What can we learn about faith from those who "believed in Him there"? Setting the Scene John 10:40-42 places Jesus beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist had first ministered: “Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there. Many came to Him and said, ‘Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.’ And many believed in Him there.” (John 10:40-42) Who Were “Those Who Believed in Him There” • People who had heard John the Baptist preach earlier (John 1:28) • Ordinary men and women, not religious leaders, freshly encountering Jesus’ teaching • Individuals who compared John’s testimony with what they now saw in Jesus Observations About Their Faith • Rooted in Testimony, Not Miracles – “John never performed a sign” (v. 41). – Romans 10:17 reminds us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” • Built on Confirmed Truth – They recognized that “everything [John] said about this man was true.” – Acts 17:11 shows a similar pattern with the Bereans verifying truth from Scripture. • Prompt, Personal, Public – The verb “believed” (Greek: episteusan) indicates decisive, personal trust. – John 1:12: “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Lessons for Our Faith Today • Scripture’s Witness Is Sufficient – Like John’s words, the Bible’s testimony stands whether or not God grants visible signs (Luke 16:31). • Faith Responds to Light While It Is Available – These people believed during Jesus’ brief stay; they did not delay (2 Corinthians 6:2). • Simple Trust Pleases God – Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” – Their uncomplicated confidence contrasts with the unbelief Jesus faced in Jerusalem (John 10:24-26). • Personal Experience Confirms Prophetic Word – Their encounter with Jesus validated what they had heard from John, illustrating 1 Peter 1:8: “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him… and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Encouragement to Walk in Simple Trust • Hold fast to Scripture even when miracles are absent. • Act on the truth God has already shown you. • Let confirmed testimony deepen your confidence in Christ. |
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