Saturday 11 Aug 2018

August 11: John 18:1-9

Key Verse: John 18:4
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

Devotion:
How many times have you been asked by someone (like your parents) “What are you doing?” when they know exactly what you are doing? The reason why they ask the question is not to find out what you are doing, because they already have some idea, but to get you to admit to what you are doing! When people are searching for the truth, the best way of engaging them in conversation is most likely going to be to ask them what they are looking for; find out what they are searching for or at least why they are searching.

All throughout the New Testament we have times where Jesus would approach someone and ask them a simple question to get them to admit they wanted to know God. By doing this He was getting them to admit to wanting to know Him before He introduced Himself properly. This was not a ploy to check and see if they believed before going any further but a simple task of getting each person to admit to wanting or needing a Saviour. Christ did not come to the world to take over people’s minds, lives or ways; He came to save people by giving them a Saviour when they knew they needed one. There was no coercing or trickery involved because Christ can know no sin.

The fact was that Christ did know what was in those people’s minds just as He knows what is in our minds. He wants us to openly admit He is our Saviour – we don’t have to do it to the whole world, just to Him. When we openly admit our need for a Saviour, He will step forward and show us exactly who our Saviour is and give us our forgiveness from our sins that we seek. From that moment on we are His and He will never leave us nor forsake us. It is not that He has taken us, but we who willingly gave our lives back into His eternal care. He is our God. He is our Saviour. We have to make that choice as to whether to allow Him to guide us through eternity or to try and “go it alone.”

Points to Ponder:
How often are you asked to explain yourself?

How many times do you ignore God’s questions?