Memory Loss

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

John 12:37 (NLT)

Our memories aren’t what we sometimes wish they could be. It’s easy for us as we age to lose track of important things like our eye glasses, car keys, or the TV remote. (The last one is easy to blame on the kids; the other two, not so much.) We forget about appointment times, class times, anniversaries, birthdays, and a thousand different types of things we are supposed to remember. The mind is a wondrous thing until it fails you when it is needed.

A short time after the joy-filled parade give in honor of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, many in the crowd also suffered from memory loss. Some people came and sat at His feet to receive further teaching. Jesus knew His time on this planet was running out, so He began to teach about His impending death, a permanent sacrifice so that all who believe in Him would have eternal life. Those gathered around began to argue with Jesus. Their rabbis (teachers) had told them that the Messiah would never die, but would reign forever as the actual king of Israel. The teachings of Jesus conflicted with the teachings of men. So, they abandoned their Savior, forgetting all that He had done. Their minds could remember the details drilled into them by the religious teachers of the age, but, as the verse says, they could not remember the miracles, the godliness, the love, and the authority of Jesus Christ. So, they left.

We are often times not too different than these men and women. We find it easy to question the divinity and power of God. We find it easy to forget the miracles that Jesus has already done, both in recent and past history. We find it easy to question why one bad thing happens, yet Jesus has provided healing, support, love, grace, acceptance, mercy, and forgiveness every day of our lives. We, too, suffer from memory loss. Today, spend some time remembering all that Jesus has done in your life, your friends’ lives, and that of your family. Recall the details, the moments when you encountered Jesus. Maybe even write down the miracles you have seen Him do. Remember that Jesus loves you; that Jesus died for you; that Jesus forgives you; that Jesus is waiting to take you home. Then, spend some time thanking Him for all that He has done.