It was another day of antagonism; Jesus was again publicly
drawn into discussion by the Pharisees. Again
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life” (John 8:12). However, on
this occasion, there were those who professed to believe in Jesus. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you
abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). This was the test of
authenticity. If their belief was genuine, they would not only accept Jesus’ words
on the day, but they would abide (continue)
in His words.
This has been the litmus test through the ages for all who
say they believe in Jesus. Would they continue aligning themselves with Jesus’
teachings or would they go back to their old legalistic beliefs? Would they
choose ongoing contentment with Jesus’ truths or be drawn back to their old dissatisfying
yet familiar ways.
To abide in Jesus’
words is more than reading words on a page, its faith in the author, its
allegiance to the divine nature of Jesus as the One who is the light of life. Abiding is not academic,
its relational. Jesus explained this in John 15:10; If
you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my
Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Christians mirror a
connection with Jesus Christ that exists between Jesus and His heavenly Father.
This connection is fueled by love, and it produces an unworldly loyalty which
expresses obedience to the Lord Jesus.
There exists within the Christian a synergy between abiding
in Jesus’ words and abiding in Jesus’ love. They are inseparable and unable to
be extinguished, even though there will be times of failure and stumbling.
These periods of slippage in our walk with the Lord are disturbing to the
believer, but they are also temporary as we are magnetically drawn to Jesus by
abiding love for Him and His Word.
Abiding therefore, reveals itself by remaining faithful.
Abiding continues, always revolving around the person, the character, and the teachings
of the Lord Jesus Christ. With the person of Jesus Christ being central to our
abiding, we read His Word, we meditate on His Word, we pray over His Word, and we
talk with others about His Word.
You see, if we want to have a growing knowledge and love for
Jesus Christ that reflects the Love between Him and His heavenly father, we
must abide. This involves patience,
waiting, time, sacrifice, and surrender to Jesus Christ, which we see in Jesus’
relationship with His Father. Abiding is more about a relational attitude than
about just reading the Bible out of a sense of obligation.
Christians today are exhorted to the same abiding as the
believers of John chapters 8 and 15. Jesus’ claim on our lives is no different
than it was for those pharisees. Abiding in Jesus’ Word is relationship, its
fellowship, its worship, and it’s accepting His instruction. Abiding brings our
thanks, pains, questions, hopes and dreams, all mingled with our love for Jesus
as Lord and Saviour.
Those who abide with Jesus stick with Him through thick and
thin, always gravitating around Jesus as central to life. Here, in abiding,
there is rest for our weary souls. In Jesus there is hope and security of eternal life and everlasting peace with
God. May this be true in each of our lives today.
