(John 8:48-59)
Tonight at Transit we finished out John 8. Throughout this chapter, Jesus has been in a discussion with a group of Jews who have started on their journey of believing Him and coming to an understanding of who He really is. In this passage, we see them struggle through some huge personal and cultural traditions and beliefs that make it difficult for them to put all of their faith and belief in who Jesus is claiming to be. We also see Jesus firmly, but patiently walk with them through their doubts and help them to genuinely understand.
In this last portion of chapter 8, the particular struggle is with the fact that Jesus claims to be even greater than the prophets that came before Him. These Jews take a lot of pride in and put a lot of stock in the fact that they are decendants of these great men of God like Abraham. For this group of people, this is probably the most important claim Jesus can make and also the most crucial for them to accept. If they can see and truly grasp that Jesus is indeed greater than ALL of the prophets before him and that He has the most authority, then they will be able to accept that authority in their own lives and experience His priceless gift of eternal life.
The application for us here is simple. Jesus >.
Jesus is greater than all else; greater than all people, all things, and yes even greater than all other gods. He was not just a great man or a wise teacher, He was the Son of God sent to earth with all of God's power and authority. He should hold the ultimate authority in our lives. If we do not recognize Jesus as the greatest, of course we will see no need to submit to His authority or live our lives according to His Word. This unfortunately will keep us from experiencing eternity with Him. But the great news is, that if we allow Jesus to be the greatest in our lives, we will experience so much joy and freedom in living with Him now and forever!
Here are a few things to think about this week as you reflect on our discussion and this passage...
1. What would it look like to give Jesus ultimate authority? (This can be generally speaking or in your own personal life.)
2. What things keep people from giving Jesus this place and authority?
3. What does Jesus need to be greater than in your own life?
CHALLENGE:
This week, write out the phrase "Jesus >" on a slip of paper or a notecard. Put it somewhere that you will see it often and challenge yourself to practically make that statement true in your life. If you need to, jot down things on the back of the card that easily become greater than Jesus in your life, so you can be aware the next time you are tempted to forget that He is greater than all else. Sometimes a visual reminder can be just the encouragement we need to really process and grow from teaching!
Tweet or Instagram your "Jesus >" post and @TransitAssembly to get others involved in the discussion :)
*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.
I think that giving Jesus ultimate authority in our lives means giving him control. Saying "Jesus take the wheel..." HA But really! It means that our own will and desires no loner matter and our lives become about submitting to his plans for us.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason people don't give him the ultimate authority is because it does mean giving him control...and that's terrifying! In our own thinking, it's safest to have control of our own lives but in reality and TRUTH it is so much better for us to hand that control over to him. It may mean giving up our own desires, but I can promise his are better anyways and it's a lot easier to let him handle all the details!
Answer to 1)
ReplyDeleteI know this sounds really cheesy, but I'd say the things that Transit has as it's culture is what people will experience when Jesus has ultimate authority in our lives (when He is greater than everything). The Transit culture is one of love, honor, safety, and freedom.
I think as Christ-followers these 4 things are something that define us. We are those who love, if we are God's (as written in 1 John). As a result of our love for one another we will begin to show honor and respect to people. And then from there once people feel like we honor them they will begin to feel safe around one another, which is what truly vulnerable relationships look like. And when we feel safe around one another then we will begin to feel the freedom which that provides to us. We will be able to discover who we are without any fear of being judged or we will be able to open up to others without the fear of being rejected.
All of that is very much on how we treat others. But even in respect to our relationship with God, I feel like those things are very crucial too. I need to feel like I am love by God that He is honoring me within my own choices. It is at that point when I will begin to feel safe with Him and free to develop even more trust with Him. But it isn't only there that I stop, I need to present love and honor to God. Then God will know that it is safe to trust me with His continual outpouring. And then He will be free to work in and through me.
All of this said, I think that when I reliquish control over to Jesus some huge things will begin to unfold in my life.
In response to Rachel's post:
ReplyDeleteThat's so true. It is very easy (at least for me) to feel safer in the bubble I create. Even though it may be clothed in sin and my own humanity, it can feel safe to me. It's weird that I can feel safe even in my own sin. But I think (others are more than welcome to disagree with me), it is because that is what my natural and evil desires think is best. That could be the reason why we continually return to our sins and why Paul says, "what I do not want to do I do and what I do I do not do."
But in that, I always have to remind myself that if I am found in Christ I am dead to sin. My sinful desires are behind me if I am found in Christ (as found in Romans 6). It's tricky because on the one side I am dead to sin and on the other I do what I do not want to do. It is tough to reconcile that ... but the truth of the matter is that we always have to crucify our flesh. I always want to "beat my body and make it my slave so that in the end I am not disqualified for the prize" (being with my Creator).