John 2:23-3:1523 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John 2:23 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. KJV
Oh, it is easy enough to believe in God and have boundless faith if every prayer is answered yes. Or, if we had been eyewitnesses to Jesus himself raising the dead and healing the leper. Sure we could easily believe. But we did not see Jesus and many of us have prayed desperately on our knees for our loved ones with NO being the answer.
My two sisters, Patsy and Nan, both died of cancer. Patsy was 51 and Nan was 42. They loved their Lord and served him all their days. Their churches, their families, their friends all stormed the very gates of heaven with prayers for their healing. They died - our answer was no.
Do I have an answer for this? Of course not. Far wiser folk than I have long pondered why good people suffer and die a hard death. And there were those well-intentioned people who tried to tell us, oh if you only have faith enough, your prayers would be answered. Nope, sorry, I don’t buy that. Sometimes the answer is no, and we don’t get to understand it.
When Patsy and Nan died, barely three years apart, I had a choice to make. Be angry and blame God and question his goodness and love. Or, say to God: I trust you and I love you, no matter what. Faith untested is faith unproven. We may never have a personal miracle, but underneath us are always the everlasting arms of God. I choose to love and trust God and He has always brought me comfort and strength. THAT is the miracle we can all claim!
Prayer: "Jesus, you said you would never leave us comfortless and would be with us to the end of the world. Help us trust your promises when our faith falters and hope fails."
Mary Juneau
