Covenant Naples

We all build our lives on some center other than Christ, whether religious or ethnic heritage, moral record or political tribe. When the real Jesus threatens it, we edit him or demonize him rather than lose it.

In a sobering passage, Jesus reveals to the crowd that they are following their father, the devil. Will we explore John 8, asking ourselves tough diagnostic questions to examine our spiritual family lineage: Is our Father in Heaven? Or is he the father of lies?

Jesus says hard words. They aren’t hard because they’re unclear, but because they cost us something we are reluctant to give up. The question the disciples then and today must wrestle with is this: where else are we going to go?

People often see Jesus as a means to an end of what we really want: full bellies, nice homes, good family, inner peace, stable life. But Jesus is not a means to an end; he is everything.

The satisfaction we long for is only found in him.

In the episode of the feeding of the 5,000, as in many of the Gospel miracles, Jesus puts people’s faith to the test. Reflecting on this story, we should ask ourselves the question: have I placed my faith in Jesus and has that faith been tested?

Jesus is not officially in a courtroom, but he is very much on trial. The religious leaders have accused him of blasphemy for claiming equality with God. As in a courtroom, Jesus is going to call witnesses that verify the authenticity and truthfulness of his claims. In short, it’s all about Jesus. By the end of his speech, it is no longer Jesus on trial, but his accusers…and those of us still on the fence about who he really is.