12/30/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 10:22-30 Jesus points out that some people are not going to pay attention to him. As he puts it, although he shows his works, works that are done in the name of his father and which bear witness about him, those who are “not of my flock” do not believe. Some do hear his voice and follow him. Of these people he also says that he knows them.
The knowing and not knowing seems to be treated differently in this passage than we might treat them. After all, Jesus, God the Son, can make legitimate claims to omniscience. He knows all people. He knows what people are going to do, what they value, what they despise. There is a particular kind of knowing which lets people into your household, into your favor. As a simple example, I know many people for whom I have no inclination whatsoever to purchase a birthday present. Why is this? We aren’t particular friends.
Jesus speaks of those who believe him as people he also knows. In this way he indicates that he wants them to know particularly that he has given his life for them. He wants them to know that he is the one who lives to bring them new life. He wants them to know that they are welcome at his table. He wants his people to know that they have his favor.
Why is it that we are so ready to ignore Jesus’ works, which testify of him? The Bible never explains it except to say that our eyes are blinded and we refuse to see. May the Lord have mercy on us and on our neighbors, giving eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 10:22-30 Jesus points out that some people are not going to pay attention to him. As he puts it, although he shows his works, works that are done in the name of his father and which bear witness about him, those who are “not of my flock” do not believe. Some do hear his voice and follow him. Of these people he also says that he knows them.
The knowing and not knowing seems to be treated differently in this passage than we might treat them. After all, Jesus, God the Son, can make legitimate claims to omniscience. He knows all people. He knows what people are going to do, what they value, what they despise. There is a particular kind of knowing which lets people into your household, into your favor. As a simple example, I know many people for whom I have no inclination whatsoever to purchase a birthday present. Why is this? We aren’t particular friends.
Jesus speaks of those who believe him as people he also knows. In this way he indicates that he wants them to know particularly that he has given his life for them. He wants them to know that he is the one who lives to bring them new life. He wants them to know that they are welcome at his table. He wants his people to know that they have his favor.
Why is it that we are so ready to ignore Jesus’ works, which testify of him? The Bible never explains it except to say that our eyes are blinded and we refuse to see. May the Lord have mercy on us and on our neighbors, giving eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
RSS Feed