Sometimes when doing one-on-one evangelistic Bible studies, people will say, “If I saw miraculous powers, like you say happened in the first century, I would believe too!” At least two instances in the New Testament, however, show that not even miracles were enough to convince some people.
First, in Matthew 12:22-37, those who committed “blasphemy against the Spirit” knew about the unmistakable healing of a “demon-possessed” man who was “blind and mute.” While the “multitudes were amazed,” some Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus went on to tell them, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). Their hearts were too hard to accept the miracle as proof that Jesus was the Son of God!
Second, Jesus unmistakably raised Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, from the dead (John 11:1-44). Although many believed because of that miracle (John 11:44), some did not, even to the extent that they plotted how not only to kill Jesus (John 11:45-53) but also to kill Lazarus because he was living proof of why people should believe and obey Jesus (John 12:10-11). Again, the hearts of these Jesus-rejecters were so hard that not even His raising a man from the dead would convince them!
This is reminiscent of the discussion that took place between Abraham and the tormented rich man in Hades. The rich man asked Abraham to send the beggar to “my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” Abraham responded, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:27-29). The rich man continued, “No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent,” to which Abraham again replied, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:30-31).
What is the condition of our hearts today? The age of miracles has ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-13), so we will never see a true miracle as long as we live. However, we do have accurate, reliable, God-inspired testimony in the Bible that proves beyond rational doubt Jesus is the Son of God. Further, the Bible teaches what accountable humans beings must do to be saved from their sins. Obey God’s Word today!
