Reflecting on John 8:21-30“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23)
There is something very different about Jesus, something ‘otherworldly’.
He does not think, speak or act in a normal human way, for any age.
He seems driven by a different kind of spirit than we are… the Spirit of God!
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-contol.
He is living life on earth, as it is in heaven.
I don’t see Jesus here as claiming to be divine.
But I do hear Him saying that His way of life is ‘like God’.
In contrast to humans, who have lost their God-likeness.
In Jesus we see the Adam and Eve life as it was meant to be lived.
He was living the ‘very good’ life, and that makes Him heavenly.
Does the Jesus Way of living appeal to you, are you drawn to it?
If we trust Jesus and the Jesus Way, we can be led by God’s Spirit too.
We do not have to give in to worldly, from below kind of living.
Jesus invites us to be in this world, but not of this world – like Him.
Let the fruit of God’s Spirit make you more God-like, more like Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I do not want to remain in my sin. I want to remain in You, and for Your Spirit to remain in me. Help me by God's Spirit to live from above, to pursue the 'very good' life we were made to live!
I am reminded of the following song:
1 Living for Jesus a life that is true,
striving to please Him in all that I do,
yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
this is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee;
for Thou, in Thine attonement,
didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other master;
my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.
2 Living for Jesus, who died in my place,
bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace-
such love constrains me to answer His call,
follow His leading, and give Him my all. [Refrain]
3 Living for Jesus wherever I am,
doing each duty in His holy name,
willing to suffer affliction or loss,
deeming each trial a part of my cross! [Refrain]
4 Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
my dearest treasure, the light of His smile,
seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
bringing the weary to find rest in Him! [Refrain]