Tuesday, September 12, 2017
John 12:37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him ...
WHEN GOD IS THE TEACHER ...
School is started again. Students are getting settled into their new grades and classes, facing new challenges. It's probably still a little early to determine the strengths and weaknesses of every student, but the day will come. Hopefully, when that day arrives, the teacher won't throw up his/her hands and exclaim:
"They just don’t get it!"
There is, sometimes, a simple reason for a lack of understanding in students. It's possible that they can't see well or can't hear well. It may be that the student is too timid or afraid to ask questions when he doesn't "get it." It may be that the teacher doesn't communicate well or his students simply don't listen or are distracted.
Why didn't more of the people of Jesus' day "get it"? Why didn't more people become His disciples, His students? Why didn't they see his miracles and hear His Word and believe Him to be the promised Savior and Son of God?
Well, I suppose that some of them could have been hard of hearing or blind (but Jesus often cured that problem). Maybe some of them were too timid or afraid to ask questions (but Jesus knew their thoughts and very often answered the important questions of their hearts (cf. Matthew 9:4; Luke 11:17). No doubt some didn't really listen and others were distracted (like Martha on one occasion, Luke 10:38-41).
We know for certain that it wasn't the fault of the teacher or the Word that He spoke. We can say for certain that it isn't that God didn't want them to "get it" and come to trust in Christ. In the case of those who don't believe in Christ, there may be a variety of influences, but the fault is theirs and not God's!
Today, thank God that He overcame your will and called you to faith and enlightened your heart so that you know the truth (though perhaps imperfectly) and trust in Christ (fully, without reservation), and have in Him eternal life.
