The Big Little Words

Hello all! Back for another week of diving into the Word of God and I cant begin to explain how excited I was that I had a chance to read through a particular part of Scripture with my weekly bible study this week! You’d think after about 11 weeks we’d be about halfway through the Gospel of John, but we are slowly moving along and are currently at the end of chapter 8.  Today we are going to dissect John 8:30-59.

***I write this up here early because for some of this long section I will be paraphrasing the action and I’d like you to read this big section for yourself, and not just take my word for it. ***

“31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Jesus is at a giant Jewish feast, almost debating the Pharisees at times and He drops this bombshell on us! Notice anything strange about this passage? I see a very important two letter word in this passage. In fact some of the “biggest” words in the bible are just two letter ones. Jesus is talking specifically to people who began to believe in His ministry and He says “If” at the beginning of this sentence. Yikes! That’s a lot of pressure!

“Wait Bryan, why the big rush to assume this is hard? I’m his disciple if I read His Word! It says it right there! If I “Continue” in His Word.” I wish it were that simple. I wish people who read God’s word were the ones who could bear his name! NEWS FLASH: Satan reads God’s Word more than we do and do you think that he has salvation? No! See this verse has so much weight to it that we have to chew on it for a second and contemplate its sheer significance in our walks. It’s true, we must continue in His Word. It’s one thing to believe His ministry was real. It’s one thing to read His Word. It’s a whole other thing to live by His Word and to continually submit to His Word!

What shocked me in this passage as well is their response to Jesus’ Statement!

“33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:33

The Jews mention Abraham 4 more times in regard to being right with God! Jesus says to continue in—submit to and live out—His Word, and their response is, “How dare you say we are slaves to anything, My spiritual Daddy walked with God!” Look, it doesn’t matter if your parents, your parents’ parents, or your parents’ parents’ parents were following God when it comes to your walk with him. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but just because Mommy and Daddy are Christian doesn’t mean we are! We too must daily submit and follow Jesus!

“Well Bryan, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but He only motioned this once, so it can’t be that important!” On the contrary, he says it twice in the same conversation!

“51 I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!” John 8:51

Look, before everyone jumps on me and says this some type of faith based all on our works, let me clarify something. In this part of the Gospel the Holy Spirit is only living inside of Jesus. It’s through that Spirit that we as followers must submit too! Jesus died, rose, and knowing that we can’t walk this walk… gave us His very Spirit! It’s the Holy Spirit that will prod and empower us to “keep” or “continue” in His word!

In essence, Discipleship comes by continuing and keeping His Word, that comes by submitting to the Holy Spirit, that comes by our choosing to have faith in Jesus, and that Faith comes by God.

“8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

See with faith there is works, but the works are birthed and grow from the faith God plants in us! I know this is a lengthy post, but the point goes back to the first verse is listed! Go on, scroll back up and read it again! If you continue in his word, you will know the truth, and The Truth will set you free! We can be Free Disciples!

Take time to reflect:

Did you know that following Jesus means more than reading the bible, attending service, or more than your family is Christian?

Do you fully submit to the Holy Spirit, and keep or continue in His Word? If not, what areas do you need to lay before him?

Feel free to lave comments and questions below! I love you Beloved!