Responding to Ministry Conflict: Doubts About Faith

Faced with obvious supernatural power, both the crowds and the Pharisees were forced to respond to the work of Christ. The crowds wondered aloud in amazement that fell short of faith- was this Jesus the Son of David? But the Pharisees hardened their hearts toward God, and in a grotesque act of rebellion and hatred attributed Christ’s miracles to the works of Satan. Jesus’ rebuke immediately exposed the foolishness of their accusation: How can a kingdom stand if it is divided against itself? How can Satan stand if Satan is attacking himself? The Pharisees charge against Jesus made no sense, but such is the nature of sin and unbelief. When confronted with the truth, some behave like the crowds and ask for confirmation, while others like the Pharisees move to attack. The answer for both was in the Scriptures, yet they refused to believe, and this is still the case today. Men are not spiritually neutral and in need of persuasive evidence to believe God. No, man is spiritually dead and in need of rebirth that only God can provide.