If Jesus walked among us today, and repeated all his miracles, don’t you think everyone would follow him? Part of me believes that, but I suspect the answer is no.

Some folks literally watched Jesus restore sight to the blind and mend gnarled bones, yet crossed their arms looking for the ruse. Others drank wine poured from water jars, and still refused to nod their head, let alone bow their knee. In the midst of life-restoring miracles a number of people chose to hate Jesus instead of follow him.

Jesus spoke of the situation: If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.

Why would today be any different? Self-will is stunning. I get worked up, I take sides, jealously rears her ugly head and I refuse news that sounds too good to be true. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.

Haters still hate.

The news of Jesus is too good to be true. Yet there it is, free for all. Check your attitude. Don’t be a hater. Move toward Jesus whether your heart tells you to or not.

John 15 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Andre Hunter