Wednesday, March 14: John 10- The difference between understanding and belief.

The Jews understand Jesus. They know what He is saying, preaching and teaching. They get it. But they choose not to believe it. This becomes clear in verse 31-33. Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

They understand that Jesus is teaching that He is God. Instead of believing Him, they follow their religion and look to stone Him.

Understanding someone is being able to follow their logic and even restate what they have said, taught or proclaimed.

Believing means to ‘buy into, to trust, to be willing to follow’. Believing, at its best, involves understanding. Understanding doesn’t require believing.

As we read through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, hopefully your understanding of God’s Word is growing. However, the most important factor is whether your belief in God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit, is growing.

John writes his Gospel and letters that you might believe Jesus is the Christ and by believing you might have life in His name (John 20:31).

Do you believe? Do you?

Jesus, I confess that You are God and that You came to teach us about the Father and the Spirit.  That You came to show us the way back to God and that You came to be our sin-penalty substitute. You came to give Your life on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all who would believe in You. I believe in You and I believe You. Alleluia. Amen.