Slaves

 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the…

Levels of Truth

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32) Read: 2 Kings 14:28 – 15:29, 2 Chronicles 26:22-23, Isaiah 6:1-13, Amos 7:1 – 9:15 Relate: One of the first blog…

Lifted

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 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. The one who sent me is with me; he…

Of This World

Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 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.”  “Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The…

Symptoms of Disease

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.” The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?” (John 8:21-22) Read:  2 Kings 12:17 – 13:25,…

Testimony

The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t…

Jesus and Judging

The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I…

Light Always Wins

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12) Read: 2 Kings 5:1 – 8:15 Relate: One of the greatest writers in the history of humanity is a man…

Don’t Judge

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left…

Bend Down

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger. (John 8:6) Read: 1 Kings 22:10-53, 2 Chronicles 18:9 – 20:30 Relate: In Jeremiah 17, God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I…