April 10, 2025
Worldview - Part 4
John 8:51-52
04/10/2025
51 ``Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my
word, he will never see death.''
52 The Jews said to him, ``Now we know that you have
a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet
you say, `If anyone keeps my word, he will never
taste death.''' (ESV)
Our worldview, our preconceived notions, our understanding
of the universe often gets in the way of recognizing the truth.
The first stage of grief is denial, which says we do not believe
the truth that we have lost someone or something precious. Such
loss turns our lives upside down because the loss does not fit
with that which we think we know.
Jesus was speaking the truth of God's Word to the rulers of
the Temple. Remember, Jesus said nothing which was not already
taught in the pages of Moses and the prophets and the writings,
that which we now call the Old Testament.
``Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word,
he will never see death.'' The Jews said to him, ``Now
we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the
prophets, yet you say, `If anyone keeps my word, he
will never taste death.'''
Is this true? Behind the east side of the church, the
funeral home is doing a brisk business. How can Jesus say, ``he
will never see death''? Is it a coincidence that the Bible does
not typically use the word ``death'' for those who faith faith in
God? ``Fallen asleep,'' ``gathered to his ancestors,''
certainly. But Jesus, again speaking with the rulers of the
Temple, recalled God's words recorded by Moses, ``I am the God of
Abraham, Issac, and Jacob,'' yet God is the God of the living.[1]
May our Lord grant us faith to hear the truth of His love
and to trust in His mercy. Amen.
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1. Matthew 22:32