Lunatic or Lord

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. — John 8:51-59

So after the shaming event of the previous text, everything spirals out of control. Basically, they get more confused, not less confused. It doesn't matter how times or ways Jesus tries to explain it. But right at the end, they do finally understand something he says. When Jesus uses the name of God — "I Am" or "I Exist" (Greek: "ego eimi") they perk up. But they perk up and pay attention because they realize that he is using the name of God to refer to himself. And we know they get it because they reach down for stones to attempt to kill him.

Looking back, this whole conversation began because people were trying to determine the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?" But we said you cannot answer this question if you first don't know "Who you are?" And these religious men think they know who they are. But as Jesus has been telling them, they are deceived. Therefore they think they are right and Jesus is wrong. So they conclude he's a lunatic. But if you understand that you are a sinner living deceived by the Father of Lies, then you will see Jesus differently, as a Savior and Lord.

Therefore there are only two conclusions you can come to about Jesus. Either Jesus was a lunatic. Or Jesus is your Savior and Lord. It's one or the other.

ASK THIS: Who are you and who is Jesus?

DO THIS: Make a decision. He is one or the other.

PRAY THIS: God, you are my Savior and Lord

PLAY THIS: Because He Lives.