Dear Explorer,
Read John 10:31-42
My great-Uncle Harmon drove a moving van across North America. He met many interesting people and brought home strange and wonderful stories and treasures. One afternoon he called and invited our family to his home for watermelon. I was probably 6 or 7 years old and watermelon was (and is) a favorite for me. I couldn't wait for the visit because I loved Uncle Harmon and I loved watermelon. How excited I was when the adults finally agreed it was time to cut the watermelon. Uncle Harmon very ceremoniously cut the first slice. There was a corporate gasp of dismay as we discovered the watermelon was yellow inside instead of the lovely red we expected. But Uncle Harmon laughed his hearty laugh and explained that the joke was on us. And even though he assured us that it tasted the same as red watermelon, we were all rather hesitant to give it a try. (It really did taste like red watermelon!)
What criteria do you use to determine truth? Your eyes? Your personal experience? Your IQ? Your traditions?
Jesus challenged the Jewish leaders to use all the above, but to do it honestly and with an open mind to TRUTH. Faith is not so much a blind leap into the dark as it is a confident belief in the facts.
I taught a young adult Bible study class made up of about 20 Stanford graduate students, many of them working on their Ph.D.'s in aeronautics and physics. We made our motto, “Don't Check Your Brain at the Door”. Jesus wasn't saying to quit thinking – He was saying, “Think!” “Use your brain!” “I created it and intend for you to use it!”
Many religions teach you to not ask questions. Jesus is just the opposite. He invites questions. All He asks is that they be genuine and sincere!
Look at John 10:33. Why did the Pharisees want to kill Jesus?
Again, I want to emphasize that Jesus either was who He said He was – or not! But He certainly wasn't just a good teacher or prophet! Not only did He claim to be God, but the Pharisees claimed that He claimed to be God!!!
In His service, dale
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