John Chapter 10: Verses 24-25 (NIV-UK)
The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’
Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me…”
John Chapter 10:40-42 (NIV-UK)
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptising in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, ‘Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.’ And in that place many believed in Jesus.
I was struck by two things in today’s readings. In the first, I wondered what those who challenged Jesus were waiting to see and hear when Jesus had already done so much. Jesus told them they just didn’t believe Him, so I think it wouldn’t have mattered what He did.
It made me think about what I am waiting for God to do before I do as He asks. Am I so focussed on what I think God should be doing that I miss what is already happening round about me; its not all about what I think, its about what God does.
And the second thing that made me think was the fact that when Jesus went back to the place where John had been baptising, people came who had been impacted by John’s ministry and they now believed in Jesus because of what they had heard from John. John was no longer with them, but the fruit of His ministry was now being harvested as people saw in Jesus that all John had said was true.
When we share our faith and our own story, we might not always see the impact that it makes on someone, but that doesn’t mean that we have wasted our time. It might just mean that the fruit from that is harvested at another time, when it is ready, and maybe by someone else. Paul reiterated that to the Corinthian church when he said, “ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 – NIV) What a legacy for John to leave that in the place where he ministered many people believed in Jesus. A great epitaph, I think!
Dear Lord,
Help me not to be so caught up in my own perceptions that I miss what You’re actually doing. And may I rejoice when people come to faith, no matter who does the harvesting. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.