Today’s devotion comes from John 7:1-9.
“After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him. So Jesus *said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.” John 7:1-9.
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It is amazing to read in today’s Scripture: “For not even His brothers were believing in Him.” Verse 5.
And, we remember Jesus’ words in the prior chapter: “And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:65-66.
Like many of Jesus’ disciples, Jesus’ brothers saw many of Jesus’ miracles and heard Jesus’ teaching and otherwise observed Jesus Who was “full of grace and truth” and “the Light of the world” and in Whom was life and the fullness of God. See John 1:4, John 1:16, John 8:12, and Colossians 1:19. But, they still did not believe Jesus.
Other doctrine is much more popular which teaches the goodness, wisdom, and free-will of man. But, such other doctrine does not explain why so many of Jesus’ other disciples and even Jesus’ brothers did not believe Jesus considering all these advantages that they had.
But, Reformed Doctrine’s teaching of man’s “Total Depravity” does explain it.
“10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Romans 3:10-18.
“… you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1.
Reformed Doctrine is not popular, because it teaches that man’s deeds are evil.
“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” Verse 7.
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19-20.
Reformed Doctrine understands and teaches that man’s only chance for salvation is that it has been granted to him by God the Father summarized by God’s “Unconditional Election”.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 