It took quite a while for me to digest the story of the unbelief of Jewish leaders towards Jesus as the Messiah. The background of this verse--the Pharisees were trying to arrest Jesus but had no charges to bring against Him. So they tried to come up with a way to convict Him by saying that His claim of the truth, Him being truth itself - was false. Nicodemus spoke and challenged the murderous intent of the Sanhedrin but was rebuked. They tried to discount Him because He was from Galilee and no prophet ever comes from that place, they said.
It must be frustrating for Jesus to see such disbelief and such division. In a way we encounter people like the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees who will mock our faith, who will try to discount us because of our background and our past. I remember getting the same reactions from people early on in my conversion. I can't blame them for they knew me to be insufferable thus it was difficult to believe how such a sinful woman could be quoting words right out of the Bible, claiming to be a new creation. I did not expect to be ridiculed and felt I did not deserve such pejorative labels. I felt slighted, truth be told. But I sought comfort in God's Word and there I found one in Matthew 10:22 which says, "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." I was further reminded in 1 Peter 3:16 to,"...keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
There were times I felt discouraged. I knew I wasn't perfect, I still failed in some areas. But God assured me that He was perfecting me and that I had to be patient. I came to realize and accept that, I as a witness or my life as a testimony, may not be enough proof for some to respond and seek Jesus. There will always be rebellious ones who will refuse to face their sins, will be quick to rebut with flimsy excuses like the Pharisees. There will also be ones who will agree with the truth that is spoken of by many men and women of great faith but they will continue to live a life of non-commitment to Jesus. Nevertheless, I must press on. Because there are those who will seek The Christ who overhauled me, the ones who want to hear the story of my redemption and will desire the same unspeakable joy and unshakable peace I enjoy with my Savior. Because of them, I must remain firm and my eyes fixed on Jesus.
As a follower of Christ, I am set apart. I am called to counter flow, to challenge the way of the world, to oppose the lies of the enemy with the Truth. I will be condemned by the world without hearing just as Jesus Christ was. If it means to stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd, to be the lone "colored" pencil among "whites", then so be it. I take comfort that if I remain faithful and passionate about Jesus until death, then the crown of life is my reward.
It must be frustrating for Jesus to see such disbelief and such division. In a way we encounter people like the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees who will mock our faith, who will try to discount us because of our background and our past. I remember getting the same reactions from people early on in my conversion. I can't blame them for they knew me to be insufferable thus it was difficult to believe how such a sinful woman could be quoting words right out of the Bible, claiming to be a new creation. I did not expect to be ridiculed and felt I did not deserve such pejorative labels. I felt slighted, truth be told. But I sought comfort in God's Word and there I found one in Matthew 10:22 which says, "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." I was further reminded in 1 Peter 3:16 to,"...keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
There were times I felt discouraged. I knew I wasn't perfect, I still failed in some areas. But God assured me that He was perfecting me and that I had to be patient. I came to realize and accept that, I as a witness or my life as a testimony, may not be enough proof for some to respond and seek Jesus. There will always be rebellious ones who will refuse to face their sins, will be quick to rebut with flimsy excuses like the Pharisees. There will also be ones who will agree with the truth that is spoken of by many men and women of great faith but they will continue to live a life of non-commitment to Jesus. Nevertheless, I must press on. Because there are those who will seek The Christ who overhauled me, the ones who want to hear the story of my redemption and will desire the same unspeakable joy and unshakable peace I enjoy with my Savior. Because of them, I must remain firm and my eyes fixed on Jesus.
As a follower of Christ, I am set apart. I am called to counter flow, to challenge the way of the world, to oppose the lies of the enemy with the Truth. I will be condemned by the world without hearing just as Jesus Christ was. If it means to stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd, to be the lone "colored" pencil among "whites", then so be it. I take comfort that if I remain faithful and passionate about Jesus until death, then the crown of life is my reward.