The difference between Thomas and a sceptic
The skeptic says, “If Jesus would only show Himself to me—if God would just work one dramatic miracle—then I’d believe in Him.” This kind of person overestimates himself. Even miracles can be denied or dismissed.
During Jesus’ passion week in Jerusalem, he was called to nearby Bethany because his friend Lazarus was dying. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus was gone. In a dramatic scene Jesus called him forth from the tomb alive, still wrapped in burial cloths.
This was a spectacular miracle performed in public for all to see. What was the response of the Jewish leaders? They plotted Jesus’ death. "This man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (John 11:47-48)
But Jesus wasn’t the only one they wanted to eliminate. They also had to get rid of another piece of evidence: "But the chief priests took council that they might put to death Lazarus also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away, and were believing in Jesus." (John 12:10-11)
Incredible! Instead of falling to their knees in response to this obvious display of Messianic power, they conspire to kill the very man whose public resurrection was proof positive of their error.
This is unbelievable unbelief.
You think if God just did a miracle it would change your rebellious heart? Don’t count on it. Jesus said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
As one wag put it, a skeptic with such an experience would not seek God, he’d seek a psychiatrist.
Oh so true. The sun melts butter…but it hardens clay.
1 Comments:
Man, you have sure got that right. This is one of the really big questions that has to do with whether people decide to "believe" or not. A very deep philosophical issue. And for many the basis of the unpardonable sin - rejecting Christ as their Saviour. The only sin that will send you to hell.
For instance, when I was a kid, I believed in a "certain something" and then had the rug pulled out from me when I found out it wasn't true. But then many years later I found out that (after all that time) what I had believed in as a kid was true after all. And that the persuasive arguments I had heard causing me to think that the "certain something" was a false idea, were wrong! I was very glad to find this out and started believing all over again in Santa Claus. No I am just joking. It was something else.
But it is interesting that some people in the same situation will never again believe in what they used to, even though there is good evidence showing that the original belief is correct.
Quite often it is the aggressive rejection of various Childhood beliefs which are often "closer to the mark" in many ways than what people later grow up to believe in. You obviously have to "grow up" but I am talking more about "childhood innocence", which also seems to have been a factor in one of Christ's sermons where He says something about being like little children. Interesting isn't it!
I suppose what you choose to believe or not believe in, is highly situation specific, but this whole topic you have brought up is indeed very deep and mysterious. It has to do with the heart and the will.
This kind of thing comes up a lot in left wing versus right wing politics; Creationism / ID versus Evolution. Even in things like the Copenhagen version of Quantum Mechanics, versus other possible more "classical" alternatives. And of course it comes up in religion. Atheism versus Theism.
And always there is some opinionated person who proclaims: "Why are we having this debate?!!"
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