40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed
41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.”
42 And in that place many believed in Jesus
John 10:40-42
Before this passage, Jesus was in Solomon’s Colonnade during Hanukkah in verses 22-39. He was speaking to the unbelieving Jews who wanted Jesus to tell them plainly that he was indeed the Christ. Jesus tells them again, plainly as before, that he is the Christ and that the miracles he did in the Father’s name speak for him. At this point, the Jews attempt to stone him which compels Jesus to ask, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” The Jews of course did not believe in him for any of these miracles and said they were stoning him because a mere man claims to be God.
Now, contrast that to the above passage where Jesus goes across the Jordan to a place where many believe. Whether or not Jesus performed miracles is not certain. However, I think it is irrelevant. These people believed in Jesus for who he was which was a result of the seed that had been planted by John. The Jews at Solomon’s Colonnade heard of John but never went to see him or perhaps did but never believed in his message. The seed was never planted. Their hard hearts rejected Jesus as they rejected John.
Across the Jordan was a different scene. Here Jesus stayed. Perhaps he stayed because he was welcomed and he saw an opportunity to minister. Back in the heart of Jerusalem, there was no such opportunity. But here, John’s work was complete. No fireworks spewed from John’s finger tips. He did not heal anyone that we know of. All that he had were the words he spoke of repentance. Yet, because of his dedication, many believed.
Paul says in the Pauline Epistles that some plant and others harvest. This is a good reminder to us that we don’t have to be at the forefront. We can be content planting seeds. However, we should be ready to harvest. We can be both Jesus and John when we see the opportunity just as they did. Personally, I know the harvest is great and the workers are few but it is hard to see. I see so many who reject the Gospel. But I have to remind myself that I can plant seeds. It doesn’t have to be a sermon, a call to salvation, or a show and dance. It can be simple words I speak to my friends, co-workers, and neighbors. I can speak the truth I already know from Scripture. Just as our forefathers knew, these truths are self-evident.
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