The Proof

Scripture: John 10:22-26 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. (John 10:22-26 NLT)

John is less focused on chronology than the other Gospels. It’s now winter, time for the Hanukkah Celebration, the Festival of Dedication. Jesus is back in Jerusalem and walking through the busy, crowded Temple. A crowd gathered around him with the usual questions: Are you or are you not the Messiah? If so when and how are you going to throw the Romans and their army out of Palestine?

Here we go with the preconceived ideas again! The people expected a Messiah. Their scriptures were full of prophecies about the Messiah and they had every reason to be eagerly expecting the Messiah to come and liberate them! Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies God had sent them about the Messiah. But their expectations of how the Messiah would look, behave, and what his mission would be, kept them from seeing their Messiah in Jesus. Shouldn’t we be learning something from this whole preconception/misconception issue about how God fulfills his promises?

Jean and I grew up in ministry during the Jesus People movement in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Many of the Christians who had prayed most fervently for revival missed the opportunity to participate, to be part of shaping the Jesus Movement, because they couldn’t see past long hair and hippie ways. Consequently churches missed the vital energy of the Jesus People which God intended to use to stir, challenge, and motivate the churches to embrace diversity and be gatherers and conservers of the harvest. The Jesus People formed their own communities and “Jesus Houses”, but missed the wisdom, maturity, and stability that the churches could have provided. Ultimately, the Jesus Movement passed. Much good was accomplished. Many were brought into God’s Family. But much was lost. We can do better than this!

Prayer:

Father, Please help us to break free from preconceptions that blind us to your Spirit’s work in our world. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear. And hearts to change! Amen!