Verse Before the Gospel
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Gospel
Jesus said to the Jews:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death.”
So the Jews said to him,
“Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad.”
So the Jews said to him,
“You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Once again Jesus challenged the Pharisees and once again they refused to see who Jesus really was and is.
They had hearts that were hardened to the Good News. In fact, for them it was bad news because he challenged them and in truth told them they do not know God at all.
But Jesus wasn’t challenging them because he hoped they would come to know him. He knew they would not. He knew how this would end. But he spoke the truth so others would hear and understand and so that you and I would one day understand his message.
He starts off today saying those who keep his word will not see death. They saw only death in this life and did not understand or care that he was speaking of an eternal life. But you and I know Jesus and we know he brings eternal life if we keep his Word.
He tells them it is the Father who he is glorified by, not himself. He was sent by the Father.
He explains his nature and relationship to the Father which they also cannot fathom in their hardness of heart.
And this more than anything today reflects what the whole conversation was about.
Their hearts were not open to hear the truth.
They had crafted their life and ministry around themselves to gain power and position. So, when Jesus challenged this lifestyle, they were not ready to surrender all to him, especially their mindset.
Where are we today?
Have I created boundaries in my life Jesus cannot go? Cannot own?
Do I say yes Lord on Sunday but when life gives me challenges I can overcome through telling the little lie or doing something we know is against the word of Jesus… do we fail to say yes in our actions and lifestyle. If so, we are as hard hearted as the Pharisees.
Each day we are given choices to say yes to Jesus. Each choice is an opportunity to “keep his Word.”
We know what that sounds like and what that looks like. Why would we do anything but say yes to Jesus?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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