“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.” John 8:43 ESV
Reflection: would Jesus drive an electric, hybrid or a gas car if born in our lifetime?
WARNING: Might be seen as a political statement, although it is not intended to beÂ
It can be very frustrating to talk with someone about an important topic that they have already made up their minds about. It doesn’t seem to matter what information or facts you bring, they are completely locked in a position. It might be a topic like climate, which suddenly seems to be on everyone’s mind (obviously a result of the amount of “conditioning” going on). It is a very strange thing to experience. It no longer is a matter of facts, a position almost becomes part of a person’s “identity”. Let me make a silly example. In the Boise area, we have a saying about people who drive a Toyota Prius, that they must be from the “north end”, which is the politically liberal part of town. And, the funny thing is that it is often true. There is an identity of liberalism and the perceived care for the environment. Many do, of course, care deeply about the environment, and one way to “demonstrate” this is to drive a hybrid or electric car. Please don’t get me wrong – I also deeply care about the environment, and I actually really like the Toyota Prius, but there is an issue here of “virtue signaling” and not being open for debate. Because one can easily argue various facts of the environmental benefits of electric, hybrid versus gas. So why do we get so stuck?
This issue of being unwilling to hear and consider new information, is not just related to big social issues of course. You have probably noticed that some people have an issue hearing God’s word; they may reject all of it or some of it. Even get angry when it is being brought up. When truth is spoken. Some might like select parts of it, such as “that “God is love”, and that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son”. Perhaps even acknowledge that Jesus was a real historical figure. Some might even agree that Jesus died as an atonement for sin. But then reject anything pointing fingers at them, at their modern lifestyle, or their personal behavior. Jesus was very frustrated talking to some of the Jews that were unwilling to hear him. Unwilling to consider him being the Messiah, the fulfillment of the very scriptures they studied and claimed they believed in. But when we read all of John chapter 8 in context, we start to understand why they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Let’s read a portion of it,
“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” John 8:43-46 ESV. It might seem to be very harsh words, right? The devil being their father? What we would consider politically incorrect, but Jesus spoke truth. So there is a deep truth here to consider. Jesus continued, saying “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”” John 8:47 ESV.
There is a deep mystery here about the calling by God, and those who respond to that calling. We know that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4 ESV. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this mystery, saying ““Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9 ESV
It must have frustrated our Lord Jesus immensely that “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:11 ESV. But some did receive him, and they were faithful to him and spread the news so that you and I could hear it today. But, I should ask, do we actually hear him? Do we receive him, his word? Is it transforming us? “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 ESV.