John 8:48-59…
Reading the Gospel of John we get a distinct taste for how Jesus presented Himself. If we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that is opened, it becomes clear. Jesus is pointing to the fact that while He is human, He is also divine (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5). He is the God-man, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world (Colossians 2:9).
As the Son of God revealed Himself, the hearts of the religious leaders were also manifest. They didn’t want to debate the Scriptures or the Law. They didn’t repent, and they didn’t respect. Instead, in their rage they resorted to name calling and accusing Jesus of being demonically possessed. Jesus defends by saying His purpose was to honor His Father, who would glorify Jesus and act as judge.
Then Jesus asserts that those who believe in Him would never die. This further infuriates and insults the hypocrites. They appeal to Abraham, but Jesus says they have no right, for they don’t know God, while Jesus does know God, and He knew Abraham. In fact, Jesus says, Abraham understood better than they did about who Messiah would be. They could not wrap their minds around the fact that God was there in their midst. The very Creator and Sustainer of the universe (John 1:3 / Colossians 1:16-17 / Hebrews 1:2-3) was in their very presence, and all they could do was refuse and revile Him.
In the Bible, you have the very words of the very God in your hands, but do you have them in your heart? They proclaim Jesus as the Savior, but who is He to you?
2 comments:
Nicely worded, interestingly enough, I guess I have heard your preaching voice so much now that when I read this I head your voice in my head instead oh my own.
P.
Uh oh, he he he
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