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The Scriptorium

Not of God

Here's why they didn't hear Jesus.

The Gospel of John: John 8.31-47

Read and meditate on John 8.45-47.

They couldn’t really find anything wrong with Jesus; they just didn’t want to believe His words. Worse than that, they wereunable to believe Him, because they were not of God.

45“I tell the truth; you do not realize
this, nor believe in Me.46Which one of you
convicts Me of wrongdoing? If I do
no wrong, and tell the truth, why do you not
believe in Me? 47Whoever is from God
will hear God’s words. The reason you do not
is that you listen, but are not of God.”


- John 8.45-47

Reflect
1. Jesus said it was because He told the truth that they did not believe in Him (v. 45). Do people not want to know the truth? Why not? Should that affect our determination to tell the truth? Explain. Complete the following brief prayer: Lord, the world needs to hear truth, and You have sent me to proclaim it. Today…

2.  Jesus flatly said of those who “believed in Him” that they “do not believe” Him. Explain. How can we avoid falling into this category of “believers”? I believe, Lord, and I want to believe and obey more consistently. Teach me to look to You always and to…

3.  It was important that Jesus know, and that these people know, that there was no sin in Him (v. 46). Why? It’s important for me, too, Lord, so help me today to…

4.  Verse 47 can be read both as cause and effect, and as evidence and conclusion. Explain. Let the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, and the works I do today, Lord, be…

5.  What hope is there for those who do not hear God’s Word and do not believe in Jesus? What is our role in that hope? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Let each one of you then consider within himself if this voice of God prevails in the ears of his heart. Then he will recognize whether he is now of God. There are some who do not choose to hear God’s commands even with their bodily ears. There are others who do this but do not embrace them with their heart’s desire. There are still others who receive God’s words readily, yes, and are touched, even to tears. But afterwards they go back to their sins again and therefore cannot be said to hear the word of God, because they neglect to practice it.” Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)

Reflect on Gregory’s comment. How can we keep from going back to our sinful ways, so that we abide in the Word of Christ and grow in the freedom we have in Him?

Closing Prayer
The LORD reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.
His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.
Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
Worship Him, all you gods.
Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 97.1-10

Psalm 97.1, 6, 9-12 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King!)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! O earth, lift up your voice;
Be glad, you islands, shout and sing: Rejoice! Rejoice!
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

The heav’ns above declare His glorious righteousness;
And tribes and peoples everywhere His Name confess.
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

All you who love the Lord, despise sin’s wicked ways!
Praise Him Who guides us by His Word through all our days.
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

T. M. Moore

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from
The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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