Today we hear painful words from the prophet Jeremiah. When he speaks the message that the Lord wants him to deliver, the people disrespect, denounce and scheme against him. The people do not believe Jeremiah, that Babylon will attack Judah and take the people into captivity. Yet this is the truth.

Approximately 600 years later we see Jesus in a similar position. The Jewish leaders do not believe his message. They do accept that Jesus and the Father are one. Instead they want to stone Jesus for making such a lofty claim. They cannot see the truth, though he is standing in front of them.

So Jesus presents another opportunity for them to see. If they do not believe his words, Jesus asks them to believe his actions. Jesus invites them to notice that his actions give life to people, just as God the Father gives life.

Some people rejected Jesus; some people believed Jesus. This same choice is given to us.

Is there a place in my life (a particular relationship, situation, or struggle) where I desire to discover Jesus at work, to receive the life that Jesus offers? Today is an opportunity to ask Jesus for this. It is a chance to believe that Jesus and the Father are one and that Jesus is offering his life to me.