Letting go of the compromise
“So they picked up stones to throw at him.” (John 8: 59)
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. (John 8, 51-59)
Jesus proclaims his divine nature slowly but clearly. Many of those who listen to him understand. And some of them believe and follow Him. Others, however, precisely because they have understood his claim, want to stone Jesus for blasphemy. In order to follow Jesus we must let go of the compromise that makes us acceptable to others, but unacceptable to God. Which do we fear most: the world’s judgement or God’s?
