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22 August 2007
John 8:12-20
Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, "I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life."
The Pharisees said to Jesus, "When you talk about yourself, you are the only one to say these things are true. We cannot accept what you say."
Jesus answered, "Yes, I am saying these things about myself, but they are true. I know where I came from and where I am going. But you don't know where I came from or where I am going. You judge by human standards. I am not judging anyone. But when I do judge, my judging is true, because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that when two witnesses say the same thing, you must accept what they say. I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself, and the Father who sent me is the other witness."
They asked, "Where is your father?"
Jesus answered, "You don't know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father, too." Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple, near where the money is kept. But no one arrested him, because the right time for him had not yet come.
"Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" are questions people have asked since the world began. Jesus knew the answer to both these questions. He knew who he was, "I know where I come from". So Jesus was secure in his identity. Jesus also knew why he was here, "I am the light of the world" and "I've been sent by the Father".
Jesus knew his purpose. Identity and purpose are key things for any human being. When we become followers of Jesus, we also can be secure in our 'new' identity as a child of the living God, and we like Jesus can know our purpose "to only do what we see the Father doing" John 5:19.
Read the passage again. Do you live in darkness or the light of Jesus? Live today in the light.
Father God, thank you that I am your child, help me to live out the purposes that you have for me today. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
John 8:12-20
Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, "I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life."
The Pharisees said to Jesus, "When you talk about yourself, you are the only one to say these things are true. We cannot accept what you say."
Jesus answered, "Yes, I am saying these things about myself, but they are true. I know where I came from and where I am going. But you don't know where I came from or where I am going. You judge by human standards. I am not judging anyone. But when I do judge, my judging is true, because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that when two witnesses say the same thing, you must accept what they say. I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself, and the Father who sent me is the other witness."
They asked, "Where is your father?"
Jesus answered, "You don't know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father, too." Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple, near where the money is kept. But no one arrested him, because the right time for him had not yet come.
"Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" are questions people have asked since the world began. Jesus knew the answer to both these questions. He knew who he was, "I know where I come from". So Jesus was secure in his identity. Jesus also knew why he was here, "I am the light of the world" and "I've been sent by the Father".
Jesus knew his purpose. Identity and purpose are key things for any human being. When we become followers of Jesus, we also can be secure in our 'new' identity as a child of the living God, and we like Jesus can know our purpose "to only do what we see the Father doing" John 5:19.
Read the passage again. Do you live in darkness or the light of Jesus? Live today in the light.
Father God, thank you that I am your child, help me to live out the purposes that you have for me today. Amen.
Written by Stephen Plumb
