The Last Enemy Is Death But Life Doesn't Have To End In Destruction

Jesus' simple instruction for us, "Keep the commandments and the Father and I will instruct you from the inside." The people did not understand Jesus was taught by His Father daily. Jesus wants that same communication for us. The steps? 1) Keep the commandments. 2) Take time every day to hear from God. 3) Never violate your conscience.

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Ch. 54: Jesus At The Feast Of Tabernacles

John 7:1-8:59

Jesus Arouses Anger By Claiming Sonship With God

            Jesus continued to speak, saying:

            “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins. Whither I go, ye cannot come.”

            The Jews said among themselves:

           “Will he kill himself? Because he saith, ‘Whither I go, you cannot come.’”

            Jesus said to the Jews:

            “Ye are from beneath; I am from above. Ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins. For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

            The Jews asked him:

            “Who art thou?”

            Jesus replied:

            “Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you. But he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.”

            The Jews did not understand that he spoke of the Father.

            Jesus continued, saying:

            “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

            Because of these words, many believed in Jesus. To those Jews who believed he said:

            “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

            The Jews replied:

            “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, ‘Ye shall be made free’?”

            Jesus answered them:

            “Verily, verily I say unto you, ‘Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.’ and the servant abideth not in the house forever; but the Son abideth forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.”

            The Jews answered, saying:

            “Abraham is our father.”

            Jesus replied:

            “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God. This did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father.”

            The Jews said to Jesus:

            “We be not born of fornication. We have one Father, even God.”

            Jesus answered, saying:

            “If God were your Father, ye would love me; for I proceed forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he that sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words. Ye therefore hear him not, because ye are not of God.”

            The Jews replied to those words of Jesus:

            “Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?”

            Jesus said:

            “I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. And I seek not mine own glory. There is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.’”

            To Jesus the Jews replied:

            “Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets. And thou sayest, ‘If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.’ Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom makest thou thyself?”

            Jesus replied:

            “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father that honoreth me, of whom ye say that he is your God. Yet ye have not known him; but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.”

            The Jews said to Jesus:

            “Thou are not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?”

            Jesus answered:

            “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’”

            Then the Jews and Pharisees, their fury aroused, picked up stones to hurl at Jesus. But they could not see him as he left the temple, going through the midst of those who sought to stone him.