John 10:22-42
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
John 20:24-29
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Pharisees did not believe in Jesus...They saw Him speak and do miracles...Yet, they did not believe in Him...If you do not believe in Jesus, what are your reasons?...
When Jesus crossed the Jordan River where John the Baptist had been baptizing in the early days, He stayed there...No miracles were credited to John the Baptist, but everything John has said about this Man has came true...And where He stayed, many people came to Him...The people who came to Him said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this Man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus...However, everyone did not believe in Him...Earlier when He was at the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem in the winter, and was in the temple courts He walked Solomon’s Colonnade...The Jews who were there gathered around Him, were saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense?...If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”...Jesus answered them, “I did tell you, but you do not believe...The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep...My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me...I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand...My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand...I and the Father are One.”...The non-believer in Jesus' day wanted to be told plainly that He was the Messiah...But Jesus in His mighty words and His great works and miracles have proven who He is...
So even though Jesus was face to face with many people, some believed and some did not believe...All the people who saw Jesus were eyewitnesses to the Truth, regardless of what they believed...Yet, all the people who met Him, did not believe Him...They had the choice, to believe or not to believe...Many people even though they saw His miracles, they still could not come to believe in Him...Those who did not believe wanted more and more miracles or more signs that He was the Messiah...Jesus could have told them frankly that He was the Messiah, but I doubt if everyone of them would have believed...They wanted more evidence that He was the One who was to come...
Many people today are like this...They do not believe in Him...Some believe that the Disciples made up part or all of the stories about Him...Some believe that His stories have only survived because people desperately want it to be true, because they can’t come to terms with their own death or that of their friends and family...Some non-believers think that there is a desire in man, that makes him want to believe that death is not final...Non-believers want more miraculous evidence...They want more signs, more miracles, and more good works from Jesus to believe...
The people who followed Jesus and saw His miracles could not come to believe in Him...It is difficult, and would be difficult to see a Man doing miracles and believe that Him and God are One...It would be difficult to believe that a Man was the Messiah, if you are a skeptic and a cynic, even after seeing many signs and miracles in person...Even the Disciple Thomas had trouble believing He had risen from the dead, even after the other Disciples said He did...Why would they lie about this?...We do not have to be two thousand years removed from Jesus not to believe...I think that is one of the reasons why He told Thomas and His disciples, blessed are those who believe and have not seen...
Jesus in saying that He did tell those watching and listening (that He is the Messiah), but you do not believe...The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me...The works, His Teachings, His miracles are evidence that He is the Messiah...
Jesus seems to want us to gather our own evidence to believe in Him...I believe Pascal is right when he wrote, “In faith there is enough Light for those who want to believe and enough shadow for those who don't.”...God gives us just enough Light to believe in Him, and just enough shadows and darkness for those who do not want to believe, not to...