On one side of the Jordan, the people "again reached for rocks to stone Him" (Jn 10:31). They accused Jesus of blaspheming (Jn 10:33). "They again tried to arrest Him" (Jn 10:39).
On the other side of the Jordan, "many people came to" Jesus (Jn 10:41) and "came to believe in Him" (Jn 10:42).
Because God isn't One to "take sides," why did the people reject Jesus on one side of the Jordan and accept Him on the other? The answer is: that side where people believed in Jesus was the side where St. John the Baptizer had been baptizing (Jn 10:40). John's baptism was "a baptism of repentance" (Lk 3:3). So where there was repentance, there was faith; but where there were only the great works of Jesus, there was no faith (see Jn 10:37-38, 41).
If you want to be on the right side of the Jordan, repent and confess your sins; then you will believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). "Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mk 1:15, RSV-CE). "I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner" (Lk 15:7). Repent or reject Jesus. Repent or crucify Jesus (Heb 6:6). Repent!
| PRAYER: | Father, this Lent may I make one of the best Confessions of my life. May my Holy Week be truly holy. |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion." –Jer 20:11 |
| PRAISE: | Jack returned to the Church, in a new relationship with Christ, just weeks before he died. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College