John 8:48-59 Choices: Heritage or HIM?

INTRODUCTION
Before we step into this passage, let's review our context. We are slap dab in the middle of John recounting the events that stretch from the beginning of Chapter 7 and end with the 18th verse of Chapter 10. The time is the Feast of Booths with Jesus going up to Jerusalem and declaring His identity (I AM) while encountering multitudes, woman caught in adultery (Where is the man?), believers, a blind man, Pharisees, and Jews. The next section, beginning with chapter 10, verse 22 tells of Jesus returning to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Dedication.
In the proceeding paragraph, verses 31-47, Jesus was speaking with believing Jews about their level of discipleship only to quickly defend themselves by hiding behind Abraham. In this paragraph, verses 48-59, the Jews begin to attack Jesus.

COMMENTARY
John 8:48-59
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" First of all notice the reference to those speaking to Jesus. Now, in verse 48, it is the Jews. Previously, the group was identified as 'those Jews who had believed Him' with the pronoun 'they' designating the continuation of His audience with them (verse 31-47). Now, it is 'The Jews' (verse 48) are now referred to as if to cast a broader net or to turn to a new group. Therefore, it is widely excepted that these 'Jews' are NOT the 'Jews who had believed Him." The second basis for this being a difference group is that the subject of conversation abruptly changes from heritage in Abraham to Jesus possessing a demon. 'Believers' will often struggle with their religious traditions especially when they are grounded on heritage and ancestry. Only 'perpetually abiding in the Word" will rid a heritage (tradition and ancestry) grounded believer of his erroneous convictions. Non-believers, by declaring the issues of their hearts, are compelled attribute all kinds of demonic affiliation to Jesus.
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4? They were half breeds or mixed breeds. There was no acceptable basis of Jewish heritage or ancestry religion with them. Therefore, the Jews voiced a wide basis for His condemning origin. Jesus answered , "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." Jesus addresses their being and possession charge in the following manner: dismissal, root issues, and result. They say He is a Samaritan. They say that He has a demon and He says that He doesn't. Okay, who is right? While not directly responding to the Samaritan ancestry charge, Jesus directly refutes the demon possession issue. His defense, as ours should be, is specifically related to who we honor. By bringing His Father to His defense He dispels the notion that such a relation can co-habitat with evilness. HONOR is huge. The issues underlying erroneous misconceptions and accusations of Jesus are all to do with the FATHER: His honor, His glory, His searching, and His judgment. Oh my! I hope we see the connection of His Word and Life. Keep His Word! The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.' Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; who do You make Yourself out to be?" The Jews understood His statement. They correctly grasped the weight of Jesus honoring His Father. But they did not accept their relationship. For the are further convinced that Jesus has a demon, for no one would can ascend to such a level of exclusivity. the Jews sought to understand Jesus in their owns terms. They knew all about Abraham and the prophets. They were huge in the religious, heritage and ancestry life of the Jews. Therefore, if Jesus was relating to 'the Father, then there should be no contradiction with Abraham and the prophets. It was commonly asserted that Abraham and the prophets died. All men die for the issue of death is commonly accepted, but the issue of 'not dying' ('never tasting' or 'never seeing' death) is exclusive with Jesus' claims. Some might draw attention to the 'misquote' by the Jews. They say 'taste' but Jesus said 'see'. This not the issue. This issue for us, as it was for them, is to 'keep His Word, then we will neither 'see' nor 'taste' death. Keep His Word! The charge at Jesus' door is this: Who do say you are? Take note for they are cutting to the chase. They are peeling away heritage, ancestral and religious layers to get to the core issue. "Who do You make Yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Do you see the issues brought up again: the issues of 'glorify,' 'know,' and 'keep His word?' 'Glory' which occurs in various conjugations is from the root Greek word, δόξα , meaning "opinion, praise, honor, glory." May we understand the gravity of this issue. Jesus was focused on honoring or glorifying His Father and not Himself. Are we of the same focus? The other issue brought up is the knowledge of God and its paramountcy. Really there is a limited field of options when gods are considered. There is one God, by the very definition of all encompassing God, and there are the others. The 'others' are not God. Other New Testament writers and Jesus speak of them and him as liars. This passage is consistent with that label and description. Either you are of him and in the camp of liars or you are following God and in the camp of 'not' liars, i.e. the truth. The Jews embraced God, but they did not KNOW Him. They were following Him in their ancestry and heritage but they did not know Him. You can follow but never know that which you follow. That is the crux of the matter regarding 'believing' and 'discipleship.' Knowledge of God, the one True God, transcends ancestry, traditions, and heritage. As Abraham rejoices, so will your Godly ancestors rejoice when you forsake ancestries, customs, traditions and heritages by coming into a knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. For He kept and keeps all His Father's words and so must we. The Jews therefore said to Him, :You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" They were stuck on their ancestors criteria and qualifications. Jesus said to them, "Truly; truly; I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Jesus uses their reluctance to abandon their heritage and ancestry to declare His eternal existence by declaring His name: ἐγὼ εἰμί. Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple. The straw that broke the camels back. The Jews, the non-believing ones, took direct offense to His declaring His Name. They could put up with discussions about ancestry, heritages, traditions and customs, but when Jesus declared ἐγὼ εἰμί, they lost it. Religion and all of its good intentions will lead us to be violent to the truth if they religion seeks to establish the truth instead of truth establishing religion. They tried to kill Him but He was still in control. His time had not yet come.

CONCLUSION
What is the difference between 'religion' and 'Christianity?' That was the question Steve Hammack asked me on evening. This passage is much about that difference. Religion, with all of its various manifestations, is based on man reaching his hand out and working to reach God. Christianity, with its exclusive path, is all about God reaching to man. Religion is working. Christianity is a relationship. Do you have a relationship with God through His Son. Does your relationships with Him surpass your ancestral relations? If not, then consider yourself to be like a Jew in the passage. You will someday, sooner or later, be violently opposed to Jesus, seeking to kill Him, because He IS greater than any relationship you have on this earth.

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John 8:31-47 Believing and Discipleship

Let me say from the beginning, this passage has pierced me to the heart. Therefore, I will attempt to convey my personal journey in this post. I hope it helps prod you to move deeper in your relationship with HIM. - Dan

John 8:31-47

Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, From this opening statement, we are tied to the preceding paragraph, specifically verse 30 when many Jews believed Him as He spoke. Therefore this paragraph is one of two paragraphs containing the dialogue between Jesus and those who believed Him. Interesting, "believed Him," not "believed in Him." Literally, πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους means 'to the Jews believing Him.' Their 'belief' was perfect (past, with present results) and active tense. Their 'belief' was not any different than mine. They had Jesus speaking with them in flesh. Yet, I have the Spirit as a fulfillment of Jesus' finished work on the cross and the resurrection. "If you abide in My word, 'If" introduces a conditional clause. I may and I may not. 'Abide' communicates a wellspring of meaning consistent with my posture towards 'His word." It is the Greek word, μένω, meaning 'continue, lodge, wait for, remain, live, stay, stand fast, tarry, abide, expect, long for.' The tense of this verb is aorist meaning the my 'abiding' is punctiliar not present as in 'on-going,' and not past as in 'been there, done that.' My 'abiding', even though I don't know the results of my 'abiding' is to be 'continuing simple acts which are dependent or connected to each other. Each single act of 'abiding' stands on its own and will produce the result, no matter what it is. The term 'word' could relate to this written word we call the Bible, the very spoken word(s) of Jesus or the teaching(s) of Jesus. Of these three options the written word, the Bible, is the most objective. Therefore, does that, describe my Bible Study time, my devotional life, my time of listening to God, my thought patterns throughout the day? When someone asks me where I live, do I say, "In His word?" When someone asks me what I am waiting for, no matter the circumstance, am I ready to reply, "In His word?" then you are truly disciples of Mine; 'Then' gives me the result of me 'punctiliarly abiding.' If my Bible study, devotional time, listening time, is characterized by 'longing for,' then I am a true disciple of Jesus. If I do NOT, then I am NOT. I may believe, but I am NOT a true disciple (ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μου ἐστε). At this point, it is fair for me to ask myself, "Am I a true disciple of Christ?" Sometimes 'yes,' and sometimes 'no.' Sometimes 'waiting, longing, expecting,' and sometimes not. I 'believe' but I waffle in the 'punctiliar abiding' in the word of Jesus. How can I get the 'waffling' abiding developed into 'punctiliar abiding?' Honestly, there is no better motivation than knowing the results of my actions. What does 'punctiliar abiding' produce in me? What does NOT 'punctiliar abiding' result in me? Knowing the answers to these questions should motivate me to be a ἀληθῶς μαθηταί. and you shall know the truth, There it is, a result of me be a 'true disciple.' I shall 'know.' The term 'know' is from the Greek word, γινώσκω, meaning 'know, especially through first-hand experience.' It has prominent occurrences in the Bible, Luke 1:34 and Genesis 4:1 which highlight "sexual intimacy" as distinguished from 'mentally knowing.' Therefore, as a result of 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word, I will be a 'true disciple' and will 'first-hand experience the truth.' Not 'A truth',' but 'THE truth' (τὴν ἀλήθειαν). and the truth shall make you free." FREEDOM! THE truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. But, I can make a decision to 'punctiliarly abide' in His word in order to be free through the 'first-hand knowing' of THE truth. My freedom is directly tied to two things: 1. My habitual abiding in His word, and, 2. 'first-hand' experience of the truth. I purpose to do the first and the second is a result that is all about me being free. Free from what? As one who believes, how am I in bondage? How am I a slave? How am I tied up or restricted? How am I stuck?

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, They, the believing Jews answered Him. Aw, the all to familiar response to someone's talk about freedom and my potential slavery. My first response, like theirs, is "I am a Christian. I am a Believer. I am a Child of the King. I am Redeemed. I am Forgiven. I am covered in the Blood." Look at all of my 'I am....s.' Not one 'He is.....' or mention of the word 'disciple' or 'true disciple' or 'waiting' or 'longing' or 'expecting' or ....... Do I defend my free/bondage state with my family relations? These Jews were resting on their forefather and his favor with God. I am reminded that God has no grandchildren. and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; The beauty of denial. These Jews, these believing Jews were defending their free/bondage state of being with their recollection of the past, how well they 'knew' their own history. No enslavement, really? What about the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and currently the Romans? The beauty of denial. how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" They, like me, are interested in freedom. But, I so often, front load my attraction to resulting freedom instead of focusing on the first element of the process leading to freedom which is 'punctiliarly abiding'. I want to be free from the things I know and the things I do not yet know. But, I must not focus on being free. I must not bring my positions and relations to my defense. There is only one option. I must focus on 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word and then, through first-hand experience of the truth, the truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. The truth will make me free. My ability to defend myself based on relationships and simply not able to recall any instances of bondage are lame responses to being a disciple of Jesus. In fact, having those behaviors and NOT 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word has its own outcome.

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever; Jesus responds to the believing Jews as He responds to me in that my enslavement is due not to physical bondage or relational misfortunes but in whole due to me committing sin. I am drawn to two words: 'commit' and 'sin.' For whatever 'commit' is I do not want to do it. And, whatever 'sin' is, I do not want to do it. For the 'committing of sin' leads to forever bondage. The Greek word ὁ ποιῶν (Present Active Participle from ποιέω) literally means to 'do, make, act, construct, manufacture, cause, create, bring into existence, compose, invent, describe, represent, bring about, or procure. Okay, with the broad range of meaning in ποιέω there is room for good and evil. For there is nothing wrong with 'doing, making, constructing, etc.' The only warning to myself is that I am not 'The Inventor, The Maker, The Constructor, The Creator, etc.' Hence, the next word. The Greek word for 'sin' is τὴν ἁμαρτίαν (from ἁμαρτία) meaning: missing the mark, fault, failure, sinful deed, error in judgment. Straightforward! W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words) states "It is the most comprehensive term for moral obliquity." Do not 'cause error in judgment.' Do not 'cause fault.' Do not 'construct sinful deed(s).' For in being the one who ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν I am a slave (δοῦλός). I personally know that sin hurts God. For my disobedience to His perfect will for me is often worked out in my mistrusting of Him. In sinning I do not believe what He says is truly good and the best for me. I trade His love for the love of other people and things. I trade listening to Him for listening to myself and other people. I trade waiting on Him for succumbing to myself and the so-called expectations of others. In all this I trade freedom in Christ for bondage to sin. I do that which I do not want to do and I don't do that which I should be doing. Who can rescue me from this 'bondage to sin?' That was Paul's question in Romans. the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. YEAH! Only the Son of God can rescue. For only one who is free can rescue. He makes me free! I cannot unbind myself. So much for 'self help books.' The Bible is the 'He helps book.' I must not turn to anything but the Son of God for freedom. Therefore, I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. Apart from my dependence on the Son of God and His word, I will rely on my heritage of all sorts, legitimate or illegitimate. Any deterrence from the Son of God and His word will result in my total opposition to the Son of God and His word. He knows my sin. Therefore, why hide behind excuses. Oh, but how tempting it is to leave the God I love and resist His loving call to return. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." The lines of legitimate heritage are clearly drawn. Jesus speaks of what He has seen. And I will do that which I heard. Who's your daddy? They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." I must be careful of my familial proclamations especially when 'slavery,' 'bondage' and 'freedom are at stake. Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father." This is sometimes true of me as a believer as it was of them. I believe but I find myself retracting to illegitimate relations and behaviors. John,in the Revelation, wrote Jesus' words to a Church in which He wish they were either hot or cold. But, they were neither, so He will spew them out of His mouth. I am in treacherous territory when I believe but perform mutinous deeds. Sin, an absence of total trust, can be eradicated only by the Son of God. They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." I cannot honestly use this defense. However, when I sin or verbalize my tendency to defend my slavery on familial grounds, I must NOT defend myself. If I do I will find myself, as they did, digging a deeper hole. They claimed identity with the Father through birthright, but neglected the Son of God and His offer of freedom. Do I take my position in the Father lightly? May it never be. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. Jesus responds with words that deeply warn me. He makes the connection between relationship and love. I claim to be of the Father, but do I love Jesus; not just believe Him or in Him? He is ...... Do I understand? If I do not love (not believe) then I cannot hear, much less understand, His word. It is impossible to 'punctiliarly abide' is His word if I cannot hear and understand. Hence the reason why. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. If I do not love the Son as a result of being of the Father, abiding in His word by being able to hear and understand, then my true father is the devil, even if I say otherwise. Is my life full of murder, falsehood and lies? Then, this is so. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus speaks the truth and His words stand faithful for me to spend all of my days 'punctiliarly abiding.' I believe and there is nothing wrong with Jesus. He is without sin. Therefore, it is possible to believe or to believe in Jesus without being a 'true disciple' and also without being 'of God.' My love for Jesus, the Son of God will reveal if I am truly a disciple, believing Him and of God.

I must expectantly hope in His word. I must love Him. I must believe Him. I must trust Him. I must listen to Him. I must NOT break His heart.


James 2:19 "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.'


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John 8:21-30 HE spoke, THEY believed

My purpose in presenting this section of the Gospel of John is to illustrate the basic principles of Bible study as taught by Dr. Howard Hendricks in his Living by the Book materials. First, I give you the text without verse designations. In my presentation of the text in this manner you will notice it also arranged as to accentuate those speaking. For this section is a dialogue. Then, I will list my notes for the three essential steps moving towards the goal of life change.

John 8:21-30
Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."

So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"

And He was saying to them, "You are from below, 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 you sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?"

Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."

They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

STEP ONE: OBSERVATION
This the step in which we ask and answer the question: "What do I see?"

Who?

• Jesus
• the Jews
• He who sent
• Father
• Son of Man
• I AM (ἐγὼ εἰμι)
  
• Many

What?

• die
• sin
• kill
• believe
• true
• initiative

When?

• again
• the beginning
• future (go away, die, in sin, lift up, will know)
• Past (have been saying)

Where?

• I am going
• below
• above
• this world

How?

• Jesus: "...you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
• Jesus: "He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

STEP TWO: INTERPRETATION
We ask and answer the question: "What does it mean?"
What does it mean that we will die in our 'sin' if we seek Him? Seeking after something first implies that you either do not know what you seek to know or that you do not have that which you seek to have. Therefore, the process of 'seeking' will fall short in attaining the object sought. Hence, 'seeking' after Jesus will result in death in your sin.

What does it mean that we will not die if we 'believe' Him? 'Believing' Him will result in not dying. This is juxtaposed to 'seeking' with a determinate result. 'Believing' takes hold of the object without the consistent ongoing inquisition.

What does it mean that we are to 'know' Him? We must 'know' Him. Knowing about Him is not knowing Him. Knowing what He has done is not knowing Him. He is. We must be aware of our emphasis on knowing about Him and His works as compared to knowing Him and with His works as secondary. Am I content to know Him?

What does it mean to please the Father? If Jesus is the pattern for my life then, I must be aware, from Scripture, what pleases the Father.



STEP THREE: APPLICATION
We ask and answer the question(s): "How does it work?" "So what?"
How are we to seek? HIM. However, do not let 'seeking' be my definitive act.
How are we to believe? HIM. I must believe HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι.
How are we to 'know?' HIM. I must know HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι. My knowing of HIM is greatly aided by the crucifixion, the demonstration of HIS love, covering of sin, and my penalty carrier.
What pleases the Father? I will earnestly seek from this time, to plunge into the Scripture to discover what 'pleases' the Father. Then, I will arrange those into morning by morning articulations and meditations that will result in me knowing HIM, believing HIM and seeking HIM.



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John 8:12-20 I AM Light: A Conversation

John 8:12-20 I AM the Light of the World

PREFACE: As we pick up with verse 12 in the John Chapter 8 remember that the preceding section is not included in some old Greek manuscripts. If the section 'Caught in Adultery' (7:53-8:11) does not belong then 8:12 immediately follows 7:52. Given the potential absence of the 'Caught in Adultery' section, the context flows with Jesus indirectly interacting with the chief priests and Pharisees to Jesus now directly conversing with the Pharisees. If the 'Caught in Adultery' account belongs, then 8:12 probably picks up later that day or the next day. Above all, remember that John did not write this gospel from a purely chronological perspective. He wanted you to know the Word in a way that the other gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) did not.

12. Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I AM the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." Jesus, although feeling increased pressure from the chief priests and Pharisees, continues to speak not just to them, but with them. There is dialogue. Jesus said, "ἐγὼ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου" Let their be no mistake, Jesus was not afraid of declaring His identity (I AM) to those religious authorities who questioned His very existence, origin and validity. He is not only the 'Light of the world,' He is the source of Light for anyone who follows Him. Notice the contrasting 'but' (ἀλλ’) which distinguishes 'walk' with 'have' and 'darkness' with 'Light of life.' 'Walk' is περιπατήσῃ meaning 'walk around in circles,' 'live aimlessly.' No direction. No progression. So busy going nowhere. Ever try to walk in the dark, total darkness? I mean complete darkness when your eyes never dilate enough to capture some small ray of light? I have. Go spelunking sometime. Now that is darkness! You are aimlessly wandering without direction without even knowing it. You think, but you are not. Without light you are lost. Next, John contrasts 'walk' with 'have.' The Greek word, ἕξει, translated 'have' means: to have, to hold, being in possession of, a permanent condition, a state or habit of body or mind. 'Walking' is doing. 'Having' is being. Follow 'I AM' and you will go from a doing (really nothing) aimless acts of self gratification TO being life with direction to others. 13. So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself, Your testimony is not true." Ever had someone tell you that you were lying even though you were telling the truth? Don't be too hard on the Pharisees. They were one of the religious elite that perfected efficient 'doing aimless acts of self gratification.' It is not surprising that they would kick against any kind of notion that undermined their life long professions. 14. Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15. "You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16. "But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17. "Even in you law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18. "I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." Verse 14 through 18 are Jesus' response to the Pharisees' rejection. First, in verse 14, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of knowing who you are as a firm foundation upon which you stand when people cast insults and doubts at you. Jesus knew who He was and who His Father was. Therefore, he stood in all confidence of being the Light of the world. Secondly, in verse 15, Jesus correctly passed all judgment on to His Father. For He is not alone on this mission of dispelling the darkness (v. 17). "Man looks at the outward appearance ('the flesh'), but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). "Do not judge according to outward appearance, but judge with a righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Thirdly, the Law referred to here is cited in Deuteronomy 17 and 19 (see below). Litigation and judging would do well to consider the validity of a multiplicity of witness. Therefore, Jesus invokes His own witness to Himself (taking the stand in His own defense) and He invokes His Father's testimony of Him. This will unfold more as we go through John's gospel. We will be able to ask and to answer the question: In what ways does the Father bear witness to His Son? 19. So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Their question is different than our question. We ask our question based on the validity of the Father. They question the existence of Jesus' Father. Remember, they have had this problem with His Father before. Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." Jesus is all about His Father. Do people that know me, know the Father? Is my life sharply focused unto that end? 20. These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. Jesus is teaching again. It is interesting that John uses this term 'teaching' (διδάσκων) to describe this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. The 'treasury' (γαζοφυλακίῳ) was a inner court in the temple for the collection boxes. Jesus was all over the temple. He was no stranger to the most holy place in the Jewish religion. Yet, the timing and His life mandate controlled His arrest. It was not His time to be arrest because they, and we, needed to be instructed more.

SUMMARY
Do you follow Jesus? Or, do you visit Him? Or, do you listen to people talk about Him? Or, do you read about Him? Or, can you not stand all that talk about Him? Consider DARKNESS or LIGHT. For life, follow Him. For He will be your direction, purpose, vision, and life. Follow Him!

Deuteronomy 17: 2-6
If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death. On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

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John 7:53-8:11 Caught in Adultery

This is probably one of my favorite passages in John.

53. [Everyone went to his home. This is an interesting comment by John. The meeting place of the officers and Pharisees disbanded and the town emptied out from the festival. The festival was over. Everyone was leaving Jerusalem like the NASCAR fans leave Atlanta Motor Speedway after a race. Nothing but trash, temporary custodians and vagrants remain. This accentuates the setting of the story to follow. Our text beginning here and extending to 8:11 is noted by brackets in most English translations regarding its authentication when examining some ancient texts. 1. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. Everyone goes home while Jesus retreats to His favorite place to be with His Father. The Mount of Olives is east of Jerusalem. While being known for its olive trees, it rises 200 feet above the level of city with the Kidron Valley separating them. It is from this mount that Jesus will weep over the city. The Garden of Gethsemane is on this mount. Jesus favorite Judean place of retreat. "Early in the morning." Do I do anything early in the morning, especially on the morning after a festival? Jesus arose and made the trek down the mount, across the Kidron Valley and up into the city while it was still early. Now that will wake you up and get your blood pumping. "He again into the temple." Jesus was never known for running away from the opportunity to impact the people. He went where they gathered. He "sat down and began to teach them." It is almost like He was expected to be there for there were some there to be taught. They were gathered 'early in the morning' to be taught in the temple. Class has started. The teacher and the students are assembled. Class has begun. Students are attentive to the teacher. Jesus taught (Imperfect, Active, Indicative) them. The Greek word, ἐδίδασκεν, almost always refers to the Scriptures. Jesus is not teaching them how to make coffee, bagels or how to fish, read or pitch a tent. He is teaching them Scripture in the temple. Quiet yourself for He is about the business of revealing Himself in the Ancient Torah. SUDDENLY .....3. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, Talk about interrupting a class. It was like the fire alarm went off and your attention is arrested by the commotion. A group of men who managed to get up early and be at the temple where being taught by Jesus who rose early to make the trip from the Mount of Olives to the temple. The teacher and the students were on purpose to teach and hear the Scriptures. THEN, enter the scribes AND Pharisees dragging a woman caught having sex with someone not her husband. This group, scribes, Pharisees and the woman, undoubtedly stayed up late as contrasted with They took hold of her exactly, with decisive initiative, with eager self-interest." They made their way to the center, probably close to Jesus, and brought her to a standstill up front and center. She was put on display. The Greek word, μοιχείᾳ, translated 'adultery' is the form of μοιχεύω meaning 'commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). LSJ states that other contemporary extra Greek literature maintains man and woman sexual connotations but spreads that breach of marital vows to a wider meanings as 'falsify,' 'to be unfaithful to God' and 'to have dalliance with the sea.' Dictionary.com gives the meaning of adultery as: "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse." Enough said for now. 4. they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. One can easily deduce that the scribes and Pharisees either orchestrated her apprehension or they performed the apprehension of her themselves. She was literally pulled away from the person she was 'in the very act' of having sex. How were they so sure of the guilt that they could confidently storm the adultery chambers and pull her away? I think there is room here to conject that they planned the whole adulteress event in order to test Jesus. 5. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" The scribes and the Pharisees brought this woman before Jesus on the grounds of her violating a Law of Moses. The Law they are referring to is found in Exodus 20:14 in the giving of the Ten Commandments. The seventh commandment is "You shall not commit adultery." The Law is also implied in Leviticus 20:10 "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife- the wife of his neighbor- both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death" and Deuteronomy 22:22 "If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel." 6. They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. I have a question for you. Read again the Old Testament passages above (Exodus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22). Where is the man? It takes two to commit adultery. Both are to be put to death. The OT passages mention the man first thereby placing emphasis on the man's involvement. Why did the scribes and Pharisees NOT bring him to the center of the temple and place him before Jesus? 7. But when they persisted in asking Him, They persisted and had time to persist because Jesus was probably giving time to reflect on the Scriptural knowledge and then repent. The Geneva Bible has a thought provoking comment on this passage, "hypocrites ... are very severe judges against other men and flatter themselves while sinning." Therefore, having enough of their persisting, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8. Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. This passage is the passage of many sermons, but this woman, is experiencing the reality of Jesus addressing her accusers? He is her Advocate. He is her protector. He is her Defender. He is her Judge. He is her Redeemer. He is her Savior. When everyone else leaves due to their hypocrisy, she is left with the One who is anything but hypocritical. Are you ready? Here we go. This is the climax of our story. 10. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did not one condemn you?" 11. She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."] Several issues here. Jesus, in standing up is taking the same position He took when He addressed the scribes and Pharisees. Don't you love Jesus' questions? Her response declaring His LORDSHIP sets up His and His alone authority to condemn. The Greek word translated 'condemn' is κατακρίνω with the meaning of a judicial decision following a precise judicial process in which all evidence is fairly presented. The meaning in English according to Dictionary.com has several meanings but the one that fits here is that condemnation is "to declare incurable." He alone has the authority to condemn or not condemn. "Go and sin no more." Jesus does not dismiss her sin. He does not condemn and then tells her to stop sinning.

SUMMARY
Look at the chapter or section titles in your Bibles. I am suggesting that most, if not all, Bibles have something like 'The Adulteress Woman' or 'Woman Caught in Adultery' or "The Woman Taken in Adultery' or nothing at all for this section. Do not be misled by the chapter and section titles. They can lead you astray. For the primary issue of this story, hypocrisy, is centered around the absence of the male in the accusation of the woman. They were both caught, hence my title of this blog.

In Jeremiah 15 we have the LORD giving Jeremiah some personal instruction in order for him to survive and be a prophet in the perilous time of the fall of Jerusalem. In this passage, which extends from verse 19 through verse 21, Jeremiah is told to 'extract the precious from the worthless' (NASB). That is what Jesus was doing with the woman brought before Him.

GO AND SIN NO MORE!

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ..." Romans 8:1-17 NASB

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A Journey Down the Lane: Healing

On December 19, 1987, two young people, Dan Lane and Maria Wood became Mr. and Mrs. L. Dan Lane, Jr. when they came together out of differing backgrounds but with a common faith. As husband and wife, each brought to their union a deep desire to glorify God and to raise Godly children. This is His story, their story, a story of tears, fears, resolve, pain, questions, obedience and comfort. Until the end of time, God is Faithful and True.

Dan and Maria's story revolves around great pain, disappointment and healing. It is the story of their God and their children. The story is really a story based on their experiences with three passages of Scripture:
Psalm 22: 9-10 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Psalm 139: 13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every from of evil.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

From this point on, Dan and Maria will tell you their story in the first person. For their story, while being one, is a story intertwined with their individual stories.

Maria -
After we were married, I continued to work at an elementary school and really enjoyed it, but longed to have our own baby. In April and in August of 1989, we miscarried our first 2 children both ending around 10-12 weeks in the pregnancy. I was devastated. The physical pain of the miscarriages and the hospital procedures are painful memories for me.

Dan-
April of 1989 was full of grief for us. Maria's side of the family dealt with the death of Jackson Hinton Wood (Granddaddy) in North Carolina and two in utero children. Our child was miscarried a day before Maria's sister miscarried following both of our returns to Georgia from the North Carolina funeral. For the most part, we attributed both miscarriages to the unfortunate combination of stress, grief and excessive car travel.

In August 1989, we received news of my grandfather's death. Arman Watt Lane (aka Daddy Lane) died in his home following a long bout of diabetes and Alzheimers. His wife, Mrs. Bernice Derrick Lane (aka Mama Lane) cared for him in their home until his death. Maria and I believed that she should not make the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina due to the recent memory of this grandfather / child death combination in previous Spring. Therefore, I went to funeral and to be with Mama Lane while Maria remained in Tucker. Daddy Lane's funeral plans were set. Mama Lane grieved but had joy and peace flowing from her. Daddy Lane's illness was a burden she carried well until the end. Daddy Lane has six grandsons and each was honored when asked by Mama Lane to carry their grandfather's casket. On the morning of the burial, I received a phone call from Maria who was home in Georgia. She had begun spotting. Now 'spotting' is a trauma, on pins and needles, word for those carrying children. On that morning I was hit in the stomach with love, life and the possibility of death on two fronts. I hung up the phone to be met by my dad with, "What's wrong son?" I told him and he said, "Let's go talk to Mama Lane." Mama Lane listened to me with the eyes that only she had. She hugged me and while scratching my back, she said, "Dan, you need to go home to be with Maria." .............. Did you hear that? Mama Lane, who is preparing to bury her husband, Daddy Lane, said "Dan, you need to go home to be with Maria."............. What !?! and mess up the 'before time ordained six grandson bury the grandfather event?' She said, "Maria needs you and your Daddy Lane is dead. He won't mind." (Lane humor surfaces at unique times) Wow! What a selfless lady. Soon I was southbound on I-85 heading back to Georgia. I was actually on the road while the funeral was going on. I arrived home before Maria miscarried our second child.

What followed is what seemed like an eternity of grief, pain, questioning, bewilderment, resentment, mourning, loss and ............... I was dealing with the death of two grandfathers and the death of two children. My family tree was collapsing on me from both ends.
Years past before I visited Daddy Lane's burial site.

Maria-
It seemed like all my friends were pregnant or happy with their new babies. I know that was my delusion as I found comfort and understanding with my sister who had also miscarried the day after I did in April. After each loss we received consoling phone calls, some meals, and many cards from family and friends. The main verse shared was evident. Based on 2 Corinthians 1:4 I offer you comfort with the comfort I have received. I had not realized the amount of people in our lives that had experienced loss in pregnancy or from still birth. I remember thinking that I would hang on to those cards as proof of me carrying a baby and how I would have received cards of congratulations if either of those babies had lived.

I felt so empty. I loved being pregnant. I wanted those babies. I wanted to quit work and stay home with them.

I blamed Dan. I was hurt. Looking back I started pushing people away who wanted comfort and who tried to comfort me. People asked why it happened or offered their suggestions as to the causes. I tried to be kind and sweet but their words hurt deeply and only seemed to add to the pain.

I couldn't figure out why God wouldn't let me be what I felt He had so deeply etched in me to be. I didn't want a career. A Momma. He wouldn't let me be that. But, I was a Momma, but an empty armed one.

I was probably worse off than I let on. I say that because I remember while keeping the church nursery one night, I was holding a plastic baby doll for one of the toddlers. From deep within this huge wave of yearning emotion caused me to cradle the baby doll in my empty arms and wish like a small child, that the baby doll was real.

.......................... HEALING.............................

Maria-
As a result of a college class Dan was taking, we started a small support group for people who had or were going through what we were experiencing. Not many people attended. But, as a result of trying to have a support group, a question was asked of me. "Have you thanked God for the loss of your babies?" I didn't see that I was captive. Captive to fear, anger, hurt, and loss of all I wanted in my adult life. Having a full term pregnancy was a dream and my heart's desire. But that was not the answer to me being free and whole and healthy again.

I remember applying that scripture ("Give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God concerning you.") to our circumstance by struggling to give thanks for the death of our children. I came face to face with the fact that you cannot have faith in One that you do not trust and you cannot trust someone that you are not thankful to. Much freedom and release of burden came when I verbally thanked my Father for the lives and deaths of my children. I trusted Him with children that He loved more than me. I'm not sure where Dan and I picked up on particular saying,but it started to come to mind often. It is one that we have said many times recently to each other over the last 18 months following a different loss. It's this: "Do you trust God or just say you trust God?"

Dan-
During the time of healing I was asked to play the part of Joseph in our church's yearly Nativity play (1989). I wrestled greatly with the fact of playing the part of a father but found great comfort in playing Joseph who was not yet a biological father and never would be that to Jesus. Jesus greatly impacted both Joseph and Mary from the womb. So did our children. Our children while in utero have greatly impacted our lives.

Maria-
One Sunday afternoon in March of 1990, I was a part of a prayer time at our church. During that meeting I knew I had to thank God for the loss of our babies. I proclaimed this out loud in a prayer as I felt that it had to be confessed with my mouth, in faith to other believers. I was sobbing through it all but that was the sound of freedom, the chains were falling off. I had peace once again. Of course I still wanted children but I was different. I was free.

God's timing is so sweet. At that meeting, I was already pregnant with Danny but didn't know it yet. I am glad I didn't know. I didn't have hope of a baby that led me to that prayer, it was hope in my Lord. My Jehovah Jireh.

With Danny, I knew I could loose this baby too. But, I had peace that even if I lost again, I knew what to do. Be thankful and walk through the pain and hurt.

My due date was January 1, 1991. Sometime during the pregnancy I thought I heard God say the baby would be born on December 21. I didn't tell Dan cause I thought I told myself that.... until the day that Dan shared with me that God told him the baby would be born on December 21.

Dan and Maria-
"God gave you a rose." Those were the words of our pastor ,Steve Hammack , at the time of Danny's birth. On December 21, I went to see Dr. Sotomayor while Dan went to work. I (Dan) remember the trip to work talking with God about this day. I felt that today would be the day but His sovereignty and worthiness would not diminish if Danny was not born "today."Although I (Maria) was not in active labor yet, I was dilated to 6 cm. We were off to Northside Hospital after we stopped to get a milkshake. After much back labor and no pain meds, Danny was born at 11:57 PM on December 21. God gave us a rose to show us that we had not slipped from His hand and had not for a moment disappeared from His sight. His gaze and kind thoughts were sustaining us this whole time. He gave us a brightly colored rose in the midst of a dingy black, white and gray 3 years.

Brittany was born at 11:48 on August 13, 1992 two days before her due date.

In August, 1994 an ultrasound confirmed another loss. Unlike our first 2 miscarriages, I was not hemorrhaging. Through much counsel from Dan's Mom(who was a RN in "labor and delivery") and others, God led us and allowed to not go to the hospital. This was a sorrowful time as Danny was old enough to be excited about the baby. My parents were their for us as usual and I had a month of rest and healing with them at the beach.

Dan and Maria-
The next month we were expecting again and were able to change doctors. This baby was expected to be born June 27, 1995. During our interview with a new doctor, Dr. Schermerhorn, the subject of my miscarriage at home was discussed. Dr. Schermerhorn said that was a good thing because I would not be able to carrying baby if I had the D&C procedure. It was a result of God's leading that kept this healthy baby in a healthy womb. McKinney Rose was born on June 29, 1995. The meaning of our children's names are important to us. McKinney's name came while we lived in Dallas, Texas. McKinney Avenue is downtown and McKinney, Texas is a quaint small town with many antiques stores. Therefore, McKinney's name means 'the result of God's leading.' If we had not listened to the still small voice in the middle of the miscarriage of our child, then we would not be holding McKinney Rose now.

Maria-
Our other precious children were born: Ansley Elizabeth on October 16, 1996 in Texas; Rockey Hinton on August 26, 1998 in Georgia and Shelby Dianne on September 10, 2002.

There are times that I look around the house and count all 8 of us because it seems like someone is missing. There are times when I get emotional about the three children I never held in my arms. I still feel the lump in my throat if I find myself revisiting the pain and loneliness I felt. I can say that even recently God has allowed me to be healed of other hurts surrounding our loss of children. Freedom is a gracious gift from my precious Heavenly Father. I can thank God for this path I walk. I trust Him with what is best for me. I want to be completely in His will, no matter what life brings. Perhaps I can comfort those who need comfort as God brings them into my life.

A sweet Texas friend, Valerie, asked me if she could ask me a question a day or two after miscarrying at home. I said 'sure.' She asked if we ever thought to name our babies. I began to weep. It gave me comfort to think of naming my children I did not know. I could give them only one thing. Why not give them all I could give them, a name. We named them Caleb Hinton Lane, Bethany Rose Lane and Danny named Jeremiah David Lane.

Dan-
Naming Caleb, Bethany and Jeremiah allows us to embrace them in a personal way. They are our children instead of medical terms. They are my heritage instead of an outcast.

Children of Dan and Maria Lane
Caleb Hinton Lane
Bethany Rose Lane
Lewis Dan Lane, III (Danny)
Brittany Faith Lane
Jeremiah David Lane
McKinney Rose Lane
Ansley Elizabeth Lane
Rockey Hinton Lane
Shelby Dianne Lane

The Lane Family and Family Life Style Ministries is available to bring our story to you, wherever you are, in order to celebrate and begin the path of healing.

If you have a story of God's leading and comfort, please let us know.

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John 7:37-52 Still Thirsty at the End of the Party?

Paragraphs
Verses 37-44 Jesus' Words Split the Crowd
Verses 45-52 Religious Fallout

COMMENTARY

Verses 37-44
v. 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The Festival of Booths was primarily a festival of celebration with Yom Kippur being a festival of fasting and resting. The last day of the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles was the greatest day, the climax, the most important day, and/or the great day of festivity. Thirsty (διψᾷ)? Then come (ἐρχέσθω) and drink (πινέτω). If you are not thirsty, then do not come. If you are thirsty, then come. If you come, then drink. How rare it is to encounter someone at a party or festival that does not have something to drink in their hand or near by. I know, at a party, alcohol or strong caffeinated drinks are usually available at the bar. But Jesus, and what He brings, supersedes any kind of argument related to the substance of thirst quenching beverages. v. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living waters.'" The Greek word, τῆς κοιλίας, translated 'innermost being' means: belly, womb, inner man, heart, stomach, abdomen. Which of these meanings will be clarified as we read further. v. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. At the end of this Festival of Booths in which there was much opportunity to quench thirst, Jesus declares Himself to be the source of renewable, not stagnant like a well, beverage. The Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is soon to be given and will always be fresh while convicting, renewing, prompting, guiding, and declaring. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians (5:18), was applying this Gospel passage in stating: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." The Greek word, ἐδοξάσθη, translated 'glorified' means: to properly ascribe weight by recognizing real substance, to magnify, extol, held in honor, to distinguish. The following responses to Jesus' words fulfill Paul's writing in Letter to the Romans (1:18-23). 'Glory', which is closely related to 'worship,' is a huge issue when making conscious decisions. Below we have a myriad of responses. v. 40 Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." v. 40. Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Still others were saying, "Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? v. 42 "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" v. 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of Him. v. 44. And some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 1. Some of the multitude: Identified the Prophet. 2. Others: Identified the Christ. 3. Still others: Express their Biblical and Prophetical knowledge. We three clearly defined groups with three differing expressions. What's up with the distinction and how does that led to 'some of them' wanting to 'seize Him?' There is a difference between being the Prophet (ὁ προφήτης), the Christ (ὁ χριστός) and fulfilling origin prophecies. Luke addresses their paternal lineage question in Luke 2:1-7 (The Nativity Story).

Verses 45-52
v. 45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?" Remember the officers? They were sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to seize Jesus (v. 32). The officers returned to the senders empty handed. They did not carry out the arrest warrant. They failed and they are asked 'why.' v. 46 The officers answered, "Never did a man speak the way this man speaks." They answered commenting on Jesus' authority expressed in the way He spoke. What did they hear? First, since being sent by the chief priests and Pharisees, they heard Jesus comment on His coming and going which no one will know about. Second, they heard Jesus address His ability to quench thirst that no party or festival beverage can quench. He will provide living water. That was their answer to the chief priests and Pharisees. v. 47 The Pharisees therefore answered the, "You have not also been led astray, have you? v. 48 "None of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? v. 49 "But this multitude which does not know the Law is accursed." The Pharisees are who are experts at being led astray, not believing and not knowing the Law, reveal their character. The Pharisees: "were the most respected and influential group in Judaism. Having originated about 135 B.C., they were committed fellowship of men, determined to follow in exact detail everything required in the Mosaic Law. ... But the Pharisees made a tragic mistake. It began with their scribes (the experts in Bible interpretation) constantly interpreting and reinterpreting the Mosaic Law to show how it might apply to every aspect of contemporary life. To the Pharisee, these interpretations and additions were the oral Torah (law), which they place beside the written Torah as having equal authority." - Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Lawrence O. Richards, Zondervan, p. 484-485, 1985. They, themselves, were lead astray from the Law. v. 50 Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before being one of them), v. 51 "Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?" Remember Nic from John Chapter Three? There he was identified by John as a 'ruler of the Jews.' He was part of the religious ruling party. They claimed to have all religious authority as they ruled the behaviors of the people. Nicodemus, a changed man, argues for Jesus to be able to defend Himself. With this then the Pharisees, who have not heard these words for themselves, as the officers had, might ascribe authority to Jesus' teachings. v. 52 They answered and said to him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." They are intimidated and threatened. Therefore they shift the focus. They address Nic's origins. They resort to their previous defense of Galilee being the undesired origin of anything godly (cf. John 6:42; 7:41). They are convinced that their knowledge of the Law (both Torahs) is supreme to anything that Jesus may say.

SUMMARY
Relationships! It amazes me how often societies find themselves gathering at places of beverage consumption. Star Bucks is a high powered the coffee house by developing a following (a tribe) of young people in selling them overpriced coffee. Bars and clubs never survive where alcohol is not permitted to be sold. Beverage and the 'art' of drinking attracts people with a relational need. Therefore, Jesus said, if you are thirsty, come to me. You will never thirst again. Does having your basic and all defining need met in Jesus make you nervous about having your thirst forever quenched: no more drunkenness? Honestly, do I trust Him to begin my day? Do you trust Him to relax you, unwind you, take the edge off, or remove you from the stress of life? Are your relationships defined by what you drink? or, who you trust?

Bible Study
Without the Spirit of God, my Bible study is nothing but an exercise in knowing history. With the Spirit of God (living waters), my Bible study produces revelation of the person and purpose of Almighty God (YHWH, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה, I AM, ἐγὼ εἰμι), resulting in a changed me towards the image of His Son, doing the will of the Father.

Romans 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though, they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Verse 24 Begins with 'Therefore ....")

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