I AM GOD’S SON
Part three of seven in I AM devotional series
John 8:58 9:1-41 (John 14, 15)
John 8:58: “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”
Do you believe that Jesus is God? He used the exact words to the Jews—during a debate in John 9:48-59—that the Father used for Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM sent me to you,” in Exodus 3:14. Then, Jesus argued His point in John 10:36:...“what about the one whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse Me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’”
What fun—Jesus confirms Himself as God’s Son to the very people who’s picking on Him--whom He came to save! The Jews typically picked on Jesus. That’s not imagery, that’s fact. We can sympathize with Jesus wanting to broadcast outright—“I am God’s Son!”
How long do you try to get someone to believe you before you give up? No one can make anyone believe anything—and everyone has an opinion about everything! That’s why Jesus often used imagery to teach people spiritual truths. Other times, it’s best just to blurt out the truth.
Jesus was famous for upsetting apple carts.
Jesus caused a riot in Bread of Life devotion when He continued speaking in the synagogue in Capernaum. John 6:53-55: “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.” See the apple cart tip over, tossing apples to the ground?
Many people who couldn’t understand eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood stopped listening to Him, and walked away (John 6:66).
But Jesus’ chosen twelve stayed. Peter blurted out their defense in John 6:68-69: “Lord, to whom should we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter may well have said, “Bring it on Jesus! We’re as radical as You—and are with you all the way!”
Jesus first administered Holy Communion to His disciples—giving bread (wafer) for His body and wine (or grape juice) for His blood—in Matthew 26:17-29. Believers accept these spiritual truths. But the world cannot believe them. Jesus’ words still cause many to flee, today.
Take Home Nugget
When believers tell others about Jesus, we can use imagery to teach spiritual truths too.
Whoever can’t believe in Jesus, refuse taking His body and blood, can’t have eternal life.
J.D. Griffith
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What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?