How you doin? No time
to spare today. John 8 is overly huge, heavy, and AWESOME!!!!!!! Grab
something to drink and a comfortable chair.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
This testimony from Jesus demands a response. Of course the Pharisees respond very poorly.
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” (John 8:13)
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” (John 8:13)
Oh, those silly Pharisees. Let's take a look at Jesus' response to them.
But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”“
You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:16-19)
But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”“
You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:16-19)
WOW!!!!!!! I love Jesus' righteousness and authority. We can see
where this is going. Jesus is teaching truth and the Pharisees aren't
hearing or having it. Here's the mind bending part.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:42-47)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:42-47)
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!
I couldn't help but notice the use of upper case F for Father and lower
case f for father. Now keep in mind, this is all going on in the
temple/church and Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, which are the
leaders of the temple/church. I highlighted the verses that got me the
most and out of them, 47 got me the best. The word
"belongs" is used and not "believes". This speaks to my identity. I
belong to Jesus. The Pharisees believe in God, but Jesus is clearly
pointing out that they don't belong to God. COME ON!!!!!!! Let's go back
a bit.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. (John 8:34-38)
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. (John 8:34-38)
Again,
Jesus is talking about different father's. Father and father. He also
mentions belonging and not believing. DIG IT!!!!!!! Jesus offers me
freedom from sin so I may have a "permanent place in the family". I may
be a son that "belongs to it forever". SAY WORD!!!!!!!
There are 2 more reminders of Jesus' control over His own death. Reminders that He handed Himself over to death. Here's 1:
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. (John 8:20)
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. (John 8:20)
The 2nd one is maybe the most loaded verses of the day.
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:58-59)
Jesus makes
a 2nd statement that demands a response. His testimony of being before
Abraham and being "I am" (which is what God refers to Himself as) is too
much for the Pharisees to handle. Their response was to stone Jesus.
They did not understand Jesus' language (truth), nor did they belong to
God's family. The Pharisees' have a different father. Jesus stayed in
control of everything... "but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the
temple grounds". I can just imagine this scene. Jesus is seriously
causing a huge ruckus. He turns this temple upside down and inside out,
then slips out the back. AWESOME!!!!!!! This email is doing John chapter
8 very little justice. Please ask the Holy Ghost to guide you through
this chapter and read it today. I'm going to go put ice packs on my
cheeks before they ignite. Don't just believe... belong to God's family
today.
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:58-59)
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