John 8:21-30
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
We saw yesterday that Jesus’ bold claims about his identity cannot be misinterpreted. He either is who he says he is, or he is not. Read John 8:21-30 with this in mind.
To drive the point home about his identity, Jesus uses words that these Jewish people immediately recognize. He speaks the very words of God the Father – the words God spoke to Moses when Moses asked for God’s name: “I AM.” No other explanation is needed, and those who choose to turn away from this one who is light and life will continue to walk in darkness all the way to death. But for those who believe, new life has just begun.
How has trusting in and following Jesus brought meaning to your life in the past year? Try to remember specific ways that you have seen Jesus working in your life to make you more like him. Write down a few thoughts and share them with Jesus along with your gratitude.
Read John 8:21-30 again imagining you are part of the crowd hearing these claims of Jesus.
Jesus predicts his sacrificial death on a cross, but this seems to go unnoticed by the people. Still, many believe in him after hearing what he says about himself and about the way he operates in perfect connection with God the Father.
What was it about these particular claims that brought some to believe? Was it that his words had a ring of truth to them? Did something he said stir their weary souls?
Here again, Jesus describes the way he moves as a human through his life on earth. He listens to God the Father, he follows God the Father, he restrains himself from saying more than God the Father directs him to say. He is completely in tune and completely intent on pleasing God.
For the rest of this time of reflection, read this prayer of Thomas Merton and consider making it your own:
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to love as Christ loved does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” – Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
Have you sensed Jesus calling you to a certain action today? If so, take a first step now.
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