John 11:54-57…
Jesus withdraws…
Jesus was deliberate in the way He went about orchestrating the whole event of raising Lazarus from the dead. He waited for the right moment. He demonstrated His intercession (Romans 8:34 / Hebrews 7:25) as well as demonstrating His deity before the doubting crowd. His directions involved others and intensified their experience. Some would become all the more devoted to serve Him, while others became all the more determined to stop Him. It was an object lesson into the way that Jesus’ work opens some hearts and hardens others.
Jesus knew the plan and purpose of the wicked religious leaders. It was not the time for Him to be put to death yet. Therefore, He withdrew from their immediate vicinity. This caused them all to question, as it was the time on their agenda that He would be expected to show up. Yet He was not there. He was with His disciples, as always.
Sometimes we know Jesus is “around” but He doesn’t seem to be showing up to where we expect Him. Of course, if you are a believer, He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5-6). But you may have left Him, in a sense, by rebellion. You have withdrawn, turned away from looking at Him. What you need is repentance, that is, to turn and face Him again (James 4:8 / 1 John 1:9).
You don’t have to go searching for Jesus. He is right there. But you only see Him when your heart is open to Him. It is when some door in your life is shut that you are the one hiding behind it. What is it that you don’t want Him to see? If Jesus seems to have withdrawn from your life, open that door of your heart to receive Him. Don’t close it to reject Him.
4 comments:
We welcome your comments. If you know someone who would like be included in the daily email, or if you would like a copy of the reading schedule, let us know (primesoul@hotmail.com). You can check www.voiceofvision.org for each day’s reading, or go to www.voiceofvision.blogspot.com to leave a comment. God bless you as you join and continue in the walk with us...
Silly humans we are thinking we can hide anything from God especially our heart that we dont even know ourselves. Expose the doors we're hiding behind Lord that we can truly worship you with a pure heart.
Amen.
If you don't leave Jesus, He won't leave you. Don't close your heart your Him, He loves all of us, and wants good things for us, but we need to walk with Him and have Him dwell in our hearts. Why would anyone want it any other way? I think there're just foolish and rely on their own self, which without our Lord Jesus will lead to their destruction. A very good devotional. Amen
Post a Comment