He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11-14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Have you ever told someone about an incredible experience that happened to you, maybe a friend or family member, and they didn’t believe you? Wouldn’t you be shocked? I would be. Maybe one or two people might believe you, but not everyone.
Then imagine telling that same story to someone you’ve never met. They probably would believe you more easily because they’ve never met you before. It’s really strange how that can happen.
Would You Have Believed in Jesus 2000 Years Ago?
If we look in the Bible, that’s what happened to Jesus. God promised to send a savior (messiah) to the Israelites through the Old Testament prophets. God wanted His people to know those things so when they happened, the people would believe. But every time God does something, the devil does, too. Whenever God sent a prophet to speak to Israel, telling them to repent of their sins and proclaim the coming of a messiah, the people refused to listen. Instead, they persecuted and killed them. When Jesus came, he called them out on it.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.”
Matthew 23:29-31
During about the 400 years or so between the last prophet, Malachi, and the time Jesus was born, the people were mislead by their religious leaders of the time. They added their own interpretations and meanings to God’s Word – something they were told NOT to do!
Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Deuteronomy 12:32
So, when Jesus came, he told the people to follow him and obey God’s commands – which was to believe in him (John 6:29). Only the twelve disciples believed him. But through their belief, they were able to become sons of God. Those who rejected Jesus were so stuck to their own opinions and church traditions, that they didn’t really know nor understand their scriptures. If they had, they would have believed in Jesus – as those scriptures (the Old Testament) testified about Jesus (John 5:38-40).
What About Us Today?
Today, many people already believe in Jesus. We should believe in Jesus’s words, more importantly in his words of prophecy. Jesus spoke about his second coming in parables, and also promised to send someone to testify about it plainly. When that happens, what will you do? Will you believe in the one Jesus sends?
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
John 13:20
We should seek to understand God’s Word in its entirety, as it is. We should wait for the time when it’s explained plainly. If we truly want to become born of God’s seed, we must keep the words of Christ without adding to or taking away from them. I hope and pray you are able to believe in Jesus’s words of promise, and then believe once more when they are fulfilled.
Peace.
Hope and Peace for God 