Understanding Others

Since the beginning of time all humans have wanted was to be understood, even God has wanted us humans to understand his love for us, if our desire to understand others was just as strong as our desire to be understood the world would be a better place.

Most of the race wars and religious wars are about differences. Cultural and religious differences can cause a lot of conflict.

So, like in the verses below, we tend to search for people who look like us, think like us, and believe like us.

John 12:20-22(AMP)

V. 20 Now there were some greeks(Gentiles) among those who were going up to worship at the feast.

V. 21 These came to Philip who was from Bathsaida in Galilee, with a request, saying, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.

V. 22 Philip came to Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus

Understandimg others:

In the classic movie “Rush Hour,” Chris Tucker asks Jackie Chan a funny but great question.

“Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?”.

like Chris tucker we can assume that someone does not understand us, that’s where communication comes in.

Understanding is not just hearing the words but feeling the words that people are saying.

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about Understanding hateful people, or any kind of abusive person towards others, like oppressors, people who use others for profits or narcissistic people, I’m pretty sure there are reasons they are that way but I don’t want to understand, that’s me.

Understanding:

So these Greeks were coming to worship, they came to Philip, and Philip came to Andrew, Philip and Andrew were the only Apostle of the 12 with Greek names and spoke Greek well. Philip and Andrew were Jews but, for some reason took it upon themselves to learn the Greek language and culture, maybe for the purpose of communication like in John 12.

Some theologians believed Peter may have known some Greek because he was Andrew’s brother. So when the Greeks came looking for Jesus, they looked for someone to show them Jesus who spoke or understood their language.

All of us or most of us have different influences on certain people, we understand them, and they understand us. Which is great.

We can also try to understand people who are not like us, not to conform to their beliefs but understand them, so when they want to see or understand Jesus, they will come to us for guidance.

Out of all of Jesus disciples they came directly to Philip, Philip went to someone who understand him, Andrew, maybe if Philip would have went to another disciple beside Andrew they would have not received the people.

Those people were not looking for religion, they only wanted to see Jesus.

My goal is to try to understand people better, to listen more and talk less, to listen to understand and not just wait to reply.

This world is looking and searching, let’s make ourselves available, Philip or Andrew didn’t say a lot of words they just lead them to Jesus, because God and Jesus are the ones who can help them.

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote:

“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do, or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer”.

Everybody has a story, most people are the product of their environment, their up bringing and influences.

It doesn’t mean that we all have consequences for our actions, but trying to understand people better may save them and in return save them from hurting others.

Most people’s belief systems were established early in life, understanding is not agreeing.

Conclusion:

We can’t physically take people to Jesus but we can pray that God would reveal himself to them, if we can’t speak their language then find someone who can or pray that God send someone their way who can.

lets try just as hard to understand others like we want them to understand us.

Peace