JOHN 10:37–39
“… believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him”
(John 10:38).
Tender and forthright is Jesus’ appeal to the Pharisees as He urged them to place their confidence in Him and believe in Him as the Son of God. “Believe the works, in order that you may come to realize and may continue to realize that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38). Was this invitation fruitless? In view of the fact that most of the listeners were hostile to Christ, an affirmative answer might be justified. But it must be remembered that even among people who are presently enemies of God, God has placed His elect who in due course will come to know Him.
This is a great reminder to us all as we proclaim the Gospel to hostile family members and neighbors. Sometimes we ask, “What’s the point? They will never turn.” But we do not know. God might be using you to bring one of His elect to Himself. Maybe some of those Pharisees who stood with stones in hand later became convicted of their sin and turned to Christ. Maybe those who listened in the crowd heard Jesus’ invitation, heard His dramatic testimony of His identity and calling and later realized the truth. We do not know. But we of know that it is never futile to declare the invitation of Christ to turn and find life in Him.
As Jesus stood before the Pharisees that day, He called them to believe in Him not as a noble teacher of ethics, not as a powerful preacher, not as an insightful philosopher, but as the Son of God. He had displayed His power through healing the blind and lame, through turning water into wine, and bringing the dead to life. These were sufficient in and of themselves to prove His identity as the Son of the Living God. This was what the Pharisees had to realize in order to be saved, and it is what we must believe as well. It is not enough to believe that Jesus was a good teacher or a great moral example. We must believe that He is the Christ, the God-man who came into the world to redeem sinners. Only through Him can we find life. Only through Him can we be delivered from darkness. Only through Him can we be saved from Satan’s lies and be set free by the truth.
May we never allow the hostility of others to keep us from proclaiming this glorious message of hope.
CORAM DEO
Job 10–12
Acts 8:1–25
WEEKEND
Job 13–18
Acts 8:26–40
Using the passages below write out a brief summary of the Gospel. Memorize one of the passages if it is helpful. Then make a short list of people you know who are opposed to the Gospel. Pray for those people and ask God to give you the opportunity and confidence to tell them the Good News.
For further study: Matt. 28:16–20 • John 3:16–21 • Acts 2:22–39; 3:11–26
WEEKEND