12/7/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 8:21-29 Jesus continues to be misunderstood by his adversaries. Granted, he is making difficult statements. He says he is going away and that when the people look for him they will not be able to find him. He is going where they can’t go.
From an earthly perspective, Jesus’ words would seem to indicate that he is going to go somewhere. Where would his opponents not be able to go? They would not go to a people group which would make them unclean. That’s the most obvious solution to the question. Then again, maybe he is going to kill himself. The opponents apparently assumed that someone who commits suicide is condemned to the underworld. They certainly wouldn’t go there willingly.
Jesus, however, is talking about going to the Father. Will his opponents be able to go there? Not if they continue to reject him. They will only make that journey by God’s grace through faith in the Son. The same call goes out today. Do we trust that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? Do we believe that his death is sufficient to redeem us from the power of death? If so, Jesus clearly says that it is for us.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 8:21-29 Jesus continues to be misunderstood by his adversaries. Granted, he is making difficult statements. He says he is going away and that when the people look for him they will not be able to find him. He is going where they can’t go.
From an earthly perspective, Jesus’ words would seem to indicate that he is going to go somewhere. Where would his opponents not be able to go? They would not go to a people group which would make them unclean. That’s the most obvious solution to the question. Then again, maybe he is going to kill himself. The opponents apparently assumed that someone who commits suicide is condemned to the underworld. They certainly wouldn’t go there willingly.
Jesus, however, is talking about going to the Father. Will his opponents be able to go there? Not if they continue to reject him. They will only make that journey by God’s grace through faith in the Son. The same call goes out today. Do we trust that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? Do we believe that his death is sufficient to redeem us from the power of death? If so, Jesus clearly says that it is for us.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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