Often people have said to me that if only a person could see and hear Jesus today it would make it easier to believe in Him. Maybe you have had the same thought yourself.
I wonder would seeing and hearing Jesus for yourself really be more convincing than reading the accurate record of Jesus as found in God's Word, the Holy Bible?
I think you will be surprised to find out the reaction of many of those who saw the power and authority of Jesus Christ for themselves. You will discover that seeing isn't believing.
When the religious people of Jesus' day heard Him and saw His miracles they were convinced about something! "Many of them said, 'He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to Him?'
But others said, 'These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'" (verses 20-21.)
Even though those people saw and heard Jesus for themselves they still had to make up their own minds; just as you and I have to do when we learn from the Bible of what He said and did.
The religious leaders, like most religious leaders of our day, did not want to accept the claims Jesus was making. They had seen and heard the clear evidence of who Jesus was, yet they did not want to believe in Him (John 14:10-11. 5:36-39.), or accept Him as the Messiah God had promised to send as the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14.) They certainly did not want the people to believe what Jesus was saying!
You see, if the people came to believe that Jesus really was the Saviour God had promised they would no longer believe that priests and sacraments were needed to save them!
That is why so many today still do not want to truly believe what Jesus said about Himself - they would rather go on trusting in their religion to save them, than to believe that Jesus is the only Saviour. (Acts 4:12. Hebrews 7:23-25.)
Like these Jews in our story, most people today would appear to be interested in Jesus and His message. "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly," they asked. (verse 24.) Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all... I and the Father are one.” (verses 25-30.)
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus. Ignoring His miraculous proofs, they were not willing to believe that Jesus, whom they still said was "a mere man", could take the place of their priests and religion and be their God and Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7.)
Read in John's Gospel chapter 10, verses 19-33 how seeing isn't believing. Will you believe in Him as your Saviour although you cannot see Him? (John 20:29.)
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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