On the Fence

Sometimes we need to be told what to believe.

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." - John 10:22-30

Some can see and hear and know.  They believe because they experience the truth first hand.

But others can have the same experience and still they are not sure what they should believe.  They need more.

They are on the fence, not sure which side to come down on.

Do you think they would have believed if Jesus told them straight out that he was the Messiah, or would they challenge him?

The doubters love to doubt.  They see believing as giving in, and they are afraid to be duped.  So, they stay on the fence.

Knowing what to believe can be hard.  

We listen to so many voices saying so many different things, it is hard to determine what is true and what is not.  Maybe that is why we choose not to choose sides.

We decide we will wait and see what happens, rather than jump in and risk being swayed by the masses, becoming part of the crowd that is led into a position rather than come to it on their own.

Jesus told them that his sheep know him.  They have a relationship with him, and that is what makes all the difference.

When you get to know someone is honest you are more likely to stand by him when he is falsely accused.  You believe in him.

So, perhaps the message here is to build a relationship with Jesus, and to build relationships with one another, so that we can stand up with them, for them, and believe in them.

For if we fail to know one another as friends and family, we can be swayed and convinced of anything.

More to come...