12/ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
13/ So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”
14/ Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
15/ “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.
16/ “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.
17/ “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.
18/ “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
19/ So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
20/ These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21/ Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.”
22/ So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23/ And He was saying to them, “You are from below, 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 unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
25/ So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?
26/ “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
27/ They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.
28/ So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
29/ “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him.
The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a time.
Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel.
Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ's grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ.
Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father?
All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.
No comments:
Post a Comment