John 8:21-30
Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."

This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"

But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.  I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins."

"Who are you?" they asked.

"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied.  "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."

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.  So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.  The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."  

Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

Observations for living today:
God does not give up on us; we refuse to believe Him.  Jesus did not then, nor does He now, condemn us for our sin; we reject His observation and hang on to those failures until they destroy us.  We could believe Him, let go of whatever is dragging us toward destruction, but we choose not to, therefore, where He goes we cannot.
 
Jesus warns those who should know better, who should have no need to be warned, but because of human nature, fall incredibly short of where they could have been.  I cannot count how many times my parents were told by teachers I was not working up to my full potential.  I heard it, did not understand it, tried my best at the time, but alas, not only were my parents convince I was incapable scholastically, but so was I.  Then I met my wife in high school; one who never wavered, always knew and never stopped telling me how smart I was/am.  Now married 51 years, a graduate from college with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and a Master’s degree in Military Arts and Science from the US Army’s Command and General Staff College, and retired from two careers, USN Commissioned Officer and as a Defense Contractor, I understand my teachers were correct.  There is a timeless quote, written by a professor from the College of Hard Knocks, “If I only knew then what I know now, things would be different.”  Those who listened then and did not let their ego and pride take over were able to hear the truth and put their faith in Him.  Some did then and there, but according to Acts 2, about 50 days later a lot more (3,000) did.
 
Understanding God is simple and complex at the same time.  Simple enough to do, while complex to the point it is very difficult to understand, because we insist on wanting to know more than we are ready to comprehend—the little child syndrome. 
 
God listens to us and more often than we realize, gives us exactly what we ask for.  The proud man is his own worst enemy.  Smart and proud, never wrong, and always leading everyone around them, will not keep a person from wandering down the wrong road of life.  How many men have gotten themselves hopelessly lost because they refused to ask for directions, thinking they knew where they were going and how to get there, only to never arrive and lose everything?  How simple it is to stop believing a lie and instead change your mind and accept the truth; and yet how complex is the act of changing a mindset—understanding God is indeed simple and complex at the same time.
 
Reality in Christ:
Salvation is believing what Jesus said and making it part of daily life.  If Jesus said not to do something and I say I believe him and I keep doing it, then I really did not believe what He said.  John wrote, "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.  Whoever says "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in the person.  But if anyone obeys his word, love God is truly made complete in them.  This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (1 Jn 2:3-6)

Jesus only did and said what the Father told Him to say and do!  Believe what Jesus said, He’s only repeating what He heard God say and what God taught Him!  Jesus always reflected God (Heb 1:3) and we are called/instructed to do the same thing—consider what Paul wrote to the Corinthians; the Spirit of God enables us to contemplate the glory of what God has done in Christ.  Those who take this seriously can see and understand the glory of God and are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, from one degree of glory to ever-increasing glory.  When you believe what Jesus told us in earnest, you can change your mind, understand the difference between what is temporarily visible in this life and what is unseen and eternal in the life to come (2 Cor 3-4).
 
This reality is portrayed by Jesus in his parable of the wedding.  When the King invited his chosen people to the wedding of his son and they refused, he invited everyone to come.  As was the custom, the King provided appropriate wedding attire to all quests.  When He mingled with his quests and found one without appropriate attire and confronted him the guest was speechless, because there was no excuse for refusing to put the clothes on.  John clearly indicates the white robes of those attending the Wedding of the Lamb in Heaven is a gift given by God for believing His truth and living a life according to that belief (Matt 22:1-14 & Rev 7, 19:8).
 
What Jesus said is always true, for them and for us; He does not condemn us, we condemn our self when we do not believe; our own words and the words He spoke that we reject will condemn us: 
 
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt 12:35-37)  
 
“Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.  The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.  If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person.  For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.  For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.  I know that his command leads to eternal life.  So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (Jn 12:44-50)
ere to edit.

John 8:12-20
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."

Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."

Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"

"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

Observations for living today:
Jesus was then and is now the light of the “whole world”, not just the Jewish nation. This probably added insult to injury to the elitist leadership, who thought they were the only ones, the chosen nation, to have God’s light within them.  This moment shows what will always happen when the divine purpose is hijacked by human interests, it goes off track and has the opposite effect for those who are trying to implement it.  God’s purpose to show Himself to the world through the Jewish nation, to be a beacon of hope/life was in fact happening, in spite of the actions of those who had become focused on national pride and survival (Ez 34).  They missed their opportunity to help fulfill God’s purpose, by failing to know God’s character they could not see the big picture of God’s plan.  Their failure did not stop God’s plan from being successful, it only stop their participation in God's plan.  God has not abandoned His chosen people nor the nation of Israel; Paul understood this and as difficult as it is to understand some of what he wrote, it is clear the blindness covering their understanding of Jesus will be removed eventually—they are and always will be loved by God.
 
The light of life—never in darkness!  But for all who believe and follow Jesus, regardless of national heritage, the opportunity to participate in fulfilling God's purpose is an absolute reality (cf. John 1:1-5, 9-18; 12:44-50).  When you accept/believe Jesus, God’s light shines on you and you have access to His life; do not believe and you are walking in darkness, dead to what God can do for you.  The darkness you live in blinds you to the opportunity surrounding you, but you cannot eliminate or overcome the truth.  You do not stop God’s purpose from happening, you only fail to be a part of it.  
 
The leadership of the day attacked Jesus with a legal argument requiring a witness to prove what He said was true.  Their argument:  Who else believes you or stands-up for what you say?  His answer: My Father, God!  To which their immediate reply, most likely thinking of His father Joseph, “where is your Father?” Clear example of the difference between divine vs human logic.
 
Not the first time they have had this argument; many have already acknowledged “this man is from God” for no one has ever done what He can do!  His answer, therefore, did not address their question, but was a precise commentary on their error in judgement: they did not know God; thus, they could not know Him nor understand anything He taught them.
 
There is only one way to know God:  He has to reveal the truth of Himself.  No person has seen the invisible God, save Adam, Enoch, and Moses.  Adam was created and spent a significant time with God before being exiled.  Enoch pleased God and was afforded the privilege of avoiding death and walking with God.  And finally, Moses saw God pass by, observing His glory, before sitting face to face with Him in the tent of meeting.  No other human, but the Christ, have experienced any significant firsthand knowledge of God.  These antagonists denied their scriptural heritage and rejected the testimony of all the prophets who foretold, according to the Spirit of God speaking through them, the message of the messiah’s coming.  Had they any part of the faith they claimed to profess, they would have just as Abraham and Moses, believed the one sent by God sanding before them in the temple that day. 
 
John’s recurring theme: eternal life comes through believing Jesus’ message.  Believe Jesus and you will know and understand God; if you know one you will know the other, because they reference each other, they are the same — John 17!
 
Reality in Christ: 
When you believe Jesus, know what He taught and follow His teachings you will walk in God’s light, and more importantly, not only know God, but be known and love by God—being one with God, always in His light-forever.
 
Life lived trusting God—absolutely no disadvantages—all things considered; don’t stop short of recognizing how things will playout.  A line in the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) captures this idea clearly, "In India we have a saying, 'Everything will be alright in the end'... so if its not alright, it is not yet the end". 

Consider some well-known examples of those who live with the end in mind:
Farmer – cultivating crop/patience waiting – crop harvested –  life contained in fruit of harvest
Athlete – training/effort expended running  – victory won – honor in crown of victory
Mother – 9 months carrying/pain felt birthing – baby born – joy of new life/hope

As a Christian knowing my reality in Christ is an absolute truth, I know God loves me just as He loves His only begotten Son, and nothing can happen to me outside of this truth.  So, everything that happens will be beneficial to God's purpose, and that in the end is more than good; I cannot be separated from God and His love (Ro 8:38).

Prayer: Father, life can be hard and scary, but in everything we know you love us and care for us.  We also know the enemy of God is trying to destroy our love for you.  Give us strength to continue the fight to hang on to the message your Son gave us, to never let it fade from our conscious, but give us more of your Holy Spirit to guide us daily and never fail to love you back.  When we are tired, fill us with hope, when we hurt, touch us with healing and restore our strength to get though the days trial.  Guide us to your truth and open our eyes so we can understand our next step and how to show how much we trust you.  We know you are in absolute control and will always look out for us, help us when we doubt and are distracted, to turn back and show we do love you. 

Have you ever had a hard time believing God? The silence of God can be deafening!  Some of God's truth just seems impossible; I imagine Abraham and Sarah understood my frustration.  Wanting something to be true does not make it true and if seems too good to be true, chances are it is not.  Add to that confusion the total lack of empirical data of even a hint it is true.  This silence of God confounds people, even good people, opening the door for all kinds of evil to creep into their faith in God.  Adam and Eve; Abraham and Sarah; and even Jesus faced the silence of God.  The conversation between Eve and Satan did not go unnoticed by God, nothing does.  Abraham and Sarah must have prayed constantly about the promise of God to given them a son.  God did not interrupt Eve's conversation or stop her from doing what she wanted.  Abraham and Sarah's plan to obtain a son was not stopped by God.  Both of these attempts to make life better through the wisdom of man failed; sin entered the world by the former and the Nation of Israel birthed a Nation who will live in hostility toward all his brothers (Gen 16).  Contrast Jesus in the garden praying to His Father asking for a better way to accomplish His work and avoid carrying all the sins of the world; becoming sinful and separated from God for the sake of all who believe God can do everything (Mt 25:36-46; Lk 22:40-46).  Jesus did not replace or modify God's plan, He followed it and it worked just as the Father knew it would.

Mark 9:14-29 tells us God can help, will help and nothing is impossible for one who believes and does not falter in prayer (Mt 17:20; Lk 17:6; 1Cor 13:2; Jas 1:6).  Just like the caterpillar in chrysalis, we are experiencing God's plan for our transformation into the likeness of His only begotten Son.  The silence of God gives us the opportunity to prove we believe God is true to His word and will fulfill every promise given (1 Peter 1).

Wait on God, pray and know God is true to His word--it will happen just as He determined it would, when His time is right.

John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.  Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John testifies concerning Him.  He cries out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”  From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

Observations for living today:
From before God created the world, Jesus was chosen to come into the world to light the way to the Father.  He came so whoever believes God can see and know the truth—He is the true light who gives light to everyman!

Approximately 700 years before the ministry of Jesus Christ, Isaiah wrote, “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.” Isaiah told of God’s plan of salvation, open to all who will love Him and believe Him—they would be able, that is, be given the power and right to dwell in God’s House of Prayer (Isa 56:1-8).

2700 years later the One and Only at the Father’s side in heaven continues to make this truth known to those who believe God and have faith in His Messiah/Christ.  He is the only one who has ever been able to see and know God—He alone is able to make God known.

God is making possible the birth of spiritual beings.  Those who believe Him, God makes it possible to be “Born of God.”

Reality in Christ:
Apostle Peter wrote 2 Pe 1:1-4--To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Apostle John wrote 1 John 3:1-3--How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when He appears (when it is made known), we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Apostle Paul wrote 2 Cor 6:16--For we are the temple of the living God.  And God said [to His prophets Moses (Lev 26:12), Jeremiah (Jer 32:38) and Ezekiel (Ez 37:27)]: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 

Apostle John saw this promised eternal reality Rev 21:1-7--Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  He said to me:  “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

What an awesome reality – born of God’s will, by God, for God, in God, His child loved forever!

Ephesians 1:3-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will .

Observations for living today:
It is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source of all blessings we receive as Christians. Everything Jesus did when He was “made in human likeness” pointed us to the Father; Jesus could do nothing on His own and had nothing that did not first come from God His Father (Jn 5:19) – He knew everything in His life was “God working in Him to act according to His good purpose” (Php 2:5-12).  

For those with “Faith” in God, i.e., who believe like those cited in Heb 11, with certainty God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Heb 11:1-6), Paul’s words are a source of superior strength for living today. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, THEY HID FROM THE LORD GOD AMONG THE TREES when they heard the sound of God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. But God called to them, “where are you?” (Gen 3:8)  Once mankind came to know good and evil; once their eyes were opened mankind tries to hide from God. Nevertheless, since before time began, God loved man and even now He calls to those trying to hide from Him.

Reality in Christ:
Being a Christian is awesome. Just as God worked out His purpose in the life of His Son Jesus, He continues to work through His adopted sons and daughters, albeit to different specific goals and objectives: God only needed one sacrifice for sin, one Christ. In God’s plan however, as a Christian, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation declaring the praises of Him as the people of God living in His wonderful light (1 Pe 2:9-12).  Before creating everything we see and know around us, God in His love gave us every spiritual blessing that would ever exist.  In love He determined in Christ to adopt us completely as His children (Jn 1:9-14), holy and blameless in His sight. God did not want to be worshipped with “sacrifice and offerings” nor was He pleased/satisfied with them; He wanted a body that would do His will. His only begotten responded, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” And so, God in the body of Christ, made perfect forever those who are being made holy. There is a new covenant with God today, established before the creation of the world, which is drawing us out of our hiding places toward the Father through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God Himself is putting His laws in our hearts and is writing them on our minds (Heb 10:5-18). 

Can you hear God calling to those hiding in sin when in John 6:35-47 Jesus said:
     - It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'  Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me.
     - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
     - No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.  I tell you the truth; he who believes has everlasting life.

God wants to teach you Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. What Jesus has given us is the testimony of the invisible God. In the past God spoke to us through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His being (Heb 1:1-4). 

If any doubt remains that God loves you, listen to part of Jesus’ prayer before He went to the cross: 
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (Jn 17:20-23).