Believing!

For Thursday, March 23, 2023:

Matthew 11:23, NLT, Jesus speaking: “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead, to hades. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.”

As he arrived in a city, Jesus would always heal those who needed healing. The people of the city were eyewitnesses to blind people who could now see and deaf people who could now hear clearly! Cripples would pick up their mats and walk away!

Q: Did the witnesses believe those miracles were heaven-sent?

A: Oftentimes no, and that’s the problem. Some thought the miracles were from Satan and that Jesus was evil. Some chose to follow rules, to obey the law of Moses, rather than restore a human being on the Sabbath. There was little gratitude shown for the miracles, and a lot of people didn’t acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. So even though these people heard Jesus speak and watched him heal, they weren’t convinced. They didn’t believe what they’d seen with their own eyes! And non-believers don’t get to spend eternity in heaven!

Nowadays many people believe. We call them Christians. Remember that Jesus said, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29) That’s us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship