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About-Him.Com Devotional 08-21-04
Http://About-Him.Com/ We have recorded a song that goes along with the though of today's devotional, entitled. It's All in Him! RealAudio http://about-him.com/music/all_in_him.ram MP3 http://about-him.com/music/all_in_him.mp3 147: The Discourse on the Father - Jn. 8:15-58 John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. After the accusers of the adulterous women had left in shame, Jesus resumed His teaching in the court of the temple. He made a bold proclamation, “I am the light of the world.” As J.W. Shepherd explains the context in The Christ of the Gospels, page 353, Jesus was standing near a huge golden candelabra which illuminated the temple area every night. It was considered a type of the pillar of fire which had guided Israel in the wilderness. Just as he had previously identified Himself with the miraculous supply of water in the desert by proclaiming himself as the Living Water, He now appropriated to Himself the type of the Pillar of Fire. "Light," was a title for the expected Jewish Messiah. So when Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world," He raised the ire of the ever present Pharisees. John 8:13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Their law required the testimony of at least two witnesses to back up the claims that one might have concerning himself (vs. 14-20). As far as they could see Jesus was talking of himself and claiming to be Messiah without anyone to back up His claims. So much for what the eye can see. They only saw a man, a carpenter of humble disputed birth. What they could not see was Almighty God clothed in that veil of humble flesh. Jesus affirmed that it was proper that He should testify of Himself. He had lived a sinless life. He knew where He had come from and where He was going. The Father who had sent Him also was his witness. Thus the question arose, Where is your father. Once again, affirming His absolute unity with the Father, Jesus answered, “If you had known me you should have known my Father also. John 8:21 ¶ 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. Jesus then said that He was going away to a place where they could not come. They would die in their sins without Him. The Pharisees thought perhaps He was going to commit suicide which would send Him to the lowest depths of hell . Naturally, they couldn’t go there. John 8:24 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 saith 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 spake to them of the Father. Jesus then issued an absolute for entering into His kingdom, "Except you believe that I AM he, you will die in your sins." We may have differences on explaining the godhead. It is difficult to fully understand the relationship of the earthly Jesus to the heavenly Father, but one thing is absolute. We must believe that He is God, or we will die in our sins. There would come a time, after he was crucified that they would realize that He was indeed the I AM (vs. 28-29). The man that they saw was in constant communion with His Father and only did and spoke what was pleasing to Him. The Father was with Him at all times. At this point, many believed on Him. Jesus told them that if they would continue in His word they could be His disciples (vs. 32-37). They would know the truth and the truth would set them free. Of course this incensed the Pharisees. Jesus answered that He only spoke of what He had seen of the Father and that they did the deeds of their father , the devil. They countered that Abraham was their father. Jesus said that if that were so, they would do the works of Abraham, rather than seeking to kill Him. If God were their father then they would love Him and understand His speech because He had proceeded from God and was going back to Him. They could not hear His words because they by nature would do the works of their father, the devil. He was telling them the truth, but they would not believe Him. They then insulted Him by calling Him a Samaritan (vs. 46-50). Not only that but He had a devil. Jesus replied that He didn’t have a devil. He was simply speaking the words of God and seeking to honor Him. Although they dishonored Him, He was only seeking to glorify God who was the judge of all. John 8:51 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Jesus stated that anyone who believed on Him would never die. Upon hearing this the Pharisees were all the more sure that He was demon possessed. Here was a mere man claiming to be greater than their father Abraham and the prophets, who were all dead. Jesus reaffirmed once again his relationship with the Father. He was seeking to do His will and the Father was honoring Him. Moreover, father Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced. The Pharisees retorted, “You’re not even fifty years old and you’ve seen Abraham? Jesus replied, “Before Abraham was, I AM. Upon hearing Jesus claim the very name of God which had been revealed to Moses at Sinai, they took up stones to stone Him, but Jesus escaped out of their midst. Conclusion and Application: Jesus is our living water. He is the Light of the world (John 1:9; I John 2:8). If we will live, we have only to hear and obey his word. Jesus was and is fully God and fully man in one visible being. It is important to remember that often when He is talking of His relationship to the Father that He is speaking as a man. When He is talking of His preexistence, He is speaking as the Living Word that was in the beginning with God and was God (John 1:1). The Word, the very consciousness of God, His mind, His will and intellect, is an integral part of God which cannot be separated from Him. Jesus told these people that If they had known Him they should have known His Father also. In John 10:30 Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." The Jews understood that He was claiming to be God, and took up stones to stone Him. Philip asked to see the Father (John 14:8-9). Jesus replied, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.” There is coming a day that we will indeed see the Father who is an invisible Spirit. We, like Philip, will see Him in the face and person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Discipleship demands that we hear and obey the word of the Lord at all times. We have the assurance of eternal life because we have believed on the Lord Jesus. we have passed from death unto life (John 5:24; I John 3:14).
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"Sorry, we don't have potted geraniums," the clerk said, and then added helpfully, "Could you use African violets?" "No," replied Ed sadly," It was geraniums my wife told me to water while she was gone."
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