“‘Whoever is of God hears the Words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.’ The Jews answered Him, ‘Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?’ Jesus answered, ‘I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.’ The Jews said to Him, ‘Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet You say, If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death.'” John 8:47-52
Devotional Thought For The Day
Ah, words and conversations, and conflict – and words used not for learning and for greater understanding but rather to argue and reject and misleadingly influence. We assume Jesus used words to convey truth. He is God. God is truth. God is love, and love rejoices in the truth. Given these realities one ought to listen to Him, learn from Him, rejoice in the promises of God He proclaims and the realities He asserts. Not so with these hearers, the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day. They believed that their language – against Jesus and what He taught – could actually defeat Him and change what was real. Language is a curious thing, a wondrous thing and a powerful thing, and yet it is certain that our words – however great their effect – simply cannot change, alter, correct, or create reality. We are not God; God alone is God, and His Word is the ground of all being and reality, as revealed in Genesis 1.
Still we try, whenever something in Holy Scripture strikes us as difficult, challenging, and perhaps even unfathomable. As sinful human beings we tend to come to Holy Scripture not as learners but rather as debaters, eager to find justification for our perceptions, beliefs, and desires, even when that means arguing against the clear and plain words. Now, it is certainly permissible, and even godly and pious to humbly ask questions, to seek to understand more clearly and deeply. But questions can also be asked from a context of unbelief and contempt, like the question about Jesus having a demon. These are not questions that are open to reason and those who ask them are not subject to reason. Is it the fault of Jesus that His hearers refused to come to faith and to acknowledge Who He is and the truth of what He speaks? Not in the least; the outcome was determined by their unbelief. Their unbelief was not principally an intellectual issue but rather a moral issue – one of truth, honesty, acknowledgment of their sin and their need for God’s mercy and gracious salvation; and their unbelief determined their irrationality in conversing with Jesus. Such irrationality ultimately can only cloak itself by demonizing the truth and those who speak it.
It is no different today. Not only should we be aware of our own propensity to this futile and dishonest use of language, we should also learn to identify it in others. It would save us a great deal of grief and frustration in the face of intractable disagreements, and also a great deal of time and effort. There is no moral compulsion to be arguing with a rock or stone. Nor are we commanded to do so. Rather, the Lord clearly indicates that there will always be some who refuse to hear and receive His Word. He directs us to shake the dust off of our feet and to move on [Luke 9:5]. But we are often struck with the fear that perhaps it is our own sinful recalcitrance that has brought about the impasse in understanding. So how do we judge, knowing our own subjectivity and our own flaws? In such circumstances we must return to the Word of God, the Holy Scripture – placing it between the two opposing arguments, and allow it to determine the matter, humbly and prayerfully imploring God for guidance and understanding, and also the grace to humbly receive the truth. This is a blessing – to have truth to instruct us, and to guide and lead us into truth and greater understanding in all things.
It is frightening to contemplate that men could call Jesus “demon-possessed” to His face. If He had to endure such opposition and malicious hatred, what can we expect? Jesus warned us: “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of His household.” [Matt. 10:25] And democratic “fairness” will not help us either; Jesus was always outnumbered by His opponents and so shall we. Nor can we count on the support of “institutions” – they too can become corrupt, and perverted to support the suppression and persecution of the truth. So we must rely upon the Word of God and remember that there is a Judge. Earthly outcomes must not deter us, discourage us, corrupt us, or defeat us. Rather, we must learn to be satisfied to be like our Teacher and Master – as painful, disheartening, and frightening as that may at times be. We may as well face it: “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” [Luke 23:31] There is no question that the wood is getting drier. Lord, have mercy!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to learn from Your experiences and to gain wisdom in dealing with conflict, especially that which involves rejection of Your Word. Help us to grow reliant upon Your Word, more humbly instructed by Your Word, and empowered by Your Word. Strengthen our hearts and minds in our bonding to You that we be more willing to suffer with You. Keep us always joyful and optimistic that You are Judge, and that our full vindication is coming. Amen.