JOHN 8:25-30 THE POWER OF OBEDIENCE

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

Have you ever had a hero who inspired you to live as he lived? Our hero may have been a great missionary, teacher, relative, or historic figure. Usually our heroes affect our lives by becoming role models. We try to imitate them and align our thoughts and actions with theirs. It is empowering to be able to look to another who has encountered and overcome a certain adverse circumstance we are experiencing. In the midst of our trial it may even feel as if that person is there with you, walking with you and encouraging you. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author write about the encouragement of being “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” (12:1).

Jesus tells the Jews that even in the face of everyone else turning away from him, his Father, the one who sent him, is there with him. He also tells us of the way in which this can be true for us also. The key is that Jesus does “what the Father has taught” him and “always [does] what pleases him.” The Father is the source of all life, so when we obey him we are participating in God’s life itself. That means that when we live in obedience to God he is present to us through our following him and that we are already experiencing the eternal life. We need never feel alone and we need never experience despair or the fear of futility. After all, Jesus was doing the will of the Father even when they “lifted up the Son of Man.” And what happened? The Father raised him up on the third day.

Jesus, you are the Savior of the world; the incarnate Son of the Father. You have shown me the way of obedience and the evidence of the presence of the Father. May I ever live in obedience and in the knowledge of God’s presence and the eternal nature of my life even here and even now. Amen.