March 25, 2026
Judge Me, O God - Part 3
John 8:48-50
03/25/2026
48 The Jews answered him, ``Are we not right in
saying that you are a Samaritan and have a
demon?''
49 Jesus answered, ``I do not have a demon, but I
honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who
seeks it, and he is the judge.'' (ESV)
Last Sunday we prayed:
Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look
upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved
evermore in body and soul.
As we pray, we are confessing certain beliefs. First, we
confess that the goal of the Christian Church is not morality and
good works, but the forgiveness of our sins which leads to life
everlasting. Good works are an outgrowth of our faith in Christ
Jesus as our Redeemer. Because we are judged and declared
righteous in His sight, we forgive those who sin against us.
Second, we confess that we, of our own reason or strength,
cannot life a God pleasing life. Only as we are forgiven, only
as the Holy Spirit draws our focus from our own selfish desires
to put our eyes on God's mercy, do we begin to desire to love our
neighbors as ourselves.
Those people who do not want to hear the truth often begin
by attacking the messenger. They attack the credibility of the
person, not the credibility of the message. It was true in
Jesus' day, it is true today.
The Jews answered him, ``Are we not right in saying
that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?'' Jesus
answered, ``I do not have a demon, but I honor my
Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own
glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the
judge.''
May our Lord grant us faith to see Jesus as the One sent by
God to bring us life everlasting by paying the price of our sin.
Amen.