Do You Know the Father?
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | May 5, 2024 | John 8:17-20
KEY VERSE:
Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." John 8:19 (NKJV)
MESSAGE:
People can be so incredibly naive about impostors and scam artists, yet push away those who genuinely want to help them. Many people who follow false messiahs and false teachers reject Jesus, both in his time and now. As Jesus often does in the Gospel of John, he emphasises that when people reject him, they also reject the Father who sent him.
In John 8:17-20, Jesus confronts the Pharisees' lack of understanding of both Himself and the Father. This passage challenges us to consider our knowledge of God and our relationship with Him. Jesus' statement to the Pharisees reveals a profound truth about knowing the Father. He asserts that knowing Him (Jesus) is intricately linked to knowing the Father. Jesus implies that knowing Him is the key to knowing the Father.
The Pharisees' question about the whereabouts of Jesus' Father demonstrates their lack of understanding. Despite Jesus' clear testimony, they fail to recognise Him as the Son sent by the Father. Jesus' statement also highlights the spiritual blindness of those who reject Him. Without recognising Jesus, one cannot truly know the Father, leading to a lack of understanding and relationship with God. This challenges us to consider the depth of our knowledge of God and the implications for our relationship with Him.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Do you know God? Jesus’ statement emphasises the importance of our decisions about him and our relationship with him. We do not have God if we reject Jesus. It may not be very politically correct in many places today, but Jesus' exclusive claims remind us that being politically correct is not nearly as important as being eternally correct. May we grow in our knowledge of You and live in a way that honours and glorifies Your name.
PRAYER:
Holy and righteous Father, it troubles my heart that so many people do not know Jesus or have rejected him as your Son and their Savior. Please open the door of the hearts of the millions who need to know Jesus. Bless those who have crossed cultural and language barriers to share your grace. Bring a deep longing in the hearts of the people of the world to know Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: WHERE
The Greek word translated as "where" in this verse is "ποῦ" (pou), which typically denotes a question of place or location. However, in this context, Jesus is not referring to a physical location but rather to a deeper understanding of his identity and relationship with God the Father.
Jesus' response to their enquiry emphasises that If they truly knew Jesus—his teachings, his actions, and his character—they would also know the Father because Jesus and the Father are inseparable in their divine nature and purpose.
Reflections:
Do we truly know him—not just intellectually, but personally and intimately? Do we recognize him as the revelation of God the Father, and do we seek to deepen our relationship with him through prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience to his teachings?
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