THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

Read John 8:18–58

     Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."    John 8:31–32 NKJV

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     Jesus was speaking in the temple to two different groups of people – those who believed and those who didn't. To those who would seize Him and kill Him if they could, He said, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I Am…, you will die in your sins." (8:23b-24)

     Then Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He”…As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. (8:28a, 30) To those who believed He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." (8:51)

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     Lord, your Son Jesus was Messiah, the One that Abraham looked forward to – who would come from his descendants. By faith, Abraham trusted in You – By faith, we look back to the cross and believe in Jesus Christ – who was and is the great "I AM." Thank you that the truth has made us free.

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     "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!"    John 8:57–58 NIV

WHO IS WITHOUT SIN?

THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN

Read: John 8:1–11

     "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" John 8:4–5 NKJV

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     Once again they were trying to trick Jesus–this time in regard to the law of Moses. If he contradicted the law, they could arrest Him for blasphemy. But Jesus would not be taken by trickery. He stooped down and wrote something in the sand. Then he said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (8:7b)

     Slowly the men left one by one and Jesus said to her, "Woman, has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (8:10–11)

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     This posse of religious leaders trying to find an excuse for murder, and a humiliated woman who calls Jesus, "Lord" sets a striking contrast. Jesus came to save sinners, and those men were sinners for whom He came, but pride and power prevented them from receiving the Son of God.

     Lord, help us to remember that no one is too sinful to be saved by Your matchless grace.

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     Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."   John 8:12 NKJV

COURAGE

NICODEMUS

Read John 3:1–21

     Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night… John 3:1-2b NIV

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     Nicodemus believed that Jesus was a teacher sent by God because of the great miracles He performed. But Nicodemus did not have an understanding of saving faith. He was a teacher of the law, but he had not experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He needed to be born again–not natural birth but spiritual.
     Later, as Nicodemus continued to blend in with those who wanted to kill Jesus, they asked, "Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?" The best he could do was to say, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" (John 7:48–51) Later, after the cross, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea risked their lives to ask for Jesus' body, indicating that they were His followers.

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     It is very difficult to speak up about our faith among those who do not believe. But the Holy Spirit can give us the courage to do so. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I will have the courage to share my faith in You.

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     Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3NIV