Because I Tell You the Truth, You Don't Believe - John 8:45

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told the Jewish people and religious leaders who questioned Him, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”, and in chapter eight and verse forty-five of his book John shared how Jesus told the religious leaders, “because I tell you the truth, you believe me not” where we read:

And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

The verse reads, “And because I tell you the truth, ...” John began with the words, “and because” which means “and since or on account that” “I tell you the truth” or “I, Jesus, speak to, affirm, point out with words and make mention to you, Jewish people and religious leaders that which is true in any matter of consideration” the following occurred. John shared how Jesus referred to the “truthful” way He “spoke” to the Jewish people and religious leaders.

The verse goes on to say, “you believe me not.” John continued with the words, “you believe” which means “you, Jewish people and religious leaders trust in, rely upon and cling to” “me not” or “me, Jesus, no and not in any way”. John shared Jesus told the “Jewish people and religious leaders” they did not “trust in and rely upon” Him because He spoke the “truth” to them

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn why the “Jewish people and religious leaders” who questioned Jesus did not “rely upon and trust in” Him. Jesus told them “the truth”, and sometimes when the “truth” is declared, people do not believe the messenger. Jesus told people to “repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”, and those who did not believe they had any sin and wrong in them, refused and rejected Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. God loves everyone, and His desire is to expose their sin and need for Jesus to come into their lives to cleanse them. Those who yield to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and be granted everlasting life with God. All others align with those who did not “believe” in Jesus even though they have “heard” the “truth” of God.

Next time John shares how Jesus asks the religious leaders, “which of you convinces me of sin?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".