"Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him." - John 12:37
How do you explain it? People see miracles with their own eyes, and then they still don't believe in the one who did the miracles.
How do you explain it?
One, the miracles of Jesus turned something bad into good.
Two, that means the "bad thing" was conquered.
Three, like a living tree that's just been cut down and obviously still has some lingering signs of life (like the green wood and leaves), when a bad thing is conquered or cut down then it too may have some lingering signs of life in the immediate time period that follows.
Four, but that bad thing is indeed cut down or conquered and its lingering signs of life will pass with time.
Five, unbelief happens because people don't focus on the one who cut down and conquered the bad thing but focus instead on the signs of life that linger from the bad thing.
Six, but that bad thing is indeed cut down or conquered and its lingering signs of life will pass with time.
Seven, we are blessed by people who turn our focus from the lingering bad, from the pokes of a defeated devil, from the frustrations of difficulties that seem to keep hanging around and who turn our focus onto God and His Word that cut down the Evil One and conquered all his minions, cronies, servile followers, and subordinates.
Eight, so let's be a blessing today to the many people who are or will be discouraged from believing both in God's presence and also in the miracles he has and will work for us through Jesus. They'll be discouraged because signs of evil linger all around us. But Jesus conquered and cut down the source of all evil. So let's boldly encourage the discouraged not to dwell on the lingering evil, but "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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