Lent – Believers vs. Unbelievers
Lent – Believers vs. Unbelievers

Lent – Believers vs. Unbelievers

March 21 – Believers vs. Unbelievers

John 7:40-53

When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.”

When we talk to others about Jesus, it always comes down to one question: do we believe Him, or do we not? He did not come as the Jewish people expected, as a strong king who would militarily defeat their enemies, therefore they doubted Him. He came from a humble beginning. He was born in the lineage of King David, but his father, Joseph, was not a strong and powerful leader. He was just a carpenter from Bethlehem. Jesus was not shy about who He was. He was a leader who spoke boldly in the temple about the Kingdom of God and taught people about Who God is and how to live for Him. Knowing all that we know about His life and Church, and having the complete Holy Bible, it should be easy for us to come to believe, but we still struggle because of sin. Make a choice today to be a believer of Jesus Christ.

Many people believed that Jesus was the promised savior but the Pharisees believed He was saying blasphemies and wanted to have Him arrested. If it was up to them, they would have had Jesus arrested and left to die in prison. They tried over and over again to get to Him, struggling and failing each time until His hour had come. Those who do not believe in Jesus may appear to be strong, yet they will struggle and always fail to defeat Him. There was a lone voice among them who tried to reason with them. Nicodemus didn’t speak boldly but just asked them to judge Him fairly before condemning Him. We, too, are called to be a ‘lone voice’ when others are speaking against God, Jesus or His Word. We are not to put ourselves in danger, but if others are condemning Jesus find out why they feel the way they do and gently show them who Jesus is. It is not our jobs to change hearts, but we are called to plant the seeds of change and maybe help save a soul.

Lent in Action:

Pray for the strength to be the lone voice to stand with Jesus among unbelievers.

Pray:

Lord Jesus, thank you for my faith and belief in You. When I hear your Word, write it on my heart, so that I may speak boldly if given the opportunity among unbelievers. Protect me so that I am not attacked but that their hearts are softened and open to hearing more about who You are. I ask this in your name, Jesus. Amen.

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