Chapter 11c

vs 29 - 36

I guess in a sense you could call me a professional non-believer.

See, I’m a science teacher. So not only do I have an instinctive mindset that says “Don’t believe it!”, I teach other people to have that mindset too!

Does this mean that I am one of those people that Jesus condemns in verses 29-30?

I can certainly imagine some of the more cynical atheists I know in the crowd where Jesus was speaking. “Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence,” they would say.

Would Jesus be angry at them for their unbelief? Or would He treat them gently, demonstrating gently that He is who He says He is?

Complicating this matter is that Jesus certainly did BOTH at various times. There are times (such as this one) where Jesus went OFF. He basically gave it to those wanting a sign, saying that they really just wanted a show (the different translations of the Bible use different words for it, but that’s basically what it boils down to). On the other hand, when Thomas doubted Him – someone who’d been in the team, traveling with Him for 3 years, someone who knew Jesus and what He was capable of – Jesus gave him the kid gloves treatment.

What is it about this crowd that got on Jesus’ nerves?

I don’t know, but I have an idea. It’s not so much the ACT of asking for evidence that Jesus targets. My scientific friends would be safe in that respect. What Jesus is targeting is an ATTITUDE.

If you look further down, in verses 31 and 32, what Jesus talks about is the attitude which has people squabbling about the nature of proof required when it is given.

You know, when it all comes down to it, the one attitude God can’t stand is PRIDE. All sins and all bad attitudes seem to stem from this – the basic idea that “I’m the one who’s important here.” And what Jesus is targeting is one outworking of a prideful attitude – the desire to prove that one is right.

We’ve all met them – people who are so concerned to be right, to win the argument, that they’ll do anything.

Met them, huh.

Maybe not a few of us have BEEN them. I know I certainly am. I’m getting better (I think/hope), but I’m still pretty proud. So maybe I’m the sort of person that Jesus is firmly kicking into next week here.

No, my atheist mates would be fine, so long as they’re prepared to accept the evidence that Jesus gives. It’s me that has a problem; I’m the one with a prideful attitude towards God!

An honest curiosity and desire for evidence isn’t wrong, and won’t keep you separate from God. Pride in your own abilities just might if you’re not careful.