Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” . . . And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” . . . Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him. John 7: 25-27, 31, 40-43, NKJV.
Holy Father, as we continue our study in Your Word, please give us the necessary understanding to be both hearers and doers of Your Word; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Today, as we continue with the second part of our devotional – Not With Outward Show, we come to the second “distinguishing” sign of the Messiah: “And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” ‘ Christ in appealing to the unbelieving Jews, once said: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14: 11). They were expecting a Messiah who would do the very works that Christ was doing; yet there were those who chose not to believe!
Is it any wonder that Jesus responded the way He did when the people were expecting a sign? “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation” (Luke 11: 29, 30). While He did not give them the sign they were expecting, He foretold of the most important sign of His mission to earth: that of His death and resurrection; but it was not what they were expecting, so they missed it!
Listen as Jesus laments over their lack of spiritual discernment: “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘ “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” ‘ ” (Luke 19: 41, 42). The supreme sign was about to be fulfilled right before them, but because of the hardness of their hearts, it was hidden from their eyes! How terribly sad. They had become so caught up with material splendor, that they had missed the glorious spiritual daybreak that they had forfeited as a nation!
They had expected a Messiah that would dazzle the world with His military prowess and grandeur. When Jesus came in just the opposite manner, they were sorely disappointed. They could not receive a king as lowly as He. He was far beneath their expectations, so they rejected Him. He had come without outward show. And just as there was no place for the Savior in the inn,- neither was there any place found for Him in their hearts.
We may be in the same danger today, as was Israel of old. Perhaps we are expecting great signs and wonders before we can believe. And maybe, just maybe, Christ is waiting for us to believe, before, or, without, seeing. Perhaps the blessing is reserved for those who simply believe (John 20: 29b).
We will continue.