do so many and such powerful miracles. Their theology demanded it. But they refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and were offended that He called Himself God's Son. The evidence was obvious, but they refused to believe. Then they asked Him to tell them clearly if He was the Christ, and He declared that He had told them and again pointed to His miracles. It was because they refused to believe that they couldn't recognize who Jesus was. And they refused to believe because they didn't belong to His Father and therefore didn't belong to Him either. There was little point in speaking with them, but they persisted; they wouldn't believe because they couldn't believe. And they were determined to prove He was not the Messiah in order to salve their own consciences and justify their denial. That's why certain "righteous" people have to fight against Jesus and His followers.
Application
God is so wise to record these things in John's Gospel. People have so many excuses for why Jesus isn't the Messiah, but all the evidence proves them wrong. Jesus is not demon-possessed or a servant of the devil or out of His mind. All His miracles prove He is God's Son and the Messiah, and all His words and teachings confirm it. People can't see it because they refused to see it, because that would mean they're wrong and would have to change or admit that they deserve condemnation! They can't see it because they don't belong to God. Only those who are counted as Jesus' sheep hear His voice, listen to what He says and follow Him. I'm blessed to be able to understand all this; I belong to Jesus because I believe Him and His teachings and work to do them. Anyone who refuses to believe Him is unable to see who He is, so there is nothing I can do for them. I need to keep teaching about Jesus and focus on those who can see and do believe, and not worry about those who can't.