As you get ready for this coming Sunday morning, I am asking you to read two chapters from the book of John:
Through this season, we are spending our time looking deeply at the life of Jesus from the book of John, learning and connecting the dots on how the entire Bible is built around Jesus in our years-long series, “The Book of Jesus.” But last Sunday morning we crossed a continental divide, theologically. We saw the distinction between someone who remains in the crowd—following Jesus because he has “bread power”—and someone who chooses to follow Jesus as his disciple—investing everything as a follower in the only way.
These words, this visual, this language, this description all lead us for the next weeks, all the way to the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. Follow closely along.
As you read John 7, look carefully at 7:28-29 where Jesus says, “I am from him and he sent me.”
As you read John 8, look carefully at 8:12 where he says, “I am the light of the world.”
Then look at 8:16 where he says, “I am not alone. I stand with the Father.”
Then look at 8:23 where he says, “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”
Finally, look at 8:31 where he says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
As we have now crossed the theological continental divide in John 6, it becomes apparent that there continues to be a huge gap, which Jesus points out, between those in the crowd and those he calls to be disciples. He calls us not to just a religious Christianity, but to be deeply devoted disciples of the Savior. And with each chapter moving forward, all the way to his crucifixion on the cross, you will find that Jesus’ calling for us to grow as disciples is a difficult path—but we are not left to our own strength or will or desire. We can do this because of who he is.
This week in our study out of John 7 and 8:
- Because Jesus is “the Light of the World”…
- As his disciple, I am now living on truth and a new freedom I would have never known!
Read ahead!
Join a group to be in challenging conversation about this.
See you Sunday at 10 a.m. through one of our 3 doors to worship:
- 1: Watch online in your own home
- 2: Join a small group and stream the service together
- 3: Come to church and join us inside the building (remember to register!)
