Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

2 November 2024

Reading From Mark 11, John 12

“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

“He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

–John 12:37-46

     While I do believe that Jesus performed miraculous signs and wonders in order to confirm His Word and demonstrate His compassion for people, ultimately it is the individual’s choice as to whether or not they decide to have faith and trust in Him as Savior and Lord.  Their life choices led to spiritual blindness and hardness of heart.  The prophecies of Isaiah show that the saints of the Old Testament were justified by their faith as they looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  We are saved today as we look back in time and by faith accept His lordship. 

     It is extraordinary to me that here we have it documented that many leaders believed in Him but were too afraid to go public with it because it would compromise their position and status.  Nicodemus, whose discipleship gave us the most famous Bible verse of John 3:16, was a Pharisee.  This makes me wonder how much these covert, high status disciples worked behind the scenes in the upper echelons of power in Judea and Galilee to help those who were able to be more public about their Christian faith.

“Lord, give us the boldness we need to live for You.  Empower us to have courage in bringing the light of Your truth to others in public.  Help us in our unbelief.  Increase our faith in You.  We love You, Lord.  Amen.”

 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

–Acts 5:29