Thomas saith unto Jesus, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus saith unto him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him."
Philip saith unto Him, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it suffice us." Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how say thou then, "Shew us the Father?"
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do ..." (John 14:5-14)
Believest thou that there is One God, and this one and same God loved us enough to become as one of us? (I Timothy 3:16; Mark 12:28-31; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-18)
Believest thou that He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not? (John 1:10-11; Isaiah 42:13)
Believest thou that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour -- that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life? (Titus 3:4-7)
Believest thou that when we believe in Jesus as both Lord and Christ in our heart, and are water baptized in His precious Name, that we enter into, and now stand fast in the Lord? And, that He -- the Lord Jesus Christ will make you and I to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, so that He may stablish our hearts with blame in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints?
Believest thou this that the gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance .. with joy of the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us? (I Peter 1:11)
Believest thou on the Name of Jesus? The One and ONLY name whereby we can be saved in this current dispensation of grace? (Acts 4:12)
It is herein that our lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away (reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation) begins. (I Peter 1:1-12)
It is in this context that faith is a reflection of our intimate walk with Jesus. It shows our willingness to press in and grow in the knowledge of the Word -- Jesus the Christ. An inward heart desire to be with Jesus even while we live in this world. Sadly, however, even in Bible times, not everyone accepted this. Even those from Jesus' own country, according to Matthew 13, were astonished at the crowds that followed Jesus. While He performed miracles and healings for those who needed to be restored and made whole, the people from His own country doubted Jesus' authority.
Indeed, when Jesus was come into His own country, the people of the area asked, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?"
These might be considered valid questions if the focus was only on Jesus' humanity. However, when we begin to accept that Jesus is God in the flesh -- the same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to prepare a plan of salvation even before we were formed in our mother's womb - then our faith begins to grow. At first as a tiny mustard seed, but soon after, able to move those mountains that stand as hurdles against us. We soon realize that the same God who holds the universe in His hands loved us so much that He willingly shed His precious blood on the cross for us.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled -- the Word of life had a plan to converse with us. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 6:29 that this is the work of God that you "believe on Him in whom He has sent."
Who did God send? JESUS -- God Himself manifest as a servant. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9)
Thus, we are to "believe ON HIM IN whom He hath sent" (John 6:29)
All that the Father giveth shall come to Me, and them that cometh to Me in no way will I cast out. (John 6:37)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household too."
Had these folks from Jesus country realized the truth -- the gospel is to you and your family and to those who are afar off -- they would have recognized that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Our blessed Saviour. They would have found hope knowing that because Jesus shed His precious blood for us, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation for those who seek after His Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
The covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ. (Galatians 3:17)
Further, these unbelieving people would have realized that the Father wept because of our inability to get it right.To understand how much He Himself loves His beloved creation from the very beginning.
Why? Because it is Jesus -- God Almighty in the flesh -- that was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. Surely, He bore our sorrows, our hurts and our loneliness on the cross. All He asks is that we reach out in faith so that He can cleanse you and make you whole.
This is why the multitudes followed Jesus. It is why we also know today that Jesus satisfies our inward desires beyond our dreams. Like the multitudes who followed Jesus -- who pressed in against Him for more -- we can be assured that Jesus is all we need. He is more than enough. Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus today.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Rest in His abundance and goodness. Repent and be baptized in the precious Name of Jesus. (Acts 2:36-38) Study His Word for guidance and instruction. (I Timothy 2:15)
Stand in the offering plate.
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