February 27 This Is Jesus

John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
 
IF someone asked you, “Who is Jesus to you?” I hope this is one place you will go to answer their question.
   See, for example, how you can answer, “Jesus is the source of eternal life.” “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Know he is the Son of God: “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” Your answer can also be, “Jesus has full knowledge of God the Father: “I know him.” Even more your answer can be, “Jesus is the eternal God: “Before Abraham was born, I am!” 
   Know Jesus. Be firm in your belief. As the Jews sought to destroy Jesus, sin’s forces aggressively strive to destroy your faith. Remember Peter’s urgent warning to the early church: 1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Peter surely experienced the devil’s devouring attacks. Thankfully, we can look to Acts to know Peter is a stunning testimony of Jesus’ resurrection power. The devil could not devour or destroy Jesus’ passionate disciple, preacher and evangelist.
   Doubters and schemers want to cast you aside. People will focus on your sins to convince you that you are unworthy of Jesus. Pressure will come on you to conform to the world’s misunderstanding of God.
   In response, do this: Listen closely to what you hear. Contrast the faithless world’s words to Jesus’ “I tell you the truth,” Know your faith must be in the eternal Truth, who points you to the Father.
   Who do you say Jesus is? Confess and live as did Peter in Matthew 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for revealing yourself fully to us. I pray for faith to believe in you through all circumstances. Lord, deliver me from evil. Amen.