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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 117

Consciousness of the Father's Presence

Text: John 8 : 12-59

CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE FATHER’S PRESENCE

Jesus displayed a most remarkable consciousness of His Father’s Presence in His life. This was well demonstrated in the following words He uttered:

“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know
that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself;
but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
And He who sent Me is with Me.
The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do
those things that please Him.”
John 8:28-29

These words also displayed a tremendous sense of confidence in the Father’s Presence. This was something that made Jesus’ life and ministry so unique! Let’s take time to enumerate what Jesus said and meant.

1. With reference to the Father

a) Jesus spoke of His Father as His Teacher. He had already made reference to this truth (John 7:16). We are reminded of a word from Isaiah that spoke of God teaching the Messiah what He should say.

“The Lord God has given Me the tongue
of the learned, that I should know how to
speak a word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning.
He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
The Lord God has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.”
Isaiah 50:4-5

Jesus insisted that all that He taught came directly from His Father. His doctrine was not His, but His Father’s. If they received Him, they would have received His Father too. But if they were to reject His Word, it would be the same as rejecting the Father who sent Him.
b) Jesus declared that He was most aware that even as He spoke, regardless of whether the people believed Him, His Father was right there beside Him. His Father had never left Him alone, nor would He ever do that. Once again, let us take time to read a word from Isaiah.

“For the Lord God will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced.
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.”
Isaiah 50:7

Was Jesus also conscious of another word from Isaiah as He spoke about His Father’s Presence with Him?

“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
and will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a Covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”
Isaiah 42:6-7

2. With reference to Himself

a) Jesus made a truly profound statement. He insisted that He did nothing of Himself. That was a truly great claim! Who could make that kind of a statement, except the Messiah? He drew strength from His Father. He sought wisdom from His Father. He sought His Father’s approval. He stayed close to His Father. Couldn’t the Jews see this truth? Were they so blind?
b) Everything that Jesus sought to do, He was conscious of pleasing His Father! That was another bold statement! Who could make such a statement except the Messiah? Did any of the Jews have any idea at all of who Jesus was as he spoke to them?

SOME KIND OF A RESPONSE

John noted some kind of a response from The Jews. He wrote,

“As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”
John 8:30

Was that genuine faith in the Lord Jesus? John was aware of the fact that on a previous occasion, many had followed Jesus as if they were His disciples only to desert Him because they did not really understand Him, nor did they accept all that He has taught them (John 6:66). Was this another of those occasion?

AN EVALUATION OF THE BELIEF OF THE JEWS

Jesus was not impressed in the slightest. What did The Jews have in mind when they spoke about believing in Him? They did not even understand Him fully. How could they believe Him when they did not comprehend what He had said? Naturally, Jesus tested their response. He did that with great skill.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,
‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.'”
John 8:31-32

What a glorious statement about the power of the Word that Jesus proclaimed! His Word had the power to make a person free! Did the Jews really have His Word in their hearts now? Did His Word abide in them? Were they true disciples?