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." (John 8:12)
When speaking of Jesus, John writes, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not ... [That] was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world." (John 1:4-8)
But not everyone will accept that Jesus is the Light of this world, or that He is the Bread of Life. We see evidence of this dividing line in the fifth chapter of John, wherein Jesus heals a man who had an infirmity for 38 years. Immediately therein, the man is made whole, taking up His bed and walking. But the Jews were not happy that the man was cured, instead accusing the Lord of glory of breaking the law. Indeed, the Jews were so mad about what Jesus had done, they sought even more to kill Him.
How does this example end? With Jesus once again proclaiming that He is the Light of the world, and that we should walk in Him, abiding in His goodness and grace. Yes, even in persecution, Jesus was always inviting those who heard Him into abundant life in Him.
As Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)
The good news message for all time -- that is, that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. He is the Great I AM who willingly shed His own precious holy blood so that we might have life everlasting. (Acts 20:28) Read the account for yourself and be edified, and strengthened by the Word. And then be willing to stand in the offering plate for Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8)
"After this, there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The impotent man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus saith unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple, and said unto him, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, "My Father works hitherto, and I work." Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you -- The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He witnessed of Me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.
And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [comes] from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is One that accuses you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:1-47)
From John 5:
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, "It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy ]bed." [The healed man] answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk." Then asked they him, "What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?"
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple, and said unto him, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, "My Father works hitherto, and I work." Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shews Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens [them]; even so the Son quickens whom He will. For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father .... he that honours not the Son honours not the Father which hath sent Him.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you -- The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He witnessed of Me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.
And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [comes] from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is One that accuses you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:1-47)
Be blessed!
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