Missing The Boat

 

  Jn 8:31-42

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.

The conflict with the Jews continues. They hold to strict observance of the Law but Jesus is trying to teach them that accepting and believing him will give them a new freedom, a new life. They claim God as their Father, yet, as Jesus says to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God. I have not come on my own, God sent me." (Jn 8: 42). Could he have been any clearer?  Where do stand? With the Jews, or with Jesus? May I not miss the boat!

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, increase my faith and conviction and help me to stand fast in my belief in you. Amen.