THE GOSPEL: Believe the Signs, Believe The Word!

...He was teaching daily in the temple. (Luke 19:47) Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. (Matthew 21:14)

Remember during this time, Jesus was traveling back-and-forth, going to the temple in Jerusalem during the day and staying in Bethany at night. But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [Isaiah 53:1] Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” [Isaiah 6:10] These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. (John 12:37-41) 

People are going to believe what they want to believe no matter what.  God had given the children of Israel more than enough time and proof to believe in Him and obey His Words, but repeatedly they would turn away from God. “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:8-11)

From the time of God's prophecy through Jeremiah nearly six hundred years before Jesus was born, up to this time that Jesus was at the temple, the people were still doing the same things, that even Jesus quoted this prophecy.  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46) 

God gave the children of Israel more than enough time to turn to Him, and He has given each of us enough time and proof to believe in Him and obey His Words also.  But if we decided in our hearts that we will not believe and we refuse to turn to Him, then He will blind our eyes and harden our hearts. And even as they [and we] did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness,... (Romans 1:28-29)

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:42-43) This is the problem we all have to overcome!  Faith in God and believing in the Word of God doesn't make sense to this world.  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” [Isaiah 29:14] Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (I Corinthians 1:18-21)

No matter how man may judge us, we have to make the choice, each of us for ourselves, to believe in Christ Jesus and boldly confess it and live it before the world.  Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:44-48) 

Jesus previously taught, For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26) Jesus came to die for our sins; Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (II Corinthians 5:18-19) 

We all will be judged by the word that Jesus spoke.  For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50) God has spoken clearly, He has demonstrated His existence, power and authority throughout creation and in His Only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus. We have to decide if we are going to believe God or fear what man may think about us! Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5) Let's not be cursed by God, but believe His Word; Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!"  (John 14:6)