John 2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Do you remember from your high school grammar studies what an intransitive verb is? Sure you do. It’s a verb that does not require a direct object. Ringing a bell yet? OK, here’s an example: Sarah plays. This tells us something about Sarah, that she plays, but we don’t know what- does she play the piano, or soccer, or in the sandbox? In the above verse the disciples came to believe. Can believe be an intransitive verb? Here it says the disciples specifically believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. Every Christmas season I hear Josh Groban on the radio singing “you have everything you need if you just believe.” Can you “just believe.” I looked up the lyrics to the song and Josh is actually asking us to “believe in what your heart is saying.” I just wanted to raise the question this week; what does it mean to believe? Again, the disciples “believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” Does your belief require a direct object? If so, this week what would you say you believe in?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 