The Dividing Rock
John 9:35–41
That those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind. John 9:39
Jesus is speaking of the indirect moral effect on everybody of his presence in the world, according to which some believe on him and others reject him.
The sun’s light illustrates this. It warms things and makes plants grow. At the same time, however, the light will also drive away the creatures of darkness, so that bugs and crawly things will slither away into dark places if it is suddenly made to shine upon them. These were precisely the effects that Christ had on his contemporaries. He was the light of the world that caused faith to sprout and that which was alive spiritually to grow. On the other hand, he also repelled the religious leaders who, as creatures of darkness, hated him and wished to extinguish his light.
This is all the more true of the effect of his death by crucifixion; for it is at the cross that the division concerning Christ is most apparent. Most persons do not have trouble accepting Jesus of Nazareth as a teacher. But Jesus crucified—well, that is another matter. For a Jesus crucified speaks of man’s inability to save himself, of the supremacy of Jesus by which he alone is able to make atonement for sins, of the truth that there is only one way of salvation, and that there is a future judgment against sin for any who reject him.
There is a point along the Continental Divide high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado at which the waters of a small stream separate in order to begin two long and very diverse journeys, one leading to the Atlantic Ocean, the other to the Pacific Ocean. The dividing point is a rock in the middle of the stream. One drop of water striking that rock might turn west, with the result that it would flow into a small stream that in turn flowed into another one and another one until it entered the White River of Utah, then the Grand River, followed by the Colorado, the Gulf of California, and eventually the Pacific Ocean. Another drop, turning east, would flow through various small streams into the North Platte River and from there into the Missouri, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic. The destinies of the two drops are entirely different, though the turning point is a very small one at the rock. In the same way, the cross of Jesus is the rock that is the true turning point in man’s destiny. Those who believe enter into eternal life and go on to eternal happiness in the presence of God. Those who reject Christ reject God and go on being separated from him forever.
Take heed to your relationship to Christ. Your relationship to him is not inconsequential. How you respond to him determines your destiny.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.