Day 8 - 21 Day Bible Reading Plan

John 8:

"So they said to [Jesus], 'Who are you?'" (v.25) That is the million dollar question, isn't it?

Jesus had just said, "I am the light of the world." (v.12) "...it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent Me." (v.16) "...the Father who sent Me bears witness about Me." (v.18) "...if you knew Me, you would know my Father also." (v.19) "...I am from above...I am not of this world." (v.23) "...unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins." (v.24)

All of this was said to biblical scholars, the religious elite, the keepers of the Law. Israel had been waiting for the promised Messiah for a long time. Maybe their hearts were so hard because there had been no prophets for 400 years. They read what God said but did not hear it with their hearts nor believe what their eyes were seeing: "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them." (Luke 7:22)

This is no different than today with a world that is perishing. Unfortunately many of those perishing are actively attending a church, relying on their traditions but not really being able to answer "Who are you, Jesus?" Ask for a salvation story and it is amazing how many church people will talk about joining the church or going on a youth retreat and never mention the name of Jesus, never even allude to I was a sinner in need of a Savior.

Mark 8:

"Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of man." (v. 33)  That's pretty strong language for Jesus to use toward one of His chosen twelve. But Peter had rebuked Jesus after Jesus said He was going to suffer many things and be killed. I think He still uses that strong language to us when we try to thwart a work of God.

Often we want to fix people's problems or pray for God to fix them. We never want to suffer or have friends that suffer but maybe God is not ready to fix the problem. Maybe the person needs to wrestle with God over the issue. Maybe there is sin that can not be dealt with without this problem. Maybe it is a godly person that God wants to move to the next level and this struggle is necessary for that to happen.

We don't always understand why stuff happens to us or to those we care about but trying to stop the "happening" could be in direct opposition to what God wants to accomplish. Before we jump in with both feet, we should seek God's counsel on how to, or even if we should, help the person.