Jesus Said, "If Ye Had Known Me, Ye Should Have Known My Father Also" - Part 1238

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the Light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, "Thou bearest record of Thyself. Thy record is not true." Jesus answered and said unto them, "Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true, for I know whence I came, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh. I judge no man. And yet if I judged -- My judgement is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. It is also written in your Law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am One that beareth witness of Myself and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me."

Then they said unto Him, "Where is Thy Father?" Jesus answered, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:12-19)

As a consequence, Jesus said again unto them, "I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins; whither I go, ye cannot come .... Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am [He], ye shall die in your sins."

But they did not understand what Jesus was saying to them, when He spoke of the Father. Then Jesus said unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [He] and [that] I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me, the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him."

As He spake these words, many believed on Him. Then Jesus said to the Jews that did believe in Him -- "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:1-32)

But they answered and said, "We be Abraham's seed and were never in bondage to any man; how say Thou, "Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33)

Herein, the Jewish audience is declaring to JESUS that Abraham was their father. At the same time, the Jewish made a point in stating that God was their one Father. JESUS then said to them that He came forth from God and that "neither came I by myself." Indeed, Jesus said, I was sent (conceived by the Holy Ghost) -- God’s only "begotten" Son.

This is the message delivered to us in John 3:16. God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that the world through Him might be saved! In relation to the Jewish, JESUS further stated that if God were their Father then they would hear His Words which He - Jesus - was speaking. And as such, they would understand the message that Jesus brought by God’s grace. The salvation message whereby men and women could be saved.

In the scriptural context, we also recognize that JESUS was about to expose men for who they really were - captives of the devil - that required salvation. For JESUS made the statement that we as humans are of our father the devil and as a consequence partake in lusts which proves that we are in bondage to his deceptive ways Unfortunately, try as we might to escape this bondage, we continue repeating the same sin.

Why? Because we are held in captivity by the devil. Ever since that day that our ancestral father Adam ignored God's instructions and obeyed satan, we were led into sin by satan who was and is a murderer. The father of all lies from the beginning of time. Just like Adam and Eve submitted to his voice in the garden, we are likewise led away into the captivity of a sinful nature. A servant of sin blinded from the truth. (John 8:34)

But thankfully, we are not lost. God made a way of escape. God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The Word that was with God and was God was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18)

But when JESUS declared the truth, which the Jewish could not receive, they began to smear JESUS, stating that He had a devil. But JESUS replied, "I have not a devil. I honour my FATHER and yet you dishonour Me." JESUS continued by saying, "I seek not to glorify Myself. I say unto you that if any man keep My sayings, he shall never see death."

Well that was the spark that ignited the debate. The Jews that would not believe asked, "Abraham and the prophets are dead and you are saying that if any man shall keep my sayings he shall never taste of death. Are you greater than Abraham?"

In response, JESUS told them that it is my FATHER that honours me - who you say is your God .. and YET YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN HIM! But I know Him and I keep His sayings. You also say that Abraham is your father? You should note that your natural father Abraham rejoiced when God told him that in his seed would all the nations of the earth be blessed. Jesus said - I am that promised seed. I AM THE CHRIST, the Son of the living God.

"If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham, but now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God, this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father." Then said they to Jesus, "We be not born of fornication. We have one Father, [even] God." Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I Myself but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My Word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, believe Me not. Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God hears God's words; ye therefore hear them not, because you are not of God." (John 8:39-47)

Then Jesus pulls the carpet out from under their feet by saying, "Before Abraham was, I AM." You see Jesus is God with us. He is not another person. The same God who is - I AM. The same God I AM who was in the man JESUS the Christ, endeavouring to redeem and reconcile man to Himself. In other words, JESUS is the grace of God manifested to the world as SON. Whosoever has JESUS - GOD HIMSELF as a SON - that person has the FATHER also. (John 8:53-58)

This is why Jesus later said, "I and My Father are one." (John 10:30)

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me, shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:26)

This is the question for this day. Jesus clearly states in His Word who He is for one and all to see. The volume of the book written about Me. "I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending." (Revelation 1:8; Revelation 22:13)

"And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God." (Revelation 19:13)

Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.