Where Are You From?
Opening Prayer
“I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord… O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee” (Annie Hawks, 1836–1918, and (ref.) Robert Lowry, 1826–1899).
Read John 8:21–30
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
This passage involves the clash between two worlds—“above” and “below.” Which one do you most often choose?The clash between Jesus and the Pharisees continues. The sin that Jesus refers to (21) is their unbelief in him. How do you think this unbelief causes their misunderstanding in verse 22?
Jesus speaks about their different origins (23). He is from above; they are from this world below. If they refuse to believe in him they will die. The only way to move from this world to Jesus’ world is through belief in him (24).
The Pharisees ask Jesus again who he is (25). How would you describe his response in verses 25 and 26? Jesus’ answer might seem obvious to us reading this passage after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. To the Pharisees it wasn’t obvious. Jesus therefore explains again about his death and how that will cause them to understand who he is.
Jesus’ words to the Pharisees seem obscure. For us they pose two questions: do we know and understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us? What difference does that make to our lives when we have to make choices between Jesus’ “world above” and our “world below”?
Apply
Ponder the choices you make today. Do they represent God’s kingdom or the world’s? Seek Jesus’ courage to follow him today.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Jesus, for Your death on the cross so that I can know You and Your “world above” (23).
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