Throwing Stones

John 10:30,31 “The Father and I are one.” Again the Jews there picked up stones to kill Jesus. But he said to them, “The many wonderful things you have seen me do are from the Father. Which of these good things are you killing me for?”

Hurling stones at Christians seems these days to be par for the course. In part, that’s because of some of the overt hypocrisy that goes on. Fair enough… no one likes hypocrisy. But it runs deeper than that.

To many of those who don’t believe in Jesus, our faith in Him is deeply offensive. And I get that. Before I became a Christian, let me tell you, the things those Christians said and did – even the good things (in fact especially the good things!) – offended me to the core.

I hated them. I persecuted them. I threw stones at them. And as you stand back from that, you have to ask yourself … why?

Short answer? Because their goodness shone a light on the darkness in my soul; a darkness that had wrapped its tentacles around every part of my life. And like a cancer it was impossible for me alone to break free. So I defended it and clung to it for dear life.

And that’s exactly what was going in this little episode:

John 10:30,31 “The Father and I are one.” Again the Jews there picked up stones to kill Jesus. But he said to them, “The many wonderful things you have seen me do are from the Father. Which of these good things are you killing me for?”

And kill Him, they eventually did! Look, none of us likes to have rocks hurled at us for our faith in Jesus, but that’s exactly what He predicted would happen. None of us wants to be crucified like Jesus … and yet He’s called us to take up our cross and follow Him. Don’t be surprised when they throw stones.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.