Arulvakku

14.04.11 JESUS AND HIS CONTEXT

Posted under Reflections on April 15th, 2011 by

 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death." (So) the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. (Jn 8:51-59)

 

 

Words of Jesus are again, another context for reflection. Fulfilling the words of Jesus helps a man to receive eternal life. Here life and death are put in opposition. People do not understand what Jesus speaks. Jesus speaks in the context of the next world. He speaks of eternal life and eternal death (in the context of the next world). But the people understand in the worldly context.

 

Abraham and the prophets died like anyone. They faced death and their tombs are among them. So what Jesus speaks are out context and speaks like a possessed man. That is to say that he is unrealistic. People have proof for their views and they think on this earthy context. They are not able to pull themselves up to the context in which Jesus is and Jesus speaks from.

 

Jesus further confirms that he speaks from the Father who is God. All what he says is from God and only what God has revealed. He goes on to affirm that he is and he was with the Father and hence he is before Abraham and the other prophets. This was a total blasphemy. The Jews wanted to stone Jesus to death for this. 

13.04.11 JESUS IS FROM THE FATHER

Posted under Reflections on April 14th, 2011 by

Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father." They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me. (Jn 8:31-42)

 

 

Jesus tried to reveal himself and his mission to the Jews. Some believed in him and he was trying his best to make them aware of his real self. He asked them to believe in his words. His words are truth and also his words make them his disciples. These two qualities of his words are important.

 

Jews believed in Abraham and they continued to believe that their faith in Abraham will free them. But Jesus said that it was sin that enslaved people. Only truth can free one from sin. Only Jesus spoke the truth because he was from God. Whatever he heard from the father was what he was revealing.

 

If the Jews accepted that Jesus was speaking the truth and Jesus was from the Father then they would accept him. Jews also believed that they were God’s children but if they were of God’s origin then they should have accepted him. They should love him. Jesus has come from the Father and god has sent him into the world.

 

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