God’s Renewing Word of Wisdom
Introduction
John 8:21-30: In today’s reading, Jesus confronts the religious authorities and says that they will die in their sins if they do not believe in him.
Scripture Reading
You Cannot Go Where I Am Going
21 Again Jesus said to them, “I will go away; you will look for me, but you will die in your sins. You cannot go where I am going.”
22 So the Jewish authorities said, “He says that we cannot go where he is going. Does this mean that he will kill himself?”
23 Jesus answered, “You belong to this world here below, but I come from above. You are from this world, but I am not from this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you will die in your sins if you do not believe that ‘I Am Who I Am’.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked him.
Jesus answered, “What I have told you from the very beginning.a]”>[a] 26 I have much to say about you, much to condemn you for. The one who sent me, however, is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from him.”
27 They did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father. 28 So he said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that ‘I Am Who I Am’; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say. 29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
30 Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him.
Today’s Key Verse: John 8:26b
[Jesus said:] “The one who sent me, however, is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from him.”
Reflect
In verse 23, Jesus says that he comes from above and that he is not from this world. He is referring to the fact that he was sent from God. Belonging to the “world” is often described in Scripture as being opposed to God (see John 15:18, 19). Why does Jesus tell the religious authorities that they belong to this world? According to verse 24, what does he say will happen if they do not believe in him? What is it that they do not understand (verse 27)?
Pray
Lord Jesus, your Word is truth, and you have promised eternal life to all who obey your teachings. Thank you for the forgiveness God offers by having faith in you. Teach me to be obedient to your will and give glory and honor to you. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 8:31-59: Jesus’s opponents accuse him of having a demon in him.