With all the emphasis in the book of June on "believing" and having faith and trust in Jesus it remains true that many...perhaps most...will not believe...will not have faith...will not trust in Jesus. This was the case when Jesus lived on earth. Despite working miracles; healing the sick and even raising the dead...some would not believe that Jesus was the son of God. Why was that and why is it today that some won't believe. Two reasons surface in John, chapter 10 and chapter 12. In chapter 10 we learn that Jesus is like a shepherd who calls his sheep and some will hear his voice and respond and others will not. In chapter 12 we learn that God actually has hardened the hearts of some so that they cannot recognize Jesus for who he is.
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John 10:3-4 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice....verse 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me"
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John 12:37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him...verse 40 (quoting the prophet Isaiah) "The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts- so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me, and have me heal them." 41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this.
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Do you hear Jesus' voice calling?
Rob Smith
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