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Day 17 John 8:12-59 John 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bear record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me. 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20 These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? Because he said, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus said unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son abides ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God hears God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the prophets are dead: whom make thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Have you tried to tell somebody with a fixed opinion the truth but they insisted you didn’t know what you talked about, even if what you told them was about you? Jesus had such an argument with the Pharisees who wouldn’t believe he was their Messiah. They reasoned with him regarding the law of witnesses. The law states that a matter would be decided with two or more witnesses. The Pharisees only saw Jesus, they knew his earthly parents, however, they never asked his mother or father where he was born, so they didn’t have all the facts regarding Jesus. They also didn’t regard the testimony of John the Baptist who declared Jesus was the Lamb of God, yet they were present at Jesus’ baptism when John the Baptist told everyone who Jesus was. The Pharisees had opportunities to know who Jesus was, but they had a fixed opinion about him and weren’t willing to search out the truth. As Christians, you have the truth. You can search out the Scriptures regarding Jesus and know the Old Testament prophecies which showed how he would be born and where. You have the gospel of Luke, who searched out the facts about Jesus’ birth. You have the gospel of Matthew and the search the wise men made, who found him in a house in Bethlehem. You have Jesus’ testimony after his resurrection on the road to Emmaus and how he opened the Scriptures to the two disciples, who recognized him after he broke bread. Truth stared at the Pharisees and they refused to acknowledge it. They wanted to believe he was a man as they were, not the Son of God. Jesus told them the truth would set them free though they refused to acknowledge the truth, they preferred the lie. By their words, Jesus condemned them because he knew their father wasn’t God. Their father was Satan who was in the world to keep the truth of Jesus from becoming known. Yet many believed Jesus, and he told them if they would be his disciples to continue in his Word, then they would always be his disciples. Are you a disciple of Jesus? A disciple is a student, one who seeks the truth. Jesus’ disciples sought the truth and believed him to be the Son of God. Though it took Jesus’ resurrection to make them true disciples and apostles who spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Has the truth set you free? Let’s pray: Father, thank you for giving me your Word, which shows me the truth about Jesus, your Son. Help me live my life as a disciple, searching the truth and bringing your truth to everyone who will listen to your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 18 December 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay