February 24 In The Father’s Presence

 John 8:37-38 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
 
THERE is a breakdown between the Jews and their father Abraham. See Abraham’s faithful life summarized in Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Father Abraham’s legacy is that he was God’s faithful servant. See also Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and God credited it to him as righteousness.
   In contrast, Abraham’s descendants have become faithless orphans. Only bloodlines, not faith lines connect them to Abraham. Abraham is their father in name only. Evidence of their unbelief is again demonstrated in the Jews’ evil desire to kill Jesus. Why would the apostle so often repeat this deadly divide between God and his people?
   One reason, perhaps, would be in response to John’s own experience as Jesus’ apostle. John had stood before the brutal cross. He mourned the deaths of very many Christians in the early church. His own life had experienced great trials. For some 60 years or more to this point when he wrote the gospel, John had witnessed unbelieving Jews’ killing God’s people. John’s repetition of the Jews’ desire to kill Jesus may be to help them know this is not possible. You can’t kill the Lord of life with either physically or with unbelief. The power of the cross overcomes the chasm. Jesus is alive. Worship him.   
   John also uses Jesus’ testimony to bridge this divide. “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” Jesus moves the teaching from earthly unbelief to heaven’s perfect union. This is another repetition. John, in several ways demonstrates Jesus’ divine origin. He came from the Father’s presence to witness of the Father. The Son knows exactly what the Father does. He came to do as his Father. In the Holy Spirit’s power, Jesus, the man, was fully present with God.
   In a like manner, be present with God. Live as if he is with you. After all, the Spirit dwells within us. People need to see God in you, so they will understand what it means to be God’s child. Looking to the faithless Jews, one would not know Abraham’s faith. When you say, “I am a Christian.” will people know God is your Father?
   Also, does Jesus’ testimony help you understand heaven is a real place? Here and elsewhere in Scripture, we can glimpse heaven’s stunning reality. We don’t know exactly what will happen in eternity, but all we need to know is we will be present with God. God created mankind to lovingly be present with him and with one another. Eternity will be the perfection of being present with God, loving the Father, loving one another.  
   This is Jesus’ testimony of the Father. Live in joy because Jesus has come from the Father’s presence to make the way for you to be present with the Father forever.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for demonstrating the Father’s perfection as you lived on earth. I rejoice in the anticipation of being present with you and the Father forever. Amen.