Evidence For Believing In Jesus (Jn. 12:44-50)

Read John 12:44-50.

When you believe in Jesus, you . . .

1. Believe in God the Father also (12:44-45).
2. Walk in the light (12:46).  
• Transformation:  come out of darkness and live in the light.
3. Hear His words and obey them (12:47-50).
• Consequence:  You will not be sent away on Judgment Day.  You will be prepared.

No Sign For You (Mk. 8:12)

Read Mark 8:12.

Why did Jesus refuse to give a sign?  Was He being stubborn? No.  Was He being difficult and inflammatory?  No.  Perhaps this statement was His way of saying, "I am the sign.  If you won't recognize that and submit to it, then no other sign will convince you."

They didn't need another sign.  What they needed was to submit to the sign they already had.  Jesus didn't want to complicate the clarity He established.

"If a man will not be convinced, he shall not" (Matthew Henry).

• Mk. 6:6 > unbelief (not ignorance)
• Lu. 16:29-31 > Moses & prophets (Scripture - cf. Jn. 5:39)
• Lu. 22:67-70 > "If I tell you . . ."
• Jn. 12:37-43 > refusal to believe, not really interested in truth

Belief & Baptism (Mk. 16:16)

Read Mark 16:16.

(Note:  This verse is in one of two disputed endings to Mark.  Some early manuscripts do not contain 16:9-20. The following comment assumes that this verse is valid.)

Certainly, Jesus isn't teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation.

1.  Salvation is the opposite of condemnation (MEV).

2.  Baptism is more than the ritual itself.  Symbolism:  total submersion; every area of life is affected.

3.  Meaning (?):  He who believes (our traditional use of the word) and is baptized (lives a "submerged life", an existence where belief affects every area of life and becomes a lifestyle) will be saved.

No Reciprocity (Jn. 2:23-25)

Read John 2:23-25.

Many "believed" in Jesus, but He did not believe in them.  Many "trusted" Jesus, but He did not trust them.  How is it with you?  Do you trust in Jesus?  Why?  Does Jesus think you are trustworthy? Why?

The Excuse That Prevented Belief (Mk. 3:30)

Read Mark 3:30. 

The scribes (Mk. 3:22) said Jesus had a demon.  That demon was specified as an "unclean" spirit (Mk. 3:30).  It wasn't just that the scribes said Jesus was demon-possessed.  That accusation was evil, false and arrogant, but Jesus seemed willing to forgive it (Mk. 3:28).  The greater sin of the scribes was in creating an excuse whereby, believing it, they and people could appear justified in constantly rejecting Jesus.

What self-made excuse keeps you from yielding to Jesus' invitation and commands?

The Easter Beatitude (Jn. 20:29)

Oh, the blessedness of belief that doesn't require sight!

It's not that there is no proof, no evidence.  Should you study it honestly, it will lead you to the conclusion that Christ has risen.

Thomas had been with Jesus.  He knew Him.  At least he should've known Him.  Thomas spent a bit over 3 years with the other disciples.  He should've known that they wouldn't jest about something this serious and sensitive.  And why would Mary lie too?

Still, Thomas needed more.  How marvelous of Jesus not to write off Thomas!  It's as if Jesus said, "Thomas, if this is what it takes, okay."  What love!

Jesus preferred, however, belief that didn't require sight.  That is still His way (Heb. 11:1).

So what is it you need to trust God for?  Maybe your thing isn't doubting the Resurrection.  What other doctrine are you struggling with?  What promise of God hasn't come to pass yet and the delay is driving you nuts?  What pleases God is trust, not stipulations or fleeces or "bargains."

Relief And Belief (Mk. 9:14-29)

Verse 24 -- I noticed the words"with tears" (MEV).  What Jesus said to the man (Mk. 9:23) got to him.  The man repented of his lack of faith and confessed that, though he believed now, there was an internal battle raging.  His heart and his head were at war.

Observations

1. Everyone needed something from Jesus.  The possessed man needed deliverance, the father of the possessed man needed belief, and the disciples of Jesus needed Him to finish what they couldn't.
2. The need for belief superseded the need for relief.  Repentance was a higher priority than having changed circumstances.

Questions

1. What is it that I need from Jesus?
2. Is my "belief" conditional or absolute?  Is it professional or "real" and personal?  ("Professional belief" -- Now there is a subject to investigate!)
3. How disturbed am I by any lack of belief that surfaces in me?

The Twenty-Seven Percent is Wrong

I recently saw this on Twitter:  Twenty-seven percent of Americans don't believe that the U.S.A. put a man on the moon.  What?

Truth is determined by what happened, not by what someone thinks happened. There is a need for an objective record.  Keep holding to the standard.

If the percentage of disagreement climbs, it doesn't mean the facts changed.  It means more people have chosen to ignore truth.

The longer that time passes, the more that truth must be reinforced.  What is not reinforced will be reinterpreted.  What is reinterpreted will be marginalized.

It is harder to believe the lie than to believe the truth.  To believe the lie, you must discredit the eyewitness.  If we didn't put a man on the moon, then what -- NASA lied and Neil Armstrong was a fraud?  The moon walk on July 20, 1969 neer happened?  Did Apollo 11 happen?

Some people find their identity in controversy.  Avoid them.

Three Measurements of Belief (Jn. 10:26-27)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 10:22-42.

If you believe in Jesus, you are one of His sheep. If you do not believe in Him, you are not one of His sheep. That covers verse 26. To "believe" is measured three ways in verse 27.


To believe in Jesus is to hear His voice. You want to hear His voice. You welcome what He says. Your heart is not resistant.

To believe in Jesus is to follow His lead. Once you hear His voice, you must do what He says. Belief (trust) is linked with obedience. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way..."

To believe in Jesus is to have blessed assurance. "I know them." It is not that you say you know Jesus. It is that Jesus says He knows you. What is your opinion about your relationship with Jesus? Would He say the same thing? Read Jn. 20:31.

Faulty Assumptions about Believing in Jesus (Jn. 8:30-47)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 8:30-59.

Verse 30 says some of the leaders believed in Jesus. By the end of verse 47, it appears they no longer believe. So what's up with that? Did they believe or not? they believed in Jesus' teaching ("these things" in v. 30) but that's about it. They had several faulty assumptions about believing in Jesus.

Faulty assumption #1 > You can believe in Jesus without continuation (Jn. 8:31). Believing was a one-time act that supposedly fixecd everything. Done deal, right? Jesus said they were His followers (their believing was effective) only if they continued (remaiined) in His Word. Believing is the start of a lifelong process, not a one-time wonder.

Faulty assumption #2 > You can believe in Jesus without liberation (Jn. 8:32-38). In other words, you can believe in Jesus and never have to stop sinning. This is justification without sanctification. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "From now on, sin no more" (Jn. 8:11). Many people want to believe in Jesus but not have to change anything when it comes to their habits, interests, desires, thoughts, pursuits, relationships, etc.

Faulty assumption #3 >  You can believe in Jesus without regeneration (Jn. 8:39-47). You can belive in Jesus without being born again. How much clearer could Jesus be? "You must be b orn again," He said to Nicodemus. Call it what you want -- regeneration (Tit. 3:5), new life (Rom. 6:4), born again (Jn. 3:7), born from above, born of God (Jn 1:13; 1 Jn. 4:7), born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:6, 8) -- it involves the reception and installation of a new nature.

Feeding on Jesus (Jn. 6:57)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 6:22-71.
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This is not a one-time feeding only, though it begins with a first feeding. This is a continual feast. Just as the body must be fed regularly to experience physical life, so the spirit must be fed regularly to experience eternal life.

What does your spirit "eat"? Your spirit "eats" belief (faith, trust, commitment). Believe and keep on believing in Jesus as the complete and final revelation of God to man (Jn. 1:1-18). Believe and keep on believing (trust and keep on trusting) Jesus as the only way to eternal life (Jn. 3:16; 14:6). Commit and keep on committing your entire being to Jesus and what He stands for. Live according to His teaching and commands. His words are life (Jn. 6:63).

Believing in Jesus (Jn. 3:16)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 3:1-21.
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What does it mean to "believe in Jesus"? This is a valid question, since the answer determines whether one experiences eternal life or not.

The word "believe" occurs 243 times in the New Testament. John uses the verb form 100 times in his Gospel. This is a significant verb for John, and it is the reason for his writing (Jn. 20:31).

To "believe in Jesus" is to have confidence in Him, enough confidence that you put all your trust in Him. This believing involves committal, a full surrender, a no-holds-barred trusting. To "believe in Jesus" is to rely upon Him alone for eternal life.

Believing cannot be separated from receiving (Jn. 1:12). You can't believe in someone you don't receive. To "receive Jesus" means you welcome Him, acknowledge Him, accept Him, and take Him for yourself.

To "believe in Jesus" is to accept Him as revealed, not as you'd prefer Him. To "believe in Jesus" begins with agreeing that the Bible is one hundred percent accurate about Him. Believing continues as you conform to what that revelation requires. It is "whoever believes" (and continues to believe) "in Him" that "shall not perish." So you believed at one time. Do you still believe?

In context (Jn. 3:17-21), to "believe" means to love the light and live in it; it means to love the truth and live by it. Jesus is that Light (Jn. 1:4-5, 8; 8:12) and He is that Truth (Jn. 14:6).

To "believe in Jesus" is more than mental assent to information and more than fire insurance from Hell.

Feeding on Jesus (Jn 6:57)

(Obviously, this verse does not teach holy cannibalism.)

Feeding on Jesus is not a one-time behavior. Just as the body must be regularly fed to experience physical life, so the spirit must be regularly fed to experience eternal life. What does your spirit "eat"? Belief. Believe and keep on believing in Jesus as the complete and final revelation of God to man. Believe and keep on believing (putting your trust) in Jesus as the only way to eternal life. Commit and keep on committing your entire being to who Jesus is and what He stands for. Live and keep on living according to His commandments and teaching. His words are life (Jn 6:63).

A Miracle Wasn't Enough (Jn 11:45-46)

Yesterday's reading was John 10-11.

1. Everyone there was exposed to the same facts. Fact: Lazarus was dead. Fact: Lazarus was in the tomb long enough to begin decaying. (At least the embalming spices began to fail.) Fact: Lazarus walked out of the tomb at Jesus' command. Fact: Lazarus was alive!
2. Many chose to believe in Jesus, based upon the facts. It would've been better had they believed based upon His identity or message, but at least they believed. Part of me is screaming, "How could they not believe?" I mean, Jesus just raised a dead guy back to life! Awesome, huh?
3. Not everyone believed. This minority was exposed to the same facts. This minority witnessed the same miracle. Lesson: Even a miracle is not enough to persuade some people. Yes, it is possible to have a heart that hardened!
4. The greatest obstacle to believing in Jesus might be preoccupation with someone else's opinion. Whoever "the Jews" were in particular, their opinion mattered a lot to these non-believers. There would be no chance of believing unless "the Jews" approved. The opinion of men mattered more than the glory of God.
5. What does it take for you to believe in Jesus? Is there anything holding you back?

Doing the Work of God (Jn 6:29)

Sunday's reading was John 6-8.

1. The work of God is not something reserved for "professionals." Maybe it's easier to think of pastors doing God's work. You can do God's work!
2. To do God's work is to believe in Jesus. Believe Him for eternal life. Believe Him for a miracle. Believe Him for the ordinary. When you believe, you don't attribute things to natural processes, chance or coincidence. You don't view yourself as the solution or answer.
3. Believing in Jesus, though always profitable, may not always feel pleasurable. Sometimes belief is a discipline. Believing contrary to opinion or evidence is work. How easy it is to become lazy in believing!
4. There is a difference between believing in Jesus and believing in Jesus' work. Is your belief in a Person or in His benefits? John 3:16 makes it clear: Whoever believes in Him [Jesus] shall have eternal life.
5. What does it mean to "believe" in Jesus? It is more than religious identification, calling yourself a Christian. It is more than mental assent, agreeing with certain facts or memorizinig a creed. It is more than emotional attachment, feeling overwhelmed by Jesus' goodness. (There will be emotion, but emotion alone is not belief.) Believinig in Jesus will produce good works, but good works alone don't produce belief (Eph 2:8-10). The Greek verb "believe" appears in various forms 86 times in the Gospel of John (Concordance to the Greek Testament by Moulton & Geden). (When something is mentioned that often in such a short account -- John is only 21 chapters - you know it's important.) To "believe" means to be persuaded of, to have confidence in, to trust in, to rely or lean upon. To believe in Jesus, you cannot believe in anyone or anything else. Why? Belief is tied to eternal life. Only Jesus can grant that.