It's interesting and could be deep reflections when we examine the different reactions of the characters are written in the gospel of John when they met the Lord Jesus. Some people with faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ and truly believe in Him. But many others who refuse to believe even hardened though many miracles and signs that they saw and experienced. I'm sure it's not just happening at the time of Christ alone. But until now the conflict are continues to happen as it is written in the scriptures: 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34-35). Let us look and reflect the attitude of some of the figures below and learn from them.
1. John the Baptist.
John the Baptist never meet the Lord Jesus before, but God the Father gave a sign that the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and stayed on top of Him that sent by the Father. When John the Baptist saw Jesus and the sign happen before him then he gave a testimony without a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. (32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1: 32-34). John the Baptist saw the Son of God is revealed before him and he believed.
2. Nathanael
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe [Or Do you believe...?] because I told you I saw you under the fig-tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you [The Greek is plural.] the truth, you [The Greek is plural.] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:45-51) Nathanael an intelligent person and well understood about the Word of God. He doubted the explanation of Philip about Messiah. Philip said: "He of whom Moses in the Torah and the Prophets, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." The Torah does not directly write down the prophecies about the Messiah although the idea of atonement is implicit in the Torah explanation of the sin offering and the Passover. Also the prophets did not detail that the Messiah named Jesus son of Joseph. But Nathanael still follows Philip to meet the Lord Jesus. Nathanael is a sincere and honest man. He did not want to humiliate others and open his heart to the truth. Fabulous! With a simple answer from the Lord Jesus, Nathanael believes that Jesus is the Son of God. That's because the Lord Jesus knew Nathanael in His omniscience, and it makes Nathanael believes.
3. The Samaritan Woman
The Samaritan woman save a lot of sin in her life. She felt depressed and need for deliverance. Shee awaited the Messiah! This Samaritan woman was surprised by the words of the Lord Jesus, even more so when the Lord knew all her sins. And when the Lord Jesus Himself declared that He was the Messiah the woman was telling the whole town and testify of Him. (25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” [Or Messiah] 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”John 4:25-26, 28-29, 39-42). Samaritan woman believed and she obtained deliverance and comfort from the Savior. In fact, she boldly proclaim it to the whole town. The meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ has changed her life.
4. The disciples of the Lord Jesus
When the Lord Jesus with hard saying the truth of God's Word about the Bread of life, many of the disciples who followed Him complaining or resigns. (60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:60, 66). But the 12 disciples who chosen by Lord Jesus Himself remained faithful and believe even though the Lord Jesus knew that there was one person who pretends to have a purpose and evil. (67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)John 6: 67-71)
5. Blind man who being healed by the Lord Jesus Christ
These figures are very interesting even though the Bible does not record his name. But the story gives a touch of depth because of the Lord Jesus declared Himself openly to this man and he believes despite having suffered ridicule and contempt from law experts.
In the Gospel of John 9:1-7 we can see the story begins. 1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said this, he spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
But the Pharisees were angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Then they interrogated that person even called his parents to make sure that the man totally blind since birth. (17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ [Or Messiah] would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” [A solemn charge to tell the truth (see Joshua 7:19)] they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.John 9:17-34)
The man with honest dare to say the truth that the Lord Jesus who healed him. But his testimony makes the Pharisees so angry that he kicked out of the temple of God. It's no coincidence when he came out of the temple and met with the Lord Jesus, God incarnate. (35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him. John 9:35-38) Praise the Lord! The Lord Jesus is pleased to declare Himself to this simple man. And what it does is recorded as a truly wonderful thing that the healed blind man worshiped and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. People who ate bread
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God
the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’“ [Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25] 32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, `I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: `They will all be taught by God.’ [Isaiah 54:13] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No-one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. (John 6:25-59)
It was tragic when we read the story above. Those people saw Jesus perform miracles even their own experience the miracle of loaves and fishes. But when the Lord Jesus declare Himself, they asked "What sign are you done?" With arrogant their claim to be descendants of Israel who ate manna of God in the wilderness, but they could not see and accept the offer of salvation given by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the bread of eternal life.
7. Jews
The Apostle John writes specifically about the attitude of the Jews. 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [Isaiah 53:1] 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn — and I would heal them.” [Isaiah 6:10] 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John 12: 37-43). Apparently the Prophet Isaiah has been written a correct prophecy about them. They harden their hearts because they want to see the Messiah from their own perspective rather than from the viewpoint of God.
8. The Pharisees
47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place [Or temple] and our nation.” (John 11:47-48) Seeing signs and miracles performed by the Lord Jesus Christ they didn’t want to believe and receive salvation. It is because they are afraid the movement of the Lord Jesus will make the Roman Empire threatened then destroy the Jews and their temple and their traditions that they guard and defend for many years. They are people who hold the tradition more than submission and believe in the mercy of God.
9. Philip
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. (John 14:8-11)
Although always gathered together with the Lord Jesus Christ, look and feel His miracles, but not yet open the eyes of his heart. And if we see the early chapters in the Gospel of John, Philip was so eager to testify about the Lord Jesus to Nathanael. But he is not yet fully understands the meaning of the coming of the Messiah into the world. However the Lord Jesus is merciful. He knew the limitations of his disciples. Therefore the Lord Jesus always prayed for them. Philip's heart and the other disciples were open when they fulfill with the Holy Spirit so they boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ that they trust.
every person who listens the message of the gospel, the truth is those who obtain the grace of God. But unfortunately, not everyone would listen with an open heart to receive. Some of them think the gospel of Christ as a folly. 18 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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” [Isaiah 29:14] 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18-24).
Therefore, do not harden your hearts to the gospel of Christ when it comes. Do not let the hardness of heart over our conscience. We need Christ as Savior in our lives. His Word says As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” [Psalm 95:7,8] (Hebrews 3:15)
Let's act like a blind man that healed by the Lord Jesus Christ. When he heard the Lord Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of Man who is the Messiah then he believed and worshiped. Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus Christ stretched out His hand to help you and to save you. Will you accept this grace?
