The Word This Week
John 8:13…
Jesus speaks into the darkness of the scribes and Pharisees’ understanding.
Darkness of mind is one of man’s basest and worst attributes. Unfortunately, darkness of mind is often bolstered by religion in all its forms, as we see here.
Jesus is the revelation of the Light of God’s Word, and indeed the Father Himself.
Normally, when light shines into the darkness, the darkness is overcome. This is always true in the physical realm. But in the spiritual realm the stronghold of darkness is only overcome by a willingness to escape the encumbering darkness by a willingness to admit there IS light.
The Pharisees see the light but refuse to acknowledge its existence because the darkness they have been born into and lived their lives according to is what has established the appearance of the power they have advanced to and presently enjoy. If they acknowledge Jesus truly is Light, the foundation of their lives is stripped completely away. They go all the way back to square one.
This was the choice Jesus came to present to all men. Being born again according to faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ means beginning again, starting completely over, as if you were, in fact, born again and this IS the first day of your eternal life. Because it is.
But if you choose to adhere to the traditions and practices of the religion, you have been born into and always known, you will remain in darkness. It isn’t that light doesn’t exist; it is that you refuse to acknowledge its existence for the sake of self-preservation.
Unfortunately for those who desire to preserve the flesh, the Light of Christ is a destructive power. For all those willing to come into His Light, it is a redeeming power like no other. Rather than building up the flesh, it begins to eradicate it, so that eventually only the Light of Christ remains.
What we see here - in the Pharisees attempt to deny the Light of Christ - is that denying the existence of the Light of Christ cannot make it go away. Indeed darkness is driven out, but only by your desire it would be.
Pastor Bill
Jesus speaks into the darkness of the scribes and Pharisees’ understanding.
Darkness of mind is one of man’s basest and worst attributes. Unfortunately, darkness of mind is often bolstered by religion in all its forms, as we see here.
Jesus is the revelation of the Light of God’s Word, and indeed the Father Himself.
Normally, when light shines into the darkness, the darkness is overcome. This is always true in the physical realm. But in the spiritual realm the stronghold of darkness is only overcome by a willingness to escape the encumbering darkness by a willingness to admit there IS light.
The Pharisees see the light but refuse to acknowledge its existence because the darkness they have been born into and lived their lives according to is what has established the appearance of the power they have advanced to and presently enjoy. If they acknowledge Jesus truly is Light, the foundation of their lives is stripped completely away. They go all the way back to square one.
This was the choice Jesus came to present to all men. Being born again according to faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ means beginning again, starting completely over, as if you were, in fact, born again and this IS the first day of your eternal life. Because it is.
But if you choose to adhere to the traditions and practices of the religion, you have been born into and always known, you will remain in darkness. It isn’t that light doesn’t exist; it is that you refuse to acknowledge its existence for the sake of self-preservation.
Unfortunately for those who desire to preserve the flesh, the Light of Christ is a destructive power. For all those willing to come into His Light, it is a redeeming power like no other. Rather than building up the flesh, it begins to eradicate it, so that eventually only the Light of Christ remains.
What we see here - in the Pharisees attempt to deny the Light of Christ - is that denying the existence of the Light of Christ cannot make it go away. Indeed darkness is driven out, but only by your desire it would be.
Pastor Bill