The apostle John wrote, “Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-six of his book John shared how Jesus said, “you believe not, because you are not of my sheep" where we read:
But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
The verse reads, “But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, ...” John began with the words, “But you believe not” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding you, Jewish people, do not think to be true, trust, or rely upon Jesus”, “because you are not” or “since and on account that you, Jewish people, do not exist as” “of my sheep” which means “belonging to my, Jesus', four footed, tame animals which accustomed to graze”. John shared how Jesus told the Jewish people they did not “rely upon, trust in and have confidence in” Him because they were not His “sheep”.
The verse goes on to say, “... as I said unto you.” John continued with the words, “as I said” which means “according, in proportion and in the degree that I, Jesus, uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto you” or “to you, Jewish people”. John shared how Jesus reminded the Jewish people questioning Him that He already told them they were “unbelievers”.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn not only that the Jewish people who were questioning Jesus did not “believe” in Him, but also why they did not believe. They were not His “sheep” which means His followers, disciples, students and attendants. Jesus already told them this in the past, and He reminded them again. Until a person yields their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they do not “belong” to His “sheepfold”, and they are “unbelievers” in Him. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and the choice is within the hearts and minds of everyone who examines who Jesus is. Let all who read these words be “believers” in Jesus and submit themselves to be His “sheep” who are cared for and protected by Him.
Next time John shares how Jesus says, “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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