“I AM Keeps You, That You Would Keep Him”
Saint John 8: 46-59
Judica: 18 March Anno Domini 2018
Father Jay Watson SSP
Kings, Presidents, bandits, conquerors, Generals, addicts, athletes, movie-stars, prostitutes, hypocrites, and all of you…everyone…argue with Jesus. Man argues with God even if he doesn’t think he believes in God. Do you ever wonder why so-called atheists spend so much time railing and working against something they profess not to believe in?
The truth is the truth even if one does not accept it. Millennial “snowflake” campus communists may shriek at the reality that there are only two sexes, but that doesn’t change the truth of human biology. Screech at the “falsity” of gravity all you want, but step off a high ledge and you will plummet, most certainly. Jesus is the The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Pilate, and you when you treat Jesus’ Words as either non-applicable, or mere suggestions, Pilate asked “what is truth.” Truth was standing right in front of the Roman Governor. Jesus always stands right in front of His own people. HE stands in front of you where He attaches Himself to His Word—here to where your family is assembled. If you are not receiving Him in Words of forgiveness and Saving Supper…you are arguing with, protesting against, and denying Him His way for you. That is like His enemies in this morning’s text “convinceth[ing Him] of sin”
Jews of Jesus’ day, unitarians or heretical monotheists today, can say they believe in God. But, without a Mediator, an Apostle from The True Godhead, there is no truth in their face. They turn themselves into their own ruler, arbiter, decider, interpreter…god. Why are there so many sects, denominations, and heretics? It’s because they have separated themselves from The Truth of Christ and the truth of His Church.
Those Jews that attacked Saint Paul and the first followers of Christ were called the “synagogue of Satan” not because they were Hollywood-styled cinematic participants in Black Masses and ghoulish practices, but because He Who rejects The Son rejects God The Father. All who are “against” Christ are anti-Christs; all who deny The Truth, The Light, are standing with their true father, Satan—the father of lies, the dark prince of this fallen world.
What “saying” is it that “if you keep you will never see death?” John chapter 8 comes after John chapter 6—Christ’s “Bread of Life” discourse. The Bread, the Sacrament, the Word attached to bread and wine IS, and IS NOW, Jesus “for you.” Or as The Truth speaks: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.”
To “keep” this truth is to “keep” Jesus THE TRUTH. This is done by His Grace through His gift of Faith. You keep The Truth by believing, guarding, cherishing, holding tightly to it…to Him…in His Word.
People will hate you and persecute you because you are OF Jesus, you are IN Jesus, you are a follower-disciple of your Master. If they persecuted Him they will persecute you. The Pharisees and their ilk, Satan’s brood, wanted to destroy The Nazarene NOT because they thought He was saying that He was supernaturally older than Father Abraham in physical years and was simply born before the great Patriarch. No. They wanted Jesus dead because He claimed not to be a healer, feeder, community organizer, loving and kind dispenser of helpful advice, or any other human activity. No. Jesus said “before Abraham was, I AM.” The same I AM that spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. The personal Name of God almighty.
He “hid Himself” from the murderous mob…on “that” day. He did not hide Himself from you murderers, or from the murdering world, or from the murdering devil on the Day of Atonement. It was The I AM who was conceived in the Virgin’s womb; The I AM Who was born from her closed womb; The I AM who dutifully obeyed the Ten Commandments all the time…perfectly…when He was hungry, tired, thirsty, or suffering loss; The I AM Who was unjustly tried and convicted on false charges; and it was The I AM Who was nailed to the cross, “crucified, dead, and was buried.” God suffering and dying for you and your trespasses. God suffering and dying for your loneliness and emptiness. God rising from the dead and ascending to be present this very day in your midst to be placed into your personal midst. This God, This I AM, is Jesus Christ the God/Man. He is not fifty years old. He is “about 33 years old” and yet He is glorified Alpha and Omega. He is eternal and will never again taste death. Neither will His brothers and sisters who are In Him and have the I AM in them. Come forward, and with Abraham, and in gladness, rejoice to see His day.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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