We live in an era of specialization. Specialists occupy every field from medicine to law to education. No human, however, qualifies as an expert in impossibilities. Only God can solve an unsolvable problem.
In the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus contrasts physical and spiritual hunger. We work for bread to feed our bodies, but to feed our souls, we need God’s gift of life. The Jews sought proof—bread supplied from heaven like manna in the wilderness. But Jesus offered a better provision: Himself. “I am the bread of life.”
Jesus faced His attackers, including the Jewish leaders, the Jerusalem crowds, and even His own brothers. Although some opposed His ministry, Jesus offered Himself like water in a barren wilderness: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (John 7:37). Believe in Him, and receive Christ’s living water.
Jesus confronted the Pharisees with their own law when they brought an adulterous woman to Him. Jesus, the one true judge, forgave her: “Go and sin no more,” He said (John 8:11). Whenever we confront, condemn, and correct wrong, we must demonstrate humility, righteousness, and a spirit of forgiveness.
The Pharisees reacted to Jesus over His claim, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Their hostility escalated from opposition to insult to violence, displaying traits of those who reject Jesus—a lack of knowledge, perception, and humility.
At one time, I assumed that “victory in Christ”—or living a victorious Christian life in the middle of our sinful, messed-up world—meant having victory in my own life, as I chose to define it.
John 8 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees brought her to Jesus in order to trap Him. If Jesus said, “punish her” then His compassion for people would be questioned. If He said, “release her” then He’d be accused of not supporting the Law of Moses. How did He respond?
We want to be right (as we see it, of course) more than we want to love our neighbours as ourselves. At that point our personal preferences eclipse any evidence of love. I am of the firm conviction that where grace exists, so must various areas of grey.
By dishing out likes, the Like Ninja is one of the only people I know of who uses the anonymity of the Internet to encourage and build up others. I imagine his likes are the equivalent of smiling at a stranger.
The Pharisees wanted to stone Jesus because He claimed equality with God and they rejected His claim. We do the same thing; we either accept or reject Christ. There is no middle ground.
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