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by Sandy Shaw
Jesus offers to keep us out of darkness permanently – not out of danger – nor out of suffering – but out of darkness.
This is one of the reasons why we follow Jesus – to be with Him – and to be with all the others who are following Him. It is called Fellowship. We are in John Chapter 8.
At this point the Pharisees come to Jesus and challenge Him – not follow Him – and basically they are saying, “We don’t believe a word you say. We have only got your word for it. Nobody else is saying these things about you. There is no proof.”
Jesus goes on to say – you do not recognise that I am speaking the truth, because you don’t know enough. I know where I came from and I know where I am going. You don’t, so you are not in a position to judge.
v.15 – Your judgment is merely human. You judge in a human way, and men make judgments on things they know nothing about.
People judge the Bible. People judge Jesus. People speak about what is going to happen or not going to happen in the world, and many know nothing at all about these things. Read the Word before you judge. Know something about the situation before you speak out. This is what Jesus is saying. This is why many dismiss what Jesus said about Himself, and they do so, so lightly.
Get to know the Word of God as well as you can. Get to know Jesus as well as you can. Get close to Him. Get your information and knowledge firsthand.
v.16,17 – I do not judge in a human way, not knowing the situation. When I judge, and when I say something, it will be I and My Father speaking. The two of us will be in harmony – in unison. We are ONE. We are UNITED.
The Father witnesses to me in the law – in the Word. The One Who sent me into the world is THE FATHER – God the Father.
Jesus says something, and the Father supports it. They are consistent. It hangs together. There is a unity. That is why, when we are open to all of God’s truth, it will be supported and validated. There will be a ring of truth about it, and you will know this.
v.19 – Where is your Father? Note, it is “where” and not “who”? What an insult.
They have heard the rumours that were going around regarding His birth, and Jesus replies, “If you knew ME, you would know who my Father is.”
Jesus goes through his life and ministry, pointing to the Father. Jesus always wanted to bring men to the Father.
v.21 – He then mentions the consequences of rejecting the truth. You cannot come where I am going. It is very serious to reject the truth of God. “You will die in your sin.” That is strong.
v.22 – These religious leaders thought that Jesus was going to commit suicide. What a stupid thought for religious people even to contemplate.
v.23 – We have here some very plain speaking. I came from heaven. You are of this world.
v.24 – There comes a point where we have to believe that Jesus is what he claimed to be, and Who He claimed to be. There comes a point where we take this Word and believe it – all of it – and it is then that we prove how true it is. To go where Jesus is, we must believe that Jesus is Who He says he is.
Follow the Light of the world. Draw as near to Jesus as you can, and show and reveal your faith by your obedience to His Word.
v.25 – They continue to ask questions, but they would never accept the answers Jesus gave. One day you will lift me up and then you will know who I am, but then it will be too late!
Jesus was proved to be right. They crucified Him and they never came to believe.
v.28,29 – I say what my Father wants Me to say, and that is how I please my Father. Jesus was a Father-pleaser.
v.30 – Many came to believe. This is always one of the goals and aims of the ministry of Jesus – to have people come to believing faith and to see them eventually fully and adequately ‘born again’.
John wants us to be sure that we know who Jesus is, and that we know what Jesus wants us to do. Jesus goes on to say that believing is NOT enough. If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. You have come to believe.
The Father has allowed you to see something, and you believe. Now, go on. Continue. Remain faithful.
THEN, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Jesus saw that these people had seen something, and He encourages them to let it grow, and to allow it to develop. Jesus wants it to last. As you continue in My Word, you will find that what you have received is confirmed to be true, and when you rejoice in what is true, you will discover a new freedom – a new liberty.
These recent studies have been slightly longer than I have normally submitted, but this is a passage which is very difficult to divide. The careful and prayerful study of these verses will result in a rich spiritual harvest.
Freedom and Liberty – Truth and Life and Light – these are what Jesus Christ is offering, in these profound conversations!
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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