Is Seeing Really Believing?

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 4:32-37 ~~~ Psalm 93 ~~~ John 3:7b-15 ~~~

 

Is seeing really the same as believing? 

Can you really believe everything that you see?

I have been to magic performances where I have been deceived by my own eyes.

Relying solely on your eyesight can be an iffy proposition at times.

 

Jesus tells Nicodemus that he testifies to what has been seen and

people still do not believe.

This is Jesus speaking about not being believed.

 

If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

 

As fragile and flawed is our system for believing; we cannot stop believing.

Our brain is designed to organize the puzzle pieces until they make some kind of sense.

Our brain likes completeness...wholeness.

If there are missing parts the brain automatically fills in the gaps.

No, this is not about lying or fabricating the facts.

 

Jesus promises us eternal life if we believe in him.

In order to completely believe in Jesus

 we must accept a certain amount missing pieces.

There are many mysteries surrounding our believing in God.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the missing parts little by little;

accepting that some can never be revealed to us.

 

 

So many came to believe after the Resurrection of Jesus

that the apostles were touched by the generosity

of the community of believers.

The people had seen the signs of God

working through the words and touch of the apostles.

 

We are often led to spiritual things through physical things.

The healings were a physical sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles themselves were not capable of healing;

it was only through the power of the Spirit given to them by God.