All It Takes

Readings:
I Kings 21
John 12:37-50

Focus:
John: 12:43-43:"For all that, even among those in authority many believed in him, but would not acknowledge him on account of the Pharisees, for fear of being banned from the synagogue. For they valued human reputation rather than the honor which comes from God."

When Jesus was on earth, to follow him and put one's faith in him might have meant being banned from the synagogue. That would mightily disrupt one's life. It was far easier and actually better for life in general (in the short run) to keep one's faith in Jesus a secret, or to not even pay attention to him at all. People had values upside down.

King Ahab of Israel wanted a vineyard that belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. But since it was part of Jezreel's ancestral lands, he wouldn't sell it. So Ahab's wife Jezebel devised a plot to have Naboth killed, and then Ahab just took the vineyard. He didn't pay attention to God's teachings about greed, theft, and murder, and when Elijah showed up to call Ahab to account, Ahab addressed Elijah as "my enemy." Ahab had values upside down.

But Ahab repented when Elijah accosted him. And God took notice. Although Ahab had been the most wicked of any king of Israel, God spared him because of his repentance.

That is all that we need to do, too. Jesus says, "I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world." If we repent and turn to him, he will save us too.