“ I ” Got one word down and toke a long pause wondering what to write when looking at it discovered it started all wrong. Unfortunately that is how most things start with “I” or “Me”. It is a sincere prayer that God guides us and illuminates His will. Let us come submissively to learn and share and avoid “I” and speak only of this Man and in those words He may be pleased so that many others believe.
Extra Credit: Somewhere along this journey these short devotionals that are placed here as extra credit reading became to myself sometimes more of a blessing and what I look forward to. Today’s lives up to this and is on the The Paradox of the Scriptures by Todd Nibert.
Jhn 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
Jhn 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
Jhn 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
Jhn 10:42 And many believed on him there.
- Is there any significance in Jesus returning to the place where John Baptized?
There are quite a few things that stand out in these verses. First is Christ Sovereignty. Once again they tried to take Him but could not. His hour had not yet come. Three months later Christ will return to Jerusalem to willing give Himself over to their hands. But this would take place in His time according to the scriptures had foretold and according to His sovereign will.
Next we have Christ withdrawing from the world. I heard a sermon recently on “when the lights go out on the way to hell”. There is no worse penalty to place on any man than for God to forsake or withdraw and let them over to their own evil will. There is nothing worse for the world when God forsakes or withdraws His hand of mercy and cast it over to its own evil.
Finally we have a strong comparison between the two crowds. In the previous verses they witnessed His miracles, saw wonders performed by Christ, and still seeked to kill Him. Here they seen no miracles or wonders but only heard His words and yet many believed. What wonderful, blessed hope for today as we speak of our Savior that these words and not our actions or efforts might be used to draw His sheep near.
