For the Hearing Impaired

(John 8:41b-47)

This week at Transit, we continued discussing the passage in John 8 where Jesus is having a conversation with a group of Jews. As usual in these conversations, the discussion centers around whether or not Jesus is also God or equal with God and what implications believing or not believing that has for them.

This seems to be a common theme whenever Jesus gets into discussions with this particular group of people. They cannot, or rather will not accept that he is one with God and put their faith in Him. Jesus wants so badly for them to see that their failure to recognize Him as sent from God and one with God is the very thing that keeps them from spending eternity with Him.

The key in this passage is that these people are constantly presented with the truth but refuse to actually hear it and accept it. Sadly, people today are often this way as well. Over and over they are confronted with Truth and each time they walk away from it because they simply cannot or will not accept it. The reason that we as humans cannot wrap our minds around the idea of Jesus Christ being one with God is because by nature we do not belong to Him. We are born into sin and separation from God and it is only by His grace that we can come to recognize that without God's kindness and the blood of His Son, we are lost forever.

We only belong to God when we recognize that He sent his Son for us and that His son is equal to Him in power, authority and all other ways. This is a conversation that is essential to our Christian faith and to our eternal situation. Let’s dive in and get to the bottom of it!

Here are a couple things to think about this week as you take some time to reflect on our discussion.

1.      Think of some examples in your own life when you have been directly confronted with truth and chose not to accept it.

2.      Are you willing to accept the WHOLE truth about Jesus Christ, or are there some things you would rather not hear or accept.

CHALLENGE: This week, watch a show or movie that you are unfamiliar with, on mute. Try your best to interpret what is happening and jot down what you assume. Then, re-watch it with the sound on. Take note of how much of a difference it makes when you will open your ears to actually hear the truth of what is happening. If you will actually listen, you will be unable to avoid the truth of what is going on.

 *Feel free to post any and all questions related to our discussion tonight in the comment area below. You can also share anything you learn while pondering the questions or engaging in the challenge. We are so excited to encourage each other and grow even more in our studying of God’s word throughout the week! This is a conversation! This is Transit Continued.