Oh Friends, we’re amongst the select numbers who’ve been divinely granted the chance to experience another beautiful day on God’s bountiful earth. I beg of us, let’s use it wisely. And one of the ways we can do that is by following the inspired words of Albert Schweitzer, who says: ‘We must believe in the conquest of the spirit of the world by the spirit of God. But the miracle must happen in us, before it can happen in the world.’ And that’s no lie my people! Whatever action we envisage on the world through the Spirit of God, it must first take place in our hearts and souls before it occurs in the world, because that’s where the Holy Spirit operates. We can’t truly see external miracles unless we first believe them in our souls through the emotions of faith and trust, otherwise we’ll be like the Pharisees and other disbelievers who saw Jesus do all sorts of miracles and yet refused to believe that He was indeed the Messiah. Today’s Bit concludes the section of scripture where Jesus likens Himself to the Good Shepherd, who faithfully looks after His sheep, and even gives His life for them. He also tells them about His other flock, the Gentiles, whom He will eventually merge with the Jewish flock, making them one in His name. He ends there by saying that He was going to give up His life of His own free will, nobody was going to take it from Him, because the Father gave Him the power to lay it down, then take it up again. (John 10:1-18) This obviously caused some contention between His Jewish listeners. ‘And many of them said, He hath a devil (demon), and is mad (insane); why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?’ (John 10:20-21) Truly words of wisdom Friends! They were referring to when Jesus spat on the ground, made clay from the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with it, then told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam, which he did and gained sight in his hitherto blind eyes. (John 9) Then later on, as Jesus walked in Solomon’s porch in the temple in Jerusalem, the Jews accosted Him again saying:’ How long dost thou make us to doubt (keep us in suspense)? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck (snatch) them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.’ (John 10:24-30) Oh Friends did that ever set them off; they took up stones to stone Jesus. But our Leader was so unflappable, so rock solid, that He stood His ground and simply asked them: ‘Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.’ (John 10:32-33) But Friends, Jesus was always on the ball, and readily quoted them some of their own Old Testament law. ‘Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are Gods? (John 10:34) There Jesus is referring to Psalm 82, A prayer for righteous judgement, where Asaph, the psalmist, says of the judges: ‘Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.’ (Ps.82:6-7) Then Jesus reckoned with them that if one of their own called the judges sons of God, and the scripture can’t be broken, how could they now say that He blasphemed by calling Himself the Son of God, especially since He was sanctified and expressly sent to earth by the Father? ‘If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.’ (John 10:37-38) Oh Friends, I can’t give you any better reasoning than Jesus did. All I can do is offer you the words of the man whose eyes Jesus opened. ‘If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.’ (John 9:33) Unfortunately though, the ruling Jews didn’t see it that way and tried to arrest Jesus, but He escaped and went away to Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John first baptized, and remained there for a spell. ‘And many resorted (came) unto him. And said, John did no miracle (gave no signs) but all things that John spake of this man were true.’ (John 10:41) Oh Friends, it’s difficult enough to believe what we can’t see, using our belief and faith in Jesus, but when we refuse to believe what we can see, and there’s no doubt about it, what does that say about us eh? Names like foolish, stubborn, ignorant and hardhearted come to mind. But thankfully not all the people in Jesus’ time were like the ruling Jews, for the Good Book joyfully states that during His stay in Bethabara: ‘And many believed on him there.’ Praise the Lord! Oh my people, let’s not believe everything we see, but by the same token, let’s not be too cynical and sceptical of things we don’t understand. If we’re true believers, true followers of Christ, His Spirit will lead and safely guide us, so we don’t have to worry about whether we’re witnessing miracles or not. It will all be made plain to us, if and when we believe. Much LOVE!…there’s none so blind…as he who refuses to see…
SCRIP-BITS 