HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
There are different kinds of unbelief. Yesterday’s reading was about those who totally rejected Jesus as the Savior. Today’s reading is about the reluctant believer—the one who believes but is not willing to give up his present life to have the Life that Jesus offers. There were some among the rulers who fit this description. They believed in Jesus, but given the extreme hatred for Jesus among their peers, confessing that belief would surely bring dire consequences. They would lose their positions and all the honor and praise that went with them. It was a price that they were not willing to pay, so they kept their belief to themselves. One has to wonder how many of these rulers who believed in Jesus went along with the plans and efforts to crucify Him. In the end, there is no difference between the absolute unbeliever and the reluctant believer. They both will be judged by the words of Christ in the last day.
Why is being a reluctant believer just as bad as rejecting Christ?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
