December 31, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 31 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.29 through 4.32 (pages 92-95)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Advent 2023 – Day 31
Advent Day 31
Jesus explains the following truths in these passages
1. He will not judge us if we believe in him. But he expects us to follow and obey him so we don’t fall into the bondage of sin.
2. Jesus is the light of the world. If we follow him, we will never live in darkness. We will have the light that gives life, eternal life.
3. When Jesus frees us from sin and from the sting of death. Guilt, condemnation, doubt and fear do not come from God, it comes from the evil one who lies to us and criticizes us before God.
31 ¶ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Well said Shelly. God wants the best for us because He loves us so much and Satan hates us and wants to destroy us because we belong to Christ. He is the Accuser of the brethren. May God help us as we think or say words that are negative to others or ourselves. I sure have been guilty of this against my own self or others. We can be so negative to our selves by saying we are stupid, useless, etc. But remember fellow believers this is not how God sees us. And as believers we need to remember who we are in Christ. We are a chosen priesthood, [ all believers] 1 Peter 2;9. We are His children . We will live with Him forever. He will answer our prayers. He will comfort us. He will continue to teach and have us grow in Him. And so much more. This only what I just thought of. We will never be separated from the love of God. Romans 8;38,39.
The Priests and Pharisees could be so clueless sometimes. The temple police come back from not arresting Jesus and say that no one has ever spoke like Him and all that these Priests and Pharisees can say is that He [ Jesus] has fooled you too. Someone is fooled and it isn`t the temple police. They even are so arrogant that they don`t even think any other Pharisees could possibly believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Yet Nicodemus is standing right there and speaks about fair hearings. Their answer to him was him to study the scriptures and see that no prophet comes from Galilee. But they were the ones that needed to study the scriptures for they were wrong. Without looking up these scriptures I do believe that this was brought up when we went through many of the prophets earlier in our reading. Then the Pharisees try to trap Jesus by bringing a woman caught in adultery to Him. But He stooped down a couple of times and wrote on the sand. He also said to the crowd. Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her. They all left from oldest to youngest and no one was left but Jesus and the woman. Some believe that He was writing the ten commandments and the people saw their own sin. Latter Jesus calls Himself the light of the world and says that anyone that follows Him will not walk in darkness. That He also comes from above and they are from here below. They still don`t get it. There is no spiritual discernment. They still don`t understand when He tells them that they are in sin and slaves to it. Their answer to Him is that they are children of Abraham and that we are not like children who never knew who their father was. Very self righteous thinking that they were better than others. Jesus calls them out saying If you were really Abraham`s descendants, you would do what Abraham did. ——But you want to kill me. They are still not getting it for He was talking about spiritually. Here`s scripture that came to mind while reading this. Romans 2;29 [ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.] May God bless us.
Nicodemus brings up the law: “Our law will not let us judge anyone without first hearing them and finding out what they have done.” The Jewish leaders response is name-calling and ascribing guilt by association. It seems like these tactics in politics have not changed in 2000 years.
Jesus tells the Jews who believed in Him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
The more I live, and study God’s word, the more I see how important the truth is spiritually and in this earthly life. It is no wonder that Satan is called a liar and the father of lies. Ephesians 6 says to prepare for battle with your waist girded with truth. May we seek it and use it wisely.
John 8:43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
As things ramp up for Jesus in terms of those who are opposed to Him, He makes clear who He is: where He came from, who He is following and where He is going. He makes clear His connection to the Father and He is taking His marching orders from Him. If they would see that and believe, they would show that they really knew the Father. It is this truth about Jesus that is the light that every person needs. The more we know, believe and follow the better off we will be and the more light and less darkness we will have in our lives. In our physical lives we seek light and avoid darkness, may that be true in our spiritual lives as well! And what compassion and forgiveness Jesus offers this woman caught in adultery. And what a good lesson to think of our own sin before we judge someone else. It really is unfortunate that the Jews allowed the security of their knowledge and standing in Abraham to not be open to the very One that if Abraham met Him, he would bow and follow. It is reminder for us to make sure we are seeking the truth and being transformed by it, rather than basing our confidence on what we presume we already know.