ListenDaily - 22 May 2009: You should not abide...
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:42-46 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Wow, I have read this passage before, but never from this perspective. In the passage from John 8 we read about people who believed in Jesus yet listened to Satan's lies. In this passage we read about those who believed in Him and yet were more concerned about what other people thought. "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God..." How frustrating that must have been for the One who came to lay down His life; that those for whom He would die would defer to those who did not even care about them. Lord, may we not be guilty of this offense.
“Then Jesus cried out..." How important this is! It caused Jesus to 'cry out'!
“Then Jesus cried out and said 'He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” This phrase; “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” is very thought provoking. Jesus provided, and provides, the Light so that we no longer have to be in darkness. The Light of the world has come, and is available to all believers.
However, as we see in this passage, Jesus was driven to cry out to those who believed and yet were not living in the light! This is a danger for us as well. Just as we have seen earlier that we could believe and not be free, we can also believe and not move out of the darkness. And Jesus warns us; "...whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Should not! Don't do it! Do not stay in the darkness anymore...do not abide in the darkness any longer. Jesus cries out to us still -- step out into the light and stay there...abide there.
Abide.
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Questions:
1. How does loving "he praise of men more than the praise of God" affect believers today? How does it affect you? Your church? 2. Do you think it is possible to believe in Jesus and remain in the darkness? 3. What does it take to move into the light?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"As in the candle I know there is both light and heat,
but put out the candle, and they are both gone."
John Selden
"If the whole universe has no meaning,
we should never have found that it has no meaning:
just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes,
we should never know it was dark."
C.S. Lewis
"The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness
and everyone must choose his side."
G.K. Chesterton
"How many are quite unworthy to see the light,
and yet the day dawns."
Seneca
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