OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON TO DIE THAT WE MAY LIVE

The book of John chapter 12 verses 20 - 26 describes an event where a contigency of  Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover asked some of the disciples to set up an appointment so they could meet Jesus.

Philip and Andrew took the matter to Jesus but Jesus declined the meeting because the time had reached its fulness and His imminent death was now on the forefront of His mind.

Jesus gave the disciple a message to pass back to the inquirers that  advised them to hate their own lives so they could gain eternal life and to serve Him because serving Him was the certified way to be with Him for where He was going, those who were His servants would be with Him there.

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON TO BE KING OF ISRAEL

The book of John chapter 11 verses 12 - 19 records the formal entry of the awaited Messiah into the city of Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a catalyst for the anticipation that the people in Jerusalem had to receive the Messiah and they waved palm branches to welcome Him.

The political and religious establishment of Jerusalem were feeling that Jesus was drawing infleunce and authority away from them and became more desperate when the Lord Jesus publically entered their domain and the people were hailing Him as the king of Israel.

 12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

 “Hosanna! 

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 

The King of Israel!”

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

The tension in Jerusalem was climbing as the people polarized around the question of who Jesus was and the time was getting close to where the authorities would make a risk everything to get Jesus and try to destroy Him.

8

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS THE STONE THE  BUILDERS REJECTED BUT BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

John chapter 11 verses 9 - 11 captures the extent to which the religious and political establishments were willing to go to stampt out the effect that Jesus was having on the population. 

 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Because Lazarus had been raised from the dead, people swarmed to see him because of how astonishing the miracle of his ressurection was. This groundswell of interest in what had happened threatened the fiefdoms that the religious leaders had established for themselves and they targeted Lazarus in their assasination plans so as to erase any evidence that would revive the peopleˋs interest in spiritual matters and point people to Jesus.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS GIVEN FOR US

The book of John chapter 12 verses 1 - 7 says this;

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

The miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead had set off a political firestorm among the leaders of Israel but for many regular people, the event moved them to at a deep level of faith. One such person was Mary who, in a passionate gesture of reverence, took a reserve of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesusˋ feet and dried it with her hair.

Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray Jesus to the authorities who were seeking to kill him, grumbled about the waste of perfume. He felt that they could have sold the perfume to add to the their cash holdings to give to the poor.

Jesus rebuked the grumblers and indicated that there was a momentus reason for the annointing of oil that Mary was carrying out. Whereas the poor were always present and thus could be helped at any time, Jesusˋ life on earth was drawing to an end and the opportunities to be with Him and lavish gratitude on Him were down to the last few days and Mary was doing well by taking the time to annoint Him.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

The book of John chapter 11 verses 45 - 57 recounts the fallout of the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus.

There were many who witnessed the events and believed in Jesus but when word of the miracle got back to the Pharisees in the Jerusalem, they interpreted the event to mean that they were soon going to lose control over the spiritual narative of their nation. The high priest of the time, Caiaphas, unknowingy made a statement that was a prophetic declaration of the substitutionary death Jesus would die for the nation of Israel and indeed for all the children of God who were scattered around the world.

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

The focus on Jesus intensified and intructions were issued to report His whereabouts so that He could be seized.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON SHOWED THE GLORY OF GOD

John chapter 11 verses 38 - 44 says this;

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 

Amen

4

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WEEPS WITH US AND IDENTIFIES WITH US

John chapter 11 verses 28 - 37 says this;

28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

The book of Hebrews chapter chapter 4 verses 15 - 16 that affirms that our perfect saviour is able to identify with us having lived a human life fraught with grief and temptations.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need..

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

John chapter 11 verses 17 - 27 says this;

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO GLORIFIED THE SON

John chapter 11 verses 1 -  16 says this;

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON CAME TO SAVE THOSE WHO BELIEVED

John chapter 10 verses 40 - 42 records that when Jesusˋ presence in Jerusalem began to escalate the political tension in the city to a breaking point, He widthdrew back to the east side of the Jordan river in the area where John the Baptist had been administering the baptism of repentance and had announced that Jesus was the awaited lamb of God.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42 And many believed in Him there.

Out in the wilderness beyond the Jordan river, away from the hectic pace of Jerusalem, people remembered John the Baptist and compared him to Jesus and they realised that John had full-throatedly endorsed Jesus and that Jesusˋ miraculous powers confirmed what John had said about Him and also attested to His being from the heavenly realm.

In this remote place of consideration and reflection, many people came to believe in Jesus.

Amen

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS SENT INTO THE WORLD

The book of John chapter 10 verses 31 - 39 says this;

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” 39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.

Amen

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS ONE WITH HIS SON

The book of John chapter 10 captures another confrontation that occurred between Jesus and the people who were pressing to get Him to definitively identify Himself to them.

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

Scriptural prophecies gave the markers of the Messiah and the astonishing healings that Jesus was doing in their midst as well as a segment of the people believing in Him from these works and His words, were what those genuinely seeking the Messiah should have recognized.

Instead, some of the people wanted Jesus to self-identify as the Messiah but this would be incorrect because the miracles He was doing were the pre-ordained witnesses to His status and the annointed one.

Jesus said that those who responded to Him on the merits of His own testimony and the miracles He performed were His because they knew His voice and He would give them eternal life.

This passage also contains a great revelation into the nature of God as a triune being where Jesus declared that He, the Son of God, and the Father, were one.

This singularization of two separate identities gives a glimpse into the trinity where God exists as one God and  expresses Himself as multiple persons.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO GAVE JESUS THE COMMAND TO LAY HIS LIFE DOWN

The book of John chapter 10 verse  17 - 21 reveals that the Father gave Jesus the impetus to lay His life down and to take it up again.

It was this abandon to His Father's will as a sacrificial life that Jesus was loved and highly favoured. 

In the garden of Eden, man chose to pick up his own life of selfish ambition to determine which course his life would take according to what seemed good to him. This earned mankind the enmity of God. 

In contrast, Jesus lived a sacrificial life that was submitted to God and he lived His life in strict accordance with the directives of God which gave Him the power to lay down His life and pick it up again.

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

This revelations of Jesus' interactions with the Father were highly controversial to the people in Jerusalem who were listening to Him.

To some people, the concepts were so alien to them that they concluded that Jesus was speaking by a demonic entity or that He was insane.

Others reasoned that Jesus must be a genuine man God because it was only through God that the miracles He did like giving sight to the blind were possible.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

In the book of John chapter 10 verses 1 - 16, the Lord Jesus used the analogy of a shepherd and His sheep to explain what His relationship with the people who believed in Him would be like.

Those who are His would know His voice the way sheep know the voice of their shepherd and when He called them, they would heed His voice and follow Him. 

Jesus asserted in this analogy that the only way to join the flock would be through belief in Him because He was the doorway to the sheepfold and the only legitimate way into the sheepfold was through the doorway. This implies that there is a potential for sheep to be among the flock who are not legitimate members of the flock because they enter by means other than belief in Jesus. Jesus also touched on those who had come claiming to be sheperds before Him had tried to lead the sheep unto destruction but the legitimate sheep did not hear their voices. Those false sheperds came to steal kill and destroy but Jesus came that the sheep would have life abundantly.

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The Lord told His listeners that He is the good shepherd who takes ownership over His flock and sacrifices His life on their behalf.  Whereas a hired shepherd would not risk his life for the sheep and would abandon the sheep at the first sign of trouble, Jesus faces the enemies of the sheep even to the point of laying down His life to save them.

Jesus explained further that even as His Father in heaven knew Him, He (Jesus), knew His Father and out of that knowledge of each other, Jesus, the good shepeherd, would be able to lay down His life for those that were given to Him by His Father.

It was then that Jesus alluded to the fact that there was a global component to ministry where the sheep of His flock would not be restricted to the children of Israel but would be from elsewhere and they would hear His voice and He would bring them into the fold and He would create one flock under one shepherd.

Praise the name of the Lord.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO ANNOINTED HIS SON TO HEAL THE BLIND

The book of John chapter 9 relays the encouter of a man born blind with the Lord Jesus. A causality debate had arisen about the manˋs blindness and Jesus clarified that it was not the doings of the man or his parents that caused the man to be born blind but rather that the work of God would be showcased in his life.

The Lord then, in passing, revealed an important dynamic in His spiritual kingdom. While He was in the world, He was the singular light of the world and thus He had to be about His Fatherˋs business bringing the power of God into the focus so that the plan of salvation could be carried out.  Once He was taken out of the world and into eternity, all those who believed in Him could become the light of world and do the works that He did in propagating the good news of the kingdom of God. 

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus then spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and put the clay on the manˋs eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. When the man returned, he was able to see. Those who knew the man were perplexed by what had happened because it was unheard of that a man born blind would start seeing and they were questioning whether it was even the same man that they knew. The formerly blind man eagerly affirmed that it was he who was the one who had been blind but when asked about the details of what happened so that he was now able to see, the man furnished the bare details; A man named Jesus put clay on his eyes and told him to wash his eyes at the pool of Siloam and when he did so, he was able to see.

6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” 10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

As people marvalled at what had happened, some religious leaders noted that it was improper that clay was made on a Sabbath day and so they asserted that Jesus could not have been from God because of the legal infraction they had pointed out. Others, however, wondered how someone who was not from God could do such astonishing things and a great controversy began to simmer and the religious leaders called the parents of the man whose sight had been healed and began to interogate them concerning the incident.

16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. 

The matter was becoming highly politized as the various factions wrangled over what had happened. The religious leaders, in tryng to tamp down the excitement over the astounding miracle, threatened to ostracize anyone who affirmed the validity of Jesusˋs miracle. 

To their chagrin, the man who was given his sight was not easily cowed by their threats and he challenged their interpretation of what had happened. He asked them why, as religious leaders, they werre ignorant of the source of the miracle that had happened to him when it should have been their area of expertise.

He embarrased the leaders by explaining to them that it is commonly understood that God did not hear sinners but heard the requests of those who worshipped and obeyed Him and therefore, the man reasoned, Jesus must have been from God. The pharisees excoriated the man for impertinence and booted him out of the temple.

The Lord  Jesus tracked down the formerly blind man who had been ejected from the religious community and gave him the opportunity to believe in the One who had been sent as the saviour of the world and the man believed. 

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”  36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

The Lord Jesus declared that His appearance in the world would have the effect of causing the blind to see and conversly, those who saw would be made blind.

Amen

8

 OUR FATHER SENT A SAVIOUR

There was a day

I was a slave

I heard good news

That Jesus came to save

And I believed

Yes I believed

That Jesus died and shed

His blood for me

And rose again and set me free. (X2)

 OUR FATHER WHOSE ETERNAL SON IS THE GREAT I AM

John chapter 8 verses 48 - 59 ends the chapter with the the Lord Jesus revealing His identity to them as the “I AM“ and in doing so, involed the wrath the wrath of the crowd. as the

48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

In this passaage, the Lord Jesus spoke of and demonstrated some of the special characteristics and abilities He had as the Son of God who honored His Father.

• He knew God
• He kept Godˋs word
• Anyone who kept His word would never taste death
• The patriarch Abraham rejoiced to see His day
• He was the great ˋI AMˋ
• He could hide Himself in plain daylight
• He could pass through the midst of a crowd who were tring to capture Him

The people were angered by His words but could not capture Him before it was time.

Amen

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OUR FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON TO HIS PEOPLE AND THEY RECEIVED HIM NOT

Conversing with the Jews who were listening to Him, Jesus, in John chapter 8 verses 37 - 47, said this;

37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Jesus informed the crowd that was listening to Him that even though they, as the peope of Israel, were descendants of Abraham, they were still citizens of the kingdom of darkness because they engaged in works of darkness.

He told that He was not of that kingdom and the proof of it was that He had no sin.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON SET US FREE FROM SLAVERY TO SIN 

In John chapter 8 verses 31 - 36, the Lord Jesus focused on the Jews who believed in Him speaking these words to them;

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

The Lord explained to them that adhering to the words He was speaking would make them know the truth and the truth would set them free.

The people thought He was speaking of corporeal slavery and objected to being characterised as slaves but Jesus clarified for them that He was speaking in spiritual terms and that the slavery He was speaking of was the slavery to sin which is the coin of the kingdom of darkness. 

Jesus explained that their slavery to sin would have kept them in the status of aliens to the kingdom of God even though they were descendants of Abraham but by abiding in Jesus, they would be free from sin and be permanent sons in the household of God where they would have freedom and access to God forever.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO IS PLEASED BY THOSE WHO FOLLOW WHAT HE SHOWS THEM

John chapter 8 verses 21 - 30 records the  Lord Jesus telling the people that He was about to depart and that if they did not believe in Him, they would die in their sins. When they tried to understand who He was, He told them that He was the Son of Man whom they would lift up and when they did that, they would know that He was of the Father in heaven and that everything He did was taught to Him by the Father.

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”  27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

The words that Jesus spoke drew many people and they believed in Him because He testified that the Father stayed near Him because the things He did always pleased the Father.

The people themselves wished they could please the Father and Jesus was declaring that He pleased the Father because His words and deeds were always those that pleased the Father and this was a pattern that many people wanted to emulate in their own lives.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER ALSO BORE WITNESS TO HIS SON

John chapter 8 verses 12 -  20 records a confrontion in the treasury building in Jerusalem between Jesus and the Pharisees.

The pharisees were challenging Jesusˋ claims about Himself saying that they were invalid because they were they were not corroborated by the witness of others.

Jesus countered them by telling them that the law required two witness for a matter to be validated and Jesus declared to them that He and His Father were two and that was sufficient.

The Lord Jesus was telling the religious authorities that because they had no knowledge of the God they claimed to represent, they were unable to see that He was the One who was sent by the Father.

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

The Lord Jesusˋ statements perplexed and angered the Pharisees further but even though He was within their grasp in their own territory in Jerusalem, they could not touch Him because the time of His sacrifice had not arrived.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON CAME NOT TO CONDEMN THE WORLD

After teaching at the temple, Jesus retreated to the Mount of Olives but returned early the next morning and all the people gravitated towards Him to hear Him speaking. The religious establishment, still trying to find a way to trap Him with something He said, brought a woman caught in adultery and asked Him to comment on her fate.

Jesus, let the tension in the air rise by remaining silent and stooping to the ground to write with His finger on the ground.

Even as Jesus ignored them, they pressed Him for an answer and when the tension peaked, He stood up and said that the ones among them who had no sin should throw the first stone. He then stopped down again and continued writing on the ground.

John chapter 8 verses 1 - 11 relates the event this way;

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

The group that had assembled to stone the woman to death slowly dispersed starting with the oldest ones and when they were gone, Jesus stood up again and asked the woman where her accusers were.

When she said there were none left, Jesus told her that if there were none to accuse her, then He would not accuse her either and He told her to go and sin no more.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS NOT RECEIVED BY THOSE TO WHOM HE WAS SENT

The Lord Jesusˋ presense in Jerusalem was causing a stir among the people and among the religious leaders. They debated among themselves what His words meant and tried to reason together whether He was the promised one or not. Some felt that He was the prophet and the Christ they were waiting for but others objected because He was from Galilee and not from Bethlehem where the Christ was to appear. 

John chapter 7 verses 32 -  53  captures the debate among the inhabitants of Jerusalem over the validity of Jesusˋ ministry and also records  attempts by the religious leaders to arrest Him.

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”

35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 

43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

53 And everyone went to his own house.

There were some among the religious leaders like Nicodemus who argued that Jesus should be given due process of the law rather than presumptive condemnation but the status quo felt justified in their quest to destroy Jesus.

The political heat was rising and the danger to Jesus was mounting.

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