June 28, 2023

Hearing Without Distraction

“Therefore, they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. Many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.’ Many believed in Him there.’” John 10:39-42 (NASB)

            At work sometimes, it is always easier to come in early. The office is quiet. No interferences. No phones ringing. You can concentrate on what needs to be done without distractions. I always felt this was the time I was more focused and ready to work. In this story, Jesus leaves the hustle and bustle of the city to the wilderness where John the Baptist once operated. Without the Jews around more were able to hear the words of Jesus with clarity.  

            “Therefore, they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.” I am amazed at the amount of times Jesus escaped the clutches of the Jews. I say this in jest, as no one could thwart the plans of God. No matter how hard the Jews tried, they couldn’t move up the timetable of God. The Jews now gave up on idea of stoning Jesus. If they were going to stone Him, they could have done where He stood, but they didn’t. One pastor said years ago, “Overawed, but still angry, the stones fell to the ground, and Jesus walked out.”[1] Again, God’s plans were still on course, no matter how hard the Jews tried. Just as sheep are safe in the shepherd’s care, Jesus was safe with His Father’s protection. He would not be touched until it was divinely permitted.

            As Jesus left, “He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.” Lincoln provides an interesting insight into some of the events which would transpire as Jesus left: “This location across the Jordan was specified earlier in John 1:28 as Bethany. Its identification with reference to John’s baptizing activity rounds off Jesus’ ministry at this stage by pointing back to its beginning. Moving Jesus away from Judaea also enables the narrator to have Jesus absent from the area when he receives the news of Lazarus’ illness in the next episode and to have the return to Judaea be a return to the threat of death that Jesus has just experienced.[2] As John was in this region in the past, the two acted in two differing ways. John called all to repentance. He didn’t do miracles or signs which would authenticate his ministry, Jesus did. If we note something else about John the Baptist’s ministry, we see him using this time to prepare himself for the message to share. Jesus used this time too not only recharge his spiritual battery, but to continue sharing His message with all who would hear. Such is the gospel, sharing with those whom the Holy Spirit has softened to hear and as a result, “Many believed in Him there.” It would seem the crowds drawn away from the influence of the wolves in sheep’s clothing were finally able to hear the message. “Somehow, the witness of John had been confirmed in their minds as true. Though John the Baptist had performed no miracles, and they had expected a true prophet to perform confirming miracles... They believed in Jesus, who was yet to perform a miracle more spectacular than all before—the resurrection of Lazarus.”[3] So stand by for an amazing story right here, tomorrow.

[1] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 10:39). Broadman Press.

[2] Lincoln, A. T. (2005). The Gospel according to Saint John (p. 312). Continuum.

[3] Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 137). Wesleyan Publishing House.