taking sides
“Then He went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier.” —John 10:40
On one side of the Jordan, the people “again reached for rocks to stone Him” (Jn 10:31). They accused Jesus of blaspheming (Jn 10:33). “They again tried to arrest Him” (Jn 10:39).
On the other side of the Jordan, “many people came to” Jesus (Jn 10:41) and “came to believe in Him” (Jn 10:42).
Because God isn’t One to “take sides,” why did the people reject Jesus on one side of the Jordan and accept Him on the other? The answer is: that side where people believed in Jesus was the side where St. John the Baptizer had been baptizing (Jn 10:40). John’s baptism was “a baptism of repentance” (Lk 3:3). So where there was repentance, there was faith; but where there were only the great works of Jesus, there was no faith (see Jn 10:37-38, 41).
If you want to be on the right side of the Jordan, repent and confess your sins; then you will believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15, RSV-CE). “I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner” (Lk 15:7). Repent or reject Jesus. Repent or crucify Jesus (Heb 6:6). Repent!
Prayer: Father, this Lent may I make one of the best Confessions of my life. May my Holy Week be truly holy.
Promise: “The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion.” —Jer 20:11
Praise: Jack returned to the Church, in a new relationship with Christ, just weeks before he died.
Reference: (Discipleship Retreats are one of the main ministries of Presentation Ministries. You will grow in your faith and be equipped to evangelize by attending the series of forty days of retreats, one at a time or several in a row. See our website for all upcoming retreats and plan to begin the process: www.presentationministries.com.)
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