EVERYONE DID NOT AGREE ABOUT JESUS
And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
John 7:12
John 7:12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
John 7:47-49 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
These two passages, both in the same chapter, reveal that Jesus did not have a consensus when He was on the earth. Not everyone agreed about Jesus.
Some thought He was good. Good for Israel. Good to the people. But others thought He was not good and that was lying to people on purpose. Today we might call someone like that a con man.
The Pharisees, who were the most religious and religiously educated of that day did not agree about Jesus. Their unit of measure was themselves. If they, the experts of the scriptures, did not believe on Jesus then He was not for real. And the poor ignorant people who had never been trained in the scriptures were clueless and mistaken.
These people who lacked the proper knowledge were judged by the Pharisees to be in error in their belief of Jesus.
APPLICATION
What always amazes me is how relevant the scriptures are in our day. The lack of agreement that surrounded Jesus 2000 years ago still exists today.
Some people believe He is the Son of God and nothing but good. While others believe He is a detriment to society. That a belief in Jesus is a deception.
Some people look to the intellectual elite to determine if a belief in Jesus is warranted. Others believe one must attend an institution of higher learning in order to understand Jesus and what He is really saying.
So, people are all over the map about Jesus, God, and scriptures. But this life, this belief, is about heart, not intellect or education. So, Jesus, His words, His truth, His blessings, His salvation is available to anyone who will simply believe. And we don’t have to achieve a certain knowledge – available only to a few. We don’t have to have the approval of the brightest minds. We simply believe in our heart and confess with our mouth. This is why the apostle Paul stated that the gospel was the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord Jesus. I do believe You are God, You are good and You are good to me. I believe in You!