Jesus was constantly having to prove who He was to the people who sought to discredit Him. I am talking about the religious hierarchy called the Pharisees. It was their life purpose to show their world that Jesus was NOT the Messiah. Why? The "higher-ups" had a position, and they believed Jesus would give more volume to their positions. When I say "volume," I mean "make them more powerful." Jesus was preaching the opposite to them, and they could not believe their impressions of what was going to happen when the Messiah came was not going to happen. In Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Jesus was not promising a big promotion for any of those who had lorded over the people with their religious rules. Their continued questions to discredit Him was a constant burden and in John 8 Jesus has to deal with it again. Read the following verses and see that Jesus showed them He was the "proof."
John 8: 21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.” 22 The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”25 “Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
I can see why those people did not see the truth of who Jesus was, and our world today echoes the same arguments. Half belief is tainted belief and not only causes us to doubt, but also sets into place a "constant doubt" that explains away any attempt at total faith. Every time those following Jesus saw Him come through with the power of God the Pharisees attempted to disprove it, but Jesus consistently and perfectly came through in each case. Even in the midst of doubt and weak faith Jesus continued on His mission to the cross. In verse 28, Jesus says the following 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”
This doubt and weak belief in Jesus being the Son of God followed Him all the way to His trial when Pilate asked the people who he should release and the people chanted "give us Barabbas" and asked for Jesus to be crucified. John 18:38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
Our world has been crucifying and doubting Jesus ever since. But....those who are born again know the truth and we continue to give truth to this doubt the world is spewing and still proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah and there is hope in Him alone. No excuses and no changes since the day Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. In fact, His resurrection power applies to you and me if you are born again. What God did through Jesus is our proof that He is coming again. It is also hope for those who die that their bodies will be resurrected on that glorious day!! In the same way Jesus showed them His words were true by "example" when He defeated death, hell, and the grave, He shows His words are still true and the proof is in His Word and in the promises of Him coming again!! Jesus said it, I believe it, and that settles it!!
In the above scripture, Pilate asks the words, "what is truth?" Jesus shows Him what truth is by dying for the sins of all mankind when He was not guilty of ANY sin. Here is how Peter explained it in 1 Peter 3:18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. Because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as promised, we are also raised to live in the Spirit as we walk and live on this earth. That Spirit is calling us all to lift up the name of Jesus, share the gospel, and "be the church" as He has called us to be. You are an important part of that story because you "are the church." You have the power through the Holy Spirit to make an impact. Go and make that impact today. Jesus has given us our marching orders as proof that the mission is not over until He returns.
Today's Message,
David Warren
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