3/21/2019  4 Comments (at the bottom of this reflection.)

Today's question:
"If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?"

From John 8:

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.

Reflection from Don Trinite

In the passage “If I speak truth, why do you not believe me?” Jesus was challenging the Pharisees to prove that He has spoken falsely.  Jesus had led a sinless life and his teachings and the way he lived didn’t correspond to doctrines that they professed. The Pharisees couldn’t prove Jesus guilty of any fault or sin, even though they meticulously watched all his actions, trying to find something to hold against him.  Even though nothing was found, they still professed that Jesus was of sin and spoke against their beliefs and teachings.
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Looking at the beginning of John Chapter 8, you find that Jesus had entered the temple, where the scribes and Pharisees tried to make Jesus go against the law of Moses, by bringing a woman to him accused of adultery.  The Pharisees wanted his take on the stoning of the woman, which was the law for those who commit adultery.  When he did not answer, they asked him again.  What I love about this passage is that Jesus answered them, saying “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” The accusers left one by one because Jesus had challenged them by that statement and they knew that they were of sin. 

We believe in Jesus, but do we truly believe?  In this day and age, I find that for myself, following the beliefs and teachings of Jesus can be very challenging, as it should be.  If it were easy, everybody would be doing it.  Sometimes it’s hard to follow the truth, to believe the truth, as it may lead you to uncomfortable places or situations where you know what’s the right thing to do but ignore it and end up following the easier path.  I think that society makes it difficult to be a true believer in Jesus as our actions or comments can be taken in the wrong light, making us feel ousted.  I sometimes wish that the easier path would be the right path.

Comments

Irene Taylor
Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Thanks for this insightful reflection.

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Harolyn Thogersen
Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 2:32 pm
I wish the right path were the easier choice, too, because there are definitely times I've chosen it, or a different path than He would have led me toward. Nagging repercussions follow -- regret, needing to ask for grace, having to make amends. -- so, in retrospect, the more difficult/better choices would have been easier. How much better to pause to ask 'What would Jesus do?' and 'What outcome do I want?' beforehand, and to wait until better choices are revealed. Thank you for your reflection, Don; it's a reminder that His peace comes from choosing His path. 

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Walt Dibbern
Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 2:40 pm
I believe Jesus is always guiding us, leading us towards the perfection He spoke about in The Sermon On The Mount. But it's tiny baby steps, one at a time, and we tend to see our world in a hurry-up rush. We forget, this process will be in accord with His time, not ours. And it might not all be here on Earth.
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Larry Maloney 
Fri, Mar 22, 2019 at 10:30 am
Society often challenges my belief in Christianity. I find these words of John the Baptist from Luke's gospel to be reassuring in those times (people had been asking John who he was): 'As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' Luke 3:4 ...As long as I follow straight paths, I can trust God with the rest.

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About Today's Author

Don Trinite resides in Des Plaines with his wife Linda of 35+ years and has been attending FUMC Des Plaines for just about as long. 

He works for a large laboratory instrument company and travels around the Midwest teaching clients how to use the equipment and run the applications.  He has 3 grown sons and likes to read and ride his motorcycle.

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