Menu
John 10:22-39 <- Click to read now
By this point, Jesus had been in ministry for three years. He taught daily, performed countless miracles, and he said exactly who he is. Yet, the people still asked him to say it more plainly. Jesus had already been clear. It seems like they were looking for a different answer. “We don’t want a Messiah that helps those broken people we’ve rejected; we want a Messiah that will help us!”
What’s in it for me? This is something that we all ask at times, and understandably so. When we work, we want paid fair wages. When we put in effort, we want to know it isn’t wasted or unfruitful. When we are hurting, we want to feel better. When something good is happening, we want to be a part of it.
Have you ever seen someone else benefit from something you hoped to benefit from? Sure, you have. We all have. While these kinds of things can grow roots of jealousy, resentment, anger, or even shame, Jesus calls for us to be rooted in God’s love. If these folks had been rooted in God’s love, they would have been able to see God’s love displayed through Jesus. Maybe they would have even been able to open their minds enough to consider the truth in what he was telling them.
Let’s pray for God’s blessings to continue to be poured out. Perhaps they will shower down upon us; perhaps they will shower down upon someone else. But let’s always give God glory, and let’s be willing to celebrate what God continues to do through Jesus.
Lord, thank You for Your compassion and mercy. Thank You for the way You continue to bless Your creation, and thank You for working in our hearts and lives. Especially, thank You that You work in lives of those we might least expect. What an amazing, loving God You are. Help us to point out Your grace in our lives, but help us also point out Your grace in the lives of others. Amen.