Believing in Jesus

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Believing in Jesus

Date: May. 13, 2024

Passage

John 12:37-50 (ESV)

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40   “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
  lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 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; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 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. 48 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. 49 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. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:46

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

In its Greek and Latin roots, “believe” means “to put one’s faith in.” It is more a matter of heart than a matter of intellectual acknowledgment of doctrine. Although Jesus performed many signs, people still refused to put their faith in Jesus. He represented God very differently than what was understood at the time, and even those who did believe were afraid to challenge the religious authorities.

Believing in Jesus is not an easy thing to do. There are many things in the world that conflict with the way that Jesus lived and taught. Jesus challenges us to be born again. Even as Christians, we can be born again. I need to daily believe and give my heart to a God of grace and love, who sought to serve rather than be served, to save rather than to judge, and to give his life rather than protect it. Believing in Jesus is living in the light of his grace. In him is eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put my faith in you and know God who has great mercy on me. May I entrust my life in your loving hands.

One Word: Believe in Jesus

The Lord Establishes David As King

2 Samuel 5:1-16

Key Verse: 5:12

And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

Today's Question

See answer and references