Paul Wooderson

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is set aside each year. I have special memories of the times the Wooderson families gathered at grandpa’s and grandma’s farm. We had a great feast. We thanked God for the blessings He had given us. In the early days, Thanksgiving Day was a harvest festival. It was a time to thank God for an abundant harvest.

The Festival of Tabernacles was also a time of thanksgiving. According to Josephus, a first-century A.D. Jewish historian, the Festival of Tabernacles was the most popular of the three principal Jewish feasts.

7:1 –After these things… it was approximately six months after Passover. Jesus wasn’t willing to leave Galilee and go into Judea. Jesus knew the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem wanted to find Him and kill Him (Read John 7:25 & 30).

7:2 –Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. Known also as the Feast of Tabernacles, Tents, or Ingathering it was an especially important celebration. Jews from various parts of Palestine and the Jews of the Dispersion (those who lived outside Palestine) attended the festival in Jerusalem. Thanksgiving was given to God for his deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian captivity.

7:3 – Jesus had four half-brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Read Matthew 13:5; Mark 6:3)”, but they were not his half-brothers in the spiritual sense. John 7:3 says, His brothers, therefore said to Him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. John 7:4 explains their reasoning.

7:4 –For no one does anything in secret. It was widely believed, “if indeed you are the Messiah, go to Jerusalem, for that is the appropriate place to manifest yourself publicly to Israel as the Messiah and invite them to recognize you… when the Messiah came, He would make himself publicly known in some spectacular way, (it seemed incredible to his half-brothers), that anyone who believes himself to be the Messiah should deliberately avoid publicity. (I think His half- brothers thought), no one who aims at being a public figure will remain in… obscurity… as Jesus had now done for a year” (F. F. Bruce). The Apostle John saw a deeper meaning, And I, if I (Jesus) am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:32). Jerusalem was the place where Jesus was crucified on the Cross and three days later, he arose from the dead.

7:5 –For even his brothers didn’t believe in Him. It wasn’t until after the resurrection of Jesus that his half-brothers believed in Him (Read Acts 1:10-14). Jesus, in His resurrected body, appeared to James, His half-brother (Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-7).

DO YOU KNOW THE TWO HALF-BROTHERS OF JESUS WHO ARE THE AUTHORS OF A BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

JAMES IS THE AUTHOR OF “JAMES,” AND JUDAS IS THE AUTHOR OF “JUDE.”

                                            -All of the Scripture passages Are Based on the World English Bible (WEB).

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vv. .6-7 – My time has not yet come. Jesus knew that if He went to the feast of the Jews (also known as the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles) His life would be in danger. Jesus’ response “reveals the first reason he would not go to the feast: it was not in God’s perfect timing” (John MacArthur). Jesus told his brothers, but your time is always ready. They did not need to fear persecution at the feast, his brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5). To His brothers Jesus said: The world cannothate you. “The world (the present condition of human affairs – the separation from an opposition to God) hates Jesus because He testifies that its deeds are evil” (The Moody Bible Commentary). Only the presence of Jesus and His message to awaken the sin of unbelievers could provoke their hatred.

vv. 8-9 – I am not yet going up to the feast, because my time is not fulfilled. The second reason Jesus did not go with His brothers was that He knew the Jewish authorities would kill Him. Jesus was not going to Jerusalem until “The Father had given the sign” (Stauffer).

vv. 10-11 – in secret. It is assumed the Father directed His Son Jesus to go to Jerusalem. “Jesus’ secrecy is a prelude to the final drama which leads to the Arrest, Trial, and Crucifixion”

(F. F. Bruce).   The Jews… sought Him at the feast. The Jews authorized the hostile Jewish authorities in Judea who were headquartered in Jerusalem.

vv. 12-13 – There was a lot of murmuring among the multitudes… Unbelief divided the crowd (Read John 6:41,61).Some said, “He is a good man (in a moral sense Jesus is), absolutely (completely or unconditionally) and consummately (perfectly good).” “The character of Christ, his personality, the use he made of life, His unselfish goodness, have made an immense (tremendous) impression on innumerable (many) minds: a goodness and unselfishness, be it noted, lived out where we have to live, and when immersed (occupied) in the tasks we have to do” (The Interpreter’s Bible). Others said, “Not so, but he leads the crowd astray (off the right path).”  People still do. “Holding that any and every type of religion, and especially Christianity, is largely (unrelated to), turning men aside from what ought to be their main interest, upon

which they should be concentrating their attention and their powers. This concern about one’s soul, this unhappiness over one’s moral and spiritual state, this absorbed (intent) effort to improve them, is, so they tell us pathological (unhealthy), is a disease, is simply selfishness and rank stupidity as well” (The Interpreter’s Bible). “The Jewish Talmud (the authoritarian body of tradition in the Jewish religion) reveals that the latter view of deception became the prominent opinion of many Jews” (John MacArthur). To lead someone astray was punishable by death (Read Deuteronomy 13:10).No one spoke openly of him out of fear of the Jews.  Any approving comments said openly about Jesus could bring retaliation. “Fear can keep a man from making a clarion call (a clear and loud testimony) of his faith and turn it into indistinct, semi-audible murmur… The Christian is never afraid to tell the world in ringing tones that he believes in Christ” (William Barclay).

     -All passages of Scripture are based on the World Bible in English (WEB

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vv. 14-15 – But when it was now the midst (middle) of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. The Jewish leaders saw Jesus standing in the temple. The same place where the rabbis taught. The Jews, therefore, marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters (it means “learning”), having never been educated?” Jesus did not have a formal education. “His mastery of the Scriptures and his power of persuasive exposition (ability to explain clearly) were undeniable” (F. F. Bruce).

vv. 16-17 – The Jewish leaders must have thought Jesus’ teachings were His own ideas. But He said, my teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone desires to do his will. “This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees (seeks His Son Jesus) and believes (is to be persuaded of, to place confidence) in him, should have eternal life.” (John 6:40a). “He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony (the witness) in himself” (I John 5:10). Jesus repeats that his teaching comes from the One who commissioned Him, His Father (Read John 8:26; 12:49-50). If we commit to doing God’s will, He will guide us in finding the truth.

v.18 –He who speaks from himself (for example, a false messiah) he who seeks the glory (honor resulting from a good opinion) of Him who sent Him is true is a referral to Jesus, and no unrighteousness (sinfulness in character) is in Him

vv. 19-20 – Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? How many of the Ten Commandments do we faithfully obey? The people of Israel broke the Law many times. Jesus asked, why do you seek to kill me? The attempt to murder was a violation of the sixth commandment (Read Exodus 20:13).The multitude answered, “You have a demon!” They foolishly accused Jesus of demon possession (Read John 10:19-21). If Jesus was “another religious fake, the world never would have reacted with such hatred. Since the evil world system loves its own, its hatred toward Him demonstrates that He came from God”

(John Mac Arthur).

vv. 21-22 – I did one work (miracle) refers to Jesus healing the paralytic man. The Jewish leaders were hypocritical because Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. The Jews also worked on the Sabbath whenever a male infant was circumcised. John MacArthur says, “each male infant in Israel was to be circumcised at eight days old, and if the eighth day coincided (occurred at the same time) with the Sabbath, the law of circumcision took precedence over the Sabbath law: the child was circumcised.

vv. 23-24 – If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath… (why) are you angry with mebecause I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? It didn’t make sense to allow circumcision on the Sabbath, and not allow the healing of a man’s body on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders were blinded by their own traditions. The Jewish leaders judged Jesus by what appeared to be right, but what they thought wasn’t right.

God gave His Son Jesus THE NAME (which represents the title and dignity of the Lord), WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW… AND… EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD (Philippians 2:9-11).

Have you confessed your sins to the Lord, invited Him to live in your soul, and made the commitment to live for Him? The Lord can transform your life by giving you peace that passes all human understanding. A peace that cannot be taken away by external circumstances.

        -All Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-

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vv. 25-26 –Isn’t this He whom they seek to kill? The reason Jesus did not go with His brothers to the feast was that He knew that the Jewish rulers wanted to kill Him. Some people thought the claim was insane. Others, who lived in Jerusalem, knew the claim was true. Behold, he speaks openly. For Jesus to be open and honest in expressing what He knew was true was astonishing. But They (said) nothing to Him. Why were the Jewish rulers hesitant to confront Jesus? Can it be the rulers indeed (knew) that this is truly the Christ? Maybe they received some evidence that proved Jesus was the Messiah?

There were two Jewish rulers who believed in Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin (which was the Jewish court of justice). He “spoke for Jesus to the leaders of his day” (Young’s Bible Dictionary). Joseph of Arimathea was also a member of the Sanhedrin. He was a secret disciple of Jesus (Read John 19:38).

v. 27 – However we know where this man comes from. The multitude said, Hasn’t the Scripture said that Christ comes from the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was? They knew where Jesus’ earthly home was because the people knew Him as ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ But the Spirit of God revealed to the Apostle John the place that was the origin (origination) of Jesus.

v. 28 – Jesus said, you both know me, and where I am from. Did Jesus say these words to ridicule the Pharisees? In John 8:19, the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Where is your Father”? Their question was a sign that they didn’t understand who Jesus was or from where He came. Jesus said, I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is “true” whom you don’t know. The word “true” means “real or genuine.” “Jesus’ … will have no known origin, that is, the time and manner of His (appearance) were expected to be a mystery” (F. F. Bruce).

v. 29 – I know Him because I am from Him, and He sent me. He was sent by God, His Father.

vv. 30-31 – Many in the crowd joined with the rulers in seeking to seize the Lord, yet they could not. John described the human reason in John 6:15;10:39. He also described the divine reason in John 7:30, 44;8:20. These reasons prevented Jesus from being arrested because His hour had not come, the hour Jesus would die on the Cross of Calvary. Many believed, that is, they had confidence in) Him. John used his special phrase, “believe in Him” to designate… saving faith (see John 1:12).

GOD HAS A REASON WHY HE CREATED US AND GAVE US LIFE ON THIS EARTH. HE HAS A PLAN WHICH HE CREATED FOR US TO FULFILL, AND NOBODY ELSE CAN TAKE OUR PLACE. IF WE WANT TO HONOR HIM AND EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL LIFE, WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO HIS CALLING. AS A RESULT OF BEING OBEDIENT, HE CAN GIVE A PEACE AND JOY WITHIN THAT THE WORLD CAN NOT TAKE AWAY.     

            -The Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible-

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Those who heard Jesus in the Temple had different opinions of Him. Some people said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?” (John 7:31). This alarmed the chief priests and Pharisees.   

v. 32 – The chief priests were mostly Sadducees who were members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme tribunal (court) of the Jews. Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees only accepted the written law and did not believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead (Read Acts23:6-8). But the chief priests and Pharisees had a mutual hatred of Jesus. They sent officers, probably Temple guards, to arrest Jesus but they failed.

vv. 33-34 – Jesus said, “I will be with you a little longer, then I go to Him who sent me. You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come.” In the Old Testament book of Hosea, he warned the Israelites of the same thing (Read Hosea 5:6). Jesus said… “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come. The Jews, therefore, said, “Will he kill himself, that he says, ‘Where I’m going, you can’t come?’” Jesus said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe (are persuaded of, and are confident) that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8: 21-24). Jesus was talking about two different worlds. Jesus would return to His Heavenly Father in Heaven. Only those who believe in Him are promised a home in heaven.

vv. 35-36 – The Jews, therefore, said among themselves,“Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What is this word that he said, ’You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come? Once again, these words reveal the Jews misunderstood Jesus’ message. The Dispersion refers to Jews who lived outside Palestine.

vv. 37-39 – Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

“WHOSO LIVES WITH CHRIST AND IN CHRIST HAS IN HIS HEART A SPRING OF WATER…   INEXHAUSTIBLE; A PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING; A JOY DEEPER AND MORE REAL THAN ANY OTHER JOY; A LIFE FAR MORE ABUNDANT THAN ANYONE ELSE CAN KNOW; A POWER THAT CAN MEET EVERY CALL UPON IT – A (NEVER STOPPING) FOUNTAIN, CLEAR AND CLEAN, COOLING AND REFRESHING” (The Interpreter’s Bible). 

         -All Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-

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v. 41 – “… some asked, “does the Christ come out of Galilee? The multitude showed their ignorance. They lacked interest in finding out the true place where Jesus was born. A long time before Jesus was born, Micah, a Levite of David’s day and a minor prophet, prophesied the One who would be the ruler of Israel, would be from Bethlehem of Judea. (Micah 5:2). In Luke 2:4-7, the Bible tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea.  

v. 43 – … there arose a division in the multitude because of Him. In Matthew 10:34, why did Jesus say, I didn’t come to send peace (a harmonious relationship between men), but a sword

(disputes that destroy peace)? Sometimes, after a person is converted to Christianity, there is a conflict with the non-believers in the family. Some Christians are persecuted and some die because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said, …My peace I give to you …Don’t let your heart be troubled neither let it be fearful (John 14:27). For we who are Christians, there is good news. We have eternal life. Jesus promised to give us peace that is far superior to what the world can offer. But following Christ assumes we are willing to endure hardships. Although… His name will be called… Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), Jesus Christ will not deceive us into thinking that, in this world, we will be free from conflict.

v. 44 – Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on Him. Remember in John 7:8 Jesus told His brothers, you go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to the feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled. It was because the time had not arrived for Jesus’

crucifixion on the Cross, etc.

vv. 45-46- the chief priest and Pharisees asked the officers “Why didn’t you bring Him?” The members of the Sanhedrin sent the temple officers, also known as temple guards, to arrest Jesus and bring Him back to them. However, when the temple guards returned to the Sanhedrin, they arrived without Him. It was because Jesus’ words touched their hearts. They said, “No man ever spoke like this man!” They recognized while Jesus was a man, He was greater than any other man.

vv. 47-48 – “You aren’t also led astray, are you?” On religious grounds, the Pharisees made fun of them. They said, have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? The Pharisees, being self-righteous, accused the temple officers of being deceived. The Pharisees, who thought of themselves as specialists in religious instruction, believed they could not be deceived.

v. 49 – this multitude (the crowd) that doesn’t know the law is accursed. “The view of the rabbis was the “common people” were ignorant compared to them. “Their ignorance of Scripture, but especially the common people’s failure to follow the Pharisees’ oral tradition (made them) accursed. The people were considered (hindered) because they did not belong to the elite group or follow their beliefs regarding the law (John MacArthur).

       -The Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-

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Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:31-32 

8:31 – To those … who had believed Him. Jesus was talking particularly to those Jews who had a false belief in Him. “Belief” means “to trust, to have confidence in.” Jesus said to those Jews, “Most assuredly, I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:53-54). This passage is known as an “analogy.” An analogy is “a similarity in some respects between things otherwise unlike.” To eat the flesh of the Son of Man and to drink His blood is similar to faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to inherit eternal life. When the false disciples heard the words Jesus said in John 6:53-54, they called His words a “hard (difficult) saying.” From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with Him no more (John 6:66).   

8:31 – If you abide in Me … My words abide in you. The word “abide” means “to remain.” To remain in Jesus’s words. John MacArthur says, “A genuine believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching.” To remain in Jesus’ words requires faith. The evidence of genuine faith is presented in the Great Commission. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). For the disciples who carry out the Great Commission Jesus says, you are My disciples indeed.

8:32 – And you shall know the truth. A genuine, obedient follower of the Lord Jesus Christ will

know (will experience) the divine truth. A truth that Jesus reveals that shows us the real values of life.

8:32 – and the truth shall make you free. This “freedom” means “to be made holy.” The psalmist said, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast (faithful) spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10).It is a God-empowered freedom from sin that continues from a continued faith relationship with Jesus. Born-again Christians must not only hear His words: they must be united with Him who is the truth.

WHO AM I TO GIVE MY LIFE?

The Apostle Paul said, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you continue to put your faith and trust in Jesus, He will continue to transform your life. Jesus Christ will give you a quality of life that is far superior to anything the world can offer (Read John 3:16).

-The Scripture passages are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV)-

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An Unsupported Claim of Freedom

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been in

bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’? Jesus answered them,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”   

John 8:33-34

8:33 – We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been bondage to anyone. How can you say, “You will be made free?” Jesus said in verse 32, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus’ words upset the unbelieving Jews. They claimed they had never been in bondage (slaves) to any man. Many Jews claimed that they were free-born descendants of Abraham (Read Genesis 12: 3; 22: 18). History tells us otherwise. For instance, they were enslaved in Egypt, etc.

8:34 – Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Jesus was talking about a different kind of slavery.

The Apostle Paul says all people share a common predicament (dilemma). He says, All have sinned … (Romans 3: 23). We may be different in the degree of our sins, but as Adam Clarke says, “There is absolutely no difference between the best and the worst of men” in the sense that all have sinned. Romans 3:23 also says … all fall short of the glory of God. There are various opinions that have been given about the meaning of the “glory of God.” Meanings such as “the glory of personal righteousness,” the righteousness which God judges to be glory,” or “the image of God in man,” etc.

When I was an Army National Guard soldier in basic training, one of the things I had to do was qualify on the firing range. To qualify I had to hit so many targets. I was shocked when I found out I had fired “Expert,” which was the highest award that could be earned. I was so excited I could hardly wait to tell my platoon sergeant. When I did, I thought he would congratulate me. Instead, he said, “You should have hit all of them.” Later, the thought came into my mind that if I was in combat one missed shot could have led to my death.

“Sin” is “missing the mark.” If you are rebelling against God, you are “missing the mark.” If you refuse to profess your sins to Jesus and invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, you are “missing the mark.” As a result, you are enslaved by sin, and sin leads to spiritual death.

God blessed Abraham because he was obedient to Him. If we obey God and remain faithful to Him God will also bless us. Abraham is known by Jews and Christians alike as the “founder of the faith.” I suggest you read the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22: 1-13.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A SLAVE OF SIN,                 

OR SEEK TO LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD?           

WHOM WE LIVE FOR WILL DETERMINE OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION.

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The Vow of Freedom

A slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:35-36

Jesus’s statement was something that the Jews understood. At any time, an owner of an enslaved person could sell him to another owner. On the other hand, a son is a permanent member of the family.

A WARNING

A son or daughter is a member of a physical family. But that does not mean he or she is a member of the family of God. The Bible warns us that there is a mortal sin that causes spiritual death. The Apostle Paul says Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9)? Those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will not inherit eternal life.

A born-again believer is a child of God, but that doesn’t mean he or she is perfect. Part of the human dilemma is that we fall short of being all that He wants us to be. But the Good News is Jesus has the power to make us spiritually free from the penalty of sin.

We, who believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are sons and daughters in God’s family. His desire for us is to live in harmony with His will. The Apostle Paul complimented the Philippians when he said, you have always obeyed not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ((a fear and trembling that is removed completely from His presence)  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). “This is not working to gain salvation. Rather, as in the expression, “The farmer works the soil,” so they were to take what they freely received (salvation) and make it bear fruit”(The Moody Bible Commentary). The Apostle Paul said to the Philippians be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11) The reality is the only way we can bear spiritual fruit is if God is at work in us.  

John MacArthur says, Among the benefits of being a devoted worshiper of the Lord is sanctification. It means to make holy. “The meaning of ‘holiness’ is then worked out in (goodwill), love for God, clean living, compassion, (financial) honesty, and love.”

YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE ONE OF GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE

IF YOU LOVE JESUS AND SEEK TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE. 

God did many wondrous things for the Israelites on their way to the Promise Land. For instance, He split the water of the (Red) Sea). He made the sea dry land so they could escape the Egyptian soldiers who were pursuing them. In the daytime, He protected them with a cloud, and at night He led them with a light of the fire. He split rocks in the wilderness so they could drink abundantly. He sent manna down from heaven when they were hungry. Yet, they sinned against God because of their lack of belief in Him. God had to perform marvelous works before the Israelites believed in Him (Read Psalms 78: 12-20). Some of the Israelites never entered the Promise land. Instead, they died in the wilderness. Is it possible some professing Christians in today’s world are like the Israelites who lived in the wilderness?   

                                        Jesus said I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:48).

                                                        (The First of the Seven I AMs)  

In John 6:35, Jesus says, He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes (puts confidence in or trust) in me will never be thirsty. Jesus is not only the living bread in contrast to perishable food; he is the life-giving bread, delivering those who receive him from the power of death. The manna could not achieve that for those who ate it in the wilderness.

In John 6:27, Jesus says, don’t work for the Food which perishes, but for the Food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For God, the Father has sealed him (meaning “authentication by God in sealing the Son of God asthe Giver of eternal life”).

The eternal life Jesus offers is not just a life immortal. It is “freedom from all the evils of this present world and active of worshipping God in fellowship with His Son their Savior (Young’s Bible Dictionary). This spiritual life is maintained by Him and safeguarded from the intimidation or threat of death.

Some religions say to receive eternal life certain “works” must be done. The Pharisees believed certain works must be done to be right with God.

All we must do to become a Christian is to believe (to have confidence in, to trust) Him. We still are sinners. When God’s Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we have a choice to make. Are we going to seek His forgiveness? To enjoy the benefits of salvation on this earth we must live in harmony with Him.

Psalm 78 is a sad poem that tells us our Old Testament ancestors had a short memory. They easily forgot the mighty works God did in the wilderness. The Israelites who refused to enter the Promise Land did not believe in God’s promise. They remained in the wilderness and died.

Here on earth, Jesus Christ can give us a kind of peace and joy within that passes all human understanding. What is the requirement? We must give Him total control of our lives. Do you want to experience that peace and joy Jesus can give you or do you want to “remain in the wilderness and die?”   

   IF YOU WERE TO DIE TONIGHT, ARE YOU SURE YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN?

-All Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-

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