Thoughts on the Gospel of John (162) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

His disciples said to Him, see, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God. Jesus answered them, do you now believe?
John 16:29–31

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (162)
The Lord had told the disciples about the Father. He had come from the Father, and to Him He would return. There is an eternal relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Did the disciples understand this? They thought so. But as simple as Jesus’ words sounded, the disciples had not grasped their deep meaning. Their reaction betrayed them: they were still talking about the fact that He had come from God – which was of course quite true. Jesus, on the other hand, had spoken that He had come forth from the Father.

Until the end, the disciples clung to Israel’s hope: the Messiah sent by God was going to liberate them. Certainly, this time would come, but not yet. Apparently, it had still not penetrated their consciousness that Jesus would suffer and die and go to the Father, and that they themselves should not expect an easy time. But at least the disciples were aware of their Lord being the all-knowing One who knows people’s thoughts from afar (cf. Psalm 139:2). We human beings have to speak out our thoughts and questions in order to make clear what is bothering us. But the Son of God knows us through and through.

How graciously the Lord responds to the disciples’ lack of understanding! He neither corrects nor rebukes them. He asks them only one question, “Do you now believe?”

Like the disciples then, a similar thing often happens to us today: some statements in the Bible are difficult to understand. But that should not prevent us from trusting God with our whole heart and from believing His Word.

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 23:12-23 · Psalms 109:1-20