People show you who they are by what they do. Jesus did. (John 7-10)

7:2-5

Jesus has an interesting family dynamic. "Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him." Obviously, his brothers don't believe him.

They are basically telling him to leave and go to Jerusalem. They are suggesting that, if he is doing these miracles, he should show them to more people. If they don't believe, why would they want him to be more public? I think they were looking for a reason why he should leave.

Perhaps they were jealous of the attention he was getting. Or, they simply didn't believe that their brother could be the Messiah. At any rate, they question him with that word "if." "If thou do these things..." They may have been influenced by the adversary here. Satan loves planting this doubt in people. He loves others being vocal about their questions. The big question is always, "IF you are the Son of God." This question continues to this day.

7:7

"The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." If we are a part of the world and blend in, why would the world hate us? Like appreciates like.

Christ was censuring the world. He was criticizing those in power. He was ignoring their invented rules of what was right and wrong. He didn't care what the popular opinion was.

We should evaluate how we fit in with the world. If we are planning on going with the flow, we are headed towards damnation. The "flow" is heading in the wrong direction. If we adopt popular, completely wicked opinions and behavior, it's not good. We will progressively stand apart from the world.

I predict that our standards on marriage and gender is going to be progressively bigger point of conflict for the Church. Members are going to be seen as bigots and unloving. Persecution is going to increase.

Understanding that this is coming will help us reinforce our will. We need to decide now how we are going to handle becoming more and more "peculiar" compared to the world. Currently, the Church has a positive reputation with most of the world. It won't always be that way. In fact, it has been prophesied that all nations will turn against Israel. That's us. Get prepared to be hated the same way that Christ was hated.

7:12

"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people." It makes sense that the public was divided on Jesus. There were many who could not argue with the good that he was doing. They had witnessed miracles and saw his good works.

Others were committed to the law of Moses and thought that he was attempting to pull people away from that. They thought that a regular man was claiming to be the Messiah and he wasn't what they expected. Surely he was attempting to deceive.

Both groups were reasonable people. I think the lesson here is to allow reality to overcome our biases - which is hard to do.

7:13

"Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews." The Jews that the people were afraid of were the ruling Jews - those with power and authority and influence. These were the Jews who could expel you from the congregation and ruin your reputation. So, because of fear, people were hesitatant to speak openly about Jesus.

Does this happen now? Do we hesitate to speak openly about Jesus for fear of how we will be viewed by others? Are we worried that we may be seen as a fanatic or a "Jesus freak?" We need to get over that! Are we afraid that we might offend or make our friends uncomfortable if we bring up the Savior?

He is the reason we have this world. He created everything. He taught our gospel. He is the reason that we can have hope. He gave his life - literally. He didn't just die for us but lived for us - both in his mortal and premortal lives. He is the power by which we do anything.

He should come up in conversation much more than he does! Let's not keep our love for him quiet out of fear.

7:14-16

"Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." Those who knew a lot about scripture attended school for it. They studied under a rabbi. Getting a religious education was a very formal process. The fact that Jesus perfectly understood the scriptures astounded those who heard because Jesus hadn't attended any of their schools.

An imposter would jump at the chance to prove how wise and smart he was. Jesus didn't do that. He declared that his doctrine didn't originate with him. He was taught by God.

He further clarified in verse 18. "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." I have given talks or lessons where I've gotten some compliments. I really enjoy getting those compliments. I need to be better at giving credit to the Holy Ghost which is how I had any novel thought to begin with...

At every opportunity, Jesus gives credit to his Father. From the very beginning, he wanted God to have the glory. Jesus was the creator of the world and our Savior and the only way the plan of salvation works and he wants God to have the glory. I love that about him.

7:17

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Isn't this true!? Sometimes, we wait until we have enough faith to act. We're waiting for some infusion of strength and motivation before we begin. But, sometimes, we've just got to get moving. We've got to take a step.

For example, we can't wait until we have a testimony of the Book of Mormon before we read it. We must read to gain that testimony.

We can't know that something works until we try it. We cannot understand the blessings of the Word of Wisdom until we're living it. We cannot know of the strength we receive from scripture study until we study. Yes, faith is required but action must happen too. This can't be a simple intellectual experiment.

When someone leaves the Church, I always want to ask them how their scripture study was going. How often did they attend church meetings? Were they attending the temple regularly? Very few people who leave the Church are actually doing those things that would confirm its truthfulness.

7:24

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." In the JST, "the appearance" is changed to "your traditions." There may be a little of this with our members. If someone walks in to a sacrament meeting wearing a polo shirt, what would people think? What would they assume about that person? It is not in the church handbook that all male members wear a white shirt and tie. It is a tradition. We do not want to judge people based on the various church traditions in our church.

In this case, with Jesus, he was referencing how they thought it was okay to do a circumcision of the 8th day fell on a Sunday. It APPEARED to be work but it was right. Jesus healing a man APPEARED to be good work, but it was definitely right.

7:28

"Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me." They thought they knew him and where he came from. They trusted the knowledge that they had of him - even though it was superficial.

Jesus didn't explain the story of his miraculous birth and how Joseph wasn't really his dad but raised him as his own. He didn't need to explain that story. Rather, he focused on how his Heavenly Father had sent him and he is true. He's saying that they don't truly know God rather than a very superficial understanding. Jesus knew his Father intimately because he came from him and Jesus was sent by him.

We should evaluate our understanding and closeness with God and Jesus Christ. Is our understanding based on the rules of the Church? Is it based on our social interactions in our wards? Is it based on the current calling we have? Or is it that we are sincerely studying and following Christ's direction and truly receiving the covenants we make? We are all in a process of transforming our knowledge of him to truly knowing him.

7:31, 33-34

"Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come." I believe Jesus is speaking of the Jewish nation. They have been looking and waiting for a Savior since they were first oppressed. The Messiah that they had been looking for never existed. Their military leader who would liberate them from the Babylonians or the Syrians or Rome wasn't going to show up.

I'm sure he was also saying that he was about to die. In verse 33, it reads, "Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me." Jesus knew he had less than six months to be with them. Then he would return to his Father and they would not be able to follow.

If they would have disregarded their current understanding of who the Savior was and simply observed reality in front of them, I think they would have accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah. In verse 31 it describes that "many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?" They were, without prejudice, simply observing what Christ was doing. It was pretty clear that he was fulfilling all of the prophecies from past prophets. Unfortunately, the leaders were blinded by their pride and fear of losing the power and prestige that they were enjoying.

As we learn more about the Savior, it may be that we need to shed some of our previous beliefs. For example, I was teaching a class of young men and women and we were talking about the judgment. I asked them to describe what I thought it would look like. One suggested that it would look like a courtroom and Jesus would be our attorney.

I hope that this young man let's his understanding of what it means that Christ is our advocate. I think that, as his understanding of Christ and his gospel increases, he will shed that idea of a courtroom.

7:40-52

This is a description of the debates that common Jews, officers and Pharisees were having over Jesus. "Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him." Those who were really listening to him felt the power of what he was saying and agreed that he was "the Prophet."

Others doubted because of where Christ came from. They understood that he came from Galilee and it had been prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They didn't realize that he WAS born in Bethlehem.

To imagine a debate around facts that weren't really facts reminds me of our social discourse today. There are heated debates between two sides that don't have all of the information. If both sides would consider that there is a chance that they might be wrong and they ought to listen more than debate, how much different would our social conflicts be? Whenever we disagree with someone, our first thought should be "How could I be wrong on this?"

"And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man." The officers sent from the church rulers came back empty handed. They had been affected by the Spirit as Christ spoke. They had felt something. They could feel Christ's authority in his presence. There was no way they could arrest someone who was clearly a good and inspired man.

"Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed." Their proof that Jesus was a bad person was that none of the "rulers" believed him. We see this so much today. There is a certain ruling class in this country that feel like they are the chosen ones blessed with power from on high to rule over us. They believe that the common person doesn't have the wisdom and perspective that the chosen ones have. They believe that they are the only ones who aren't cursed.

Their logic was circular. They didn't believe Christ because they had pride. Their non-belief was further proof that he couldn't be the Messiah. That's what you call an "echo-chamber."

"Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house." Nicodemus correctly points out that they shouldn't judge someone before they know the facts. With a group of reasonable people, this would have been a major point. A group of reasonable people would have admitted that they were wrong to judge him without even listening to him and learning the facts.

Instead of accepting reason, they resorted to ad hominem attacks: "Art thou also of Galilee?" Their response was to suggest that Nicodemus was born on the wrong side of the tracks. I'm sure they hoped that Nicodemus would see that as the threat that it was - that they would also group them in among the outcasts with Jesus.

8:4-7

"They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." They knew he wouldn't support her execution. They were attempting to get him to violate the law of Moses. The Pharisees and scribes knew that Jesus would be merciful. They counted on it. I love that the premise of their trap was that they knew of his mercy.

I love that Jesus doesn't respond to their false choice. They thought it would be an either/or situation. It wasn't. Jesus turned it into a lesson. We shouldn't be casting stones at others for their sins. It's not our job. We aren't in a position to judge. There is only one who is perfect and that is Jesus Christ.

I also love that Jesus was writing on the ground. He wasn't matching their energy. He wasn't giving a knee-jerk response. He took the time to gather his thoughts. He was calm and meditative. It's cool.

8:9-11

"And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." It is good that they had consciences. I think it also may have been that they realized that they were not going to achieve their objective of trapping him and lost interest. They cared little about the actual guilt or punishment of the woman. They wanted to set a trap and it didn't work and they left.

Jesus didn't forgive her as he had others. He simply said, "go, and sin no more." He is encouraging her. We should remember that Jesus doesn't condemn us ever in this life. No mistake we make will make Jesus condemn us. There is always repentance. We can always make better choices.

Some of us feel condemned. We feel trapped by our habits and bad choices. We may feel that we can never change. That simply isn't true. We must feel the hope that Jesus Christ offers. We will be given millions of chances if, in that millionth chance, we sin no more!

8:12

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Jesus is the light of this universe. All things were created by him. All power is from him. The ability we have to think and to move comes from the Light of Christ. I don't know how that works scientifically but I know it's true.

He can empower my muscles and brain. He can literally strengthen me. He can help me understand complex principles.

Following Jesus is about faith - but it's not about walking in darkness. Reality becomes clear when we are following Jesus. Mystery becomes clear. Questions get answered. Principles become understood. Everything around us is better illuminated - including making good life decisions to seeing right and wrong to avoiding common pitfalls in our way to seeing around corners. All this comes from following Jesus Christ.

8:19

"Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." Jesus is indistinguishable from his Father. I imagine that they have two different personalities. They are separate beings with completely different pasts. But, Jesus has let his own will be swallowed up in the will of his Father.

It is a goal for us to be that same mirror image of Christ. We are to receive his image in our countenances. We want people to believe that they are closer to Jesus when they are close to us. We want to be true disciples and good examples of Jesus. Wouldn't it be great if someone said that they know Jesus better because they know you.

8:23

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." This is literally true because of Christ's Father. However, if we are true disciples of Christ, we can say the same thing. Our behavior isn't controlled by the pressures of this world. We aren't working for the public accolades or worldly power we might receive. We aren't focused on what the world offers.

Christ was not of this world. Worldly power and riches and fame was not even on his radar. He simply cared about the will of his Father and his love for each of us. His work was about our immortality and eternal life - not anything from the world.

If we fully realize that we are spiritual beings having a very temporary mortal experience, we can also see that we are not really a part of this place. This worldly venue is simply a location where we are proven and tried and tested. It is where we suffer and, as a result, we gain empathy. I don't think we had a lot of empathy for suffering in the premortal world. We had to come to this beautiful planet for that.

Keeping our lives in this world in perspective is key in staying on the path that leads to eternal life.

8:29-32

"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." None of us have to endure this mortal trial alone. We could each say that "he that sent me is with me." We can always communicate to him and receive direction and inspiration. That can happen every. single. day. We should try really hard to see life that way. When you are alone in your room, you're not truly alone.

"Continue in my word" is an interesting phrase. First, to continue in his word requires learning his word. We must study what Christ has said to the Jews and the Nephites and to the Church in the latter days. We cannot continue in his word unless we know his word.

Continue means more than studying. It's about acting on the words we study. We have to receive those words and apply them and struggle to follow Christ's word every day.

If we know the truth and see reality clearly, we can make correct decisions. Being able to make correct decisions that bless us and those around us is a good definition of being free. If you can't see reality and are making bad choices hampered by our limited perspective and biases, we aren't really free. Sure, we're making decisions but not based in reality. So, our perceived good decisions could actually be bad ones. That doesn't sound like freedom!

Along with this is verse 34. "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Anyone who has slipped into a drug addiction understands how we can be a servant to sin. Anyone who has fallen into a pit of pornography understands that we can be compelled to consume. Our sins can become habitual and it can control us - even when we are completely unaware of the grip our bad habits have on us.

The world is attempting to switch this around. People are suggesting that the ability to sin freely is complete freedom. The truth is the opposite. To discipline ourselves to avoid sin puts us in a position to make wise decisions that will impact our progression. The commandments were created to help us remain free from sin. They aren't limiting - they are empowering!

8:43

"Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear (bear) my word." They literally couldn't understand what Jesus was saying because they couldn't bear what he taught. Many of us are in exactly the same boat.

If we are being corrected and we don't like the correction, our minds will work in overdrive to poke holes in the correction. Or, we may just completely misunderstand what is being said - because we don't want to understand.

I've taught truth to someone who I can tell that their minds are switched off. They don't like the direction that I'm going and so they check out. It's like they aren't even there. They may be waiting for a pause so they can voice their counter argument without knowing what I'm saying. It's frustrating.

9:3-4

A blind man was brought forth and the disciples asked if the man or his parents had sinned. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." This blind man was placed in Christ's path so that this miracle could be wrought.

I think the sentence about work is very interesting. Jesus knew that his time in mortality was limited. He knew that he had things to accomplish in this life. He needed to do specific things, teach specific principles, heal certain people. He felt the urgency of accomplishing what he was sent to do.

Obviously, the "night" doesn't mean the end to our lives or progress. However, it definitely is the end of our mortal life. We are all meant to accomplish specific things. Our lives will have opportunities that we should act on. When someone is placed in our path that we can help, we should view that the same way that Jesus did. Each opportunity is a chance to manifest the works of God. We should feel the same urgency that Jesus did.

9:25-28

Healing the blind man caused some hullabaloo. The Pharisees were bent out of shape that he had healed on the sabbath. They kept asking the healed man what happened. They debated whether the healing meant that Jesus was of God or of the devil because it was done on the sabbath. The healed blind man responds awesomely. "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." He didn't have to think to hard on what had happened. The facts were simple. Sometimes, we attempt to overthink things that we shouldn't. We should attempt to see things as they are and accept reality.

They kept attempting to trip the healed man up on his words. "Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples." I love his response. I hope to meet this guy someday. He even suggested that their fascination with Jesus suggested they should be his disciples also.

Their response was to rely on authority. It was their version the law of Moses that had lifted them above the common Jew. They loved living the law of Moses - it kept them in their positions of authority. They had mastered the system. They had become esteemed professional preachers.

We should do what we can to avoid being professional preachers. If what we are doing for Jesus lifts us above others, we are doing it wrong and flirting with a devastating pride.

9:30-33

The proof of Christ's divinity was very obvious to the healed blind man. "The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." The Pharisees' experiences had blinded them. They couldn't see the basic truth. Let's hope we never get that educated that we can't see truth. I would hate to see the world through stupid-tainted glasses.

9:35, 38

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" I love this part of the story. Jesus heard that they had cast him out. He didn't just let it go. When he heard, he sought him out. He wanted to confirm what the man already believed. Once Jesus identified himself as the Son of God, the man said, "Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." Good man.

9:39-41

These are some very interesting verses. Jesus continues talking to the Pharisees. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." Jesus came to teach those who didn't know. He sought out those who may be sinners but hadn't been exposed to the gospel. He was looking for the unlearned who had been spiritually prepared to accept his teachings. They didn't know but were ready to receive the gospel.

Those who thought they knew everything were exposed to the truth that they couldn't see. Those who could see were made blind. What's sad, they didn't even see that they were blind.

They obviously had enough self-awareness that they realized he was talking about them. "And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." Jesus is making the point that, if they were simply ignorant, their sin would be much less severe. Being ignorant isn't a sin.

But, if we are obstinate and believe that we are right even when there is obvious proof to the contrary, that's willful rebellion. If we reject obvious truth, there is something sinful inside of us.

If something looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, we should accept that it's a duck. If we stare at it and say it's an eagle, there's something messed up inside of us.

10:1-2

There are people in this world that are looking for a following. They want to lead others spiritually. They are giving themselves authority and are aspiring to positions where they can influence others. These are imposters. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." The only path to be in a position of authority in Christ's church is through Christ.

Our church practices this principle. I cannot aspire to leadership positions. I cannot call myself. I cannot claim priesthood authority or keys when I have not been given them by someone in authority.

If I were to start my own Christian church, I would be a "thief and a robber." I would be attempting to counterfeit the truth. I may even have good intentions but I would still be distracting others and persuading them to follow a path other than the one established by the Savior. Jesus is the door.

But, if we are called by authority, we can also be a shepherd for others.

10:18

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." Jesus was the only one who could resurrect himself. He was unique in that he was the only Son of God. The weight of the world was on him. None of us could do it. We were relying on him.

It was voluntary. No man or army or nation could execute Jesus unless Jesus allowed it. Think of the love and compassion and self-control that Jesus has. Picture soldiers mocking him and scourging him and he could stop it at any time.

The reason he didn't was his love for us and his absolute will to follow the commandments of his Father. It is the same for us. The two things that we are meant to develop in this mortal experience is a love for others and the willingness to submit fully to the Father. Christ's love and loyalty were on full display.

10:24-28

"Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." They wanted Jesus to simply say that he was the Messiah. They felt that Jesus himself was the source of their doubt. They blamed him for their lack of faith.

Jesus always wants us to exercise faith. The whole purpose of this life is to see if we will be true and valiant without having it spelled out for us. We had no doubts of the divinity of God and Jesus Christ in the premortal world. We've done that already. This mortal life is meant to be a test to see if we will be faithful without having everything in front of us.

This is a self-managing system that allows our strength and accountability to grow in proportion with our faith. This prevents us from having too much knowledge without having the strength to live up to it. We progressively know more as we progress. :)

I love the "...neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" statement. Once we are committed to following Jesus, no man has the power to remove us forcefully.

10:30-38

Jesus said, "I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." Of course, Jesus is asking the right question. You would predict that anyone who saw Jesus perform the miracles he did would believe. They might not completely understand what he was saying, but they would believe because his works were plain.

When Jesus was explaining how he and the Father were one, they took it as blasphemy and were ready to ignore everything that they had seen with their own eyes!

I love that Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 which reads, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." He's using their scripture, which they revere, to demonstrate the truthfulness of what he was saying.

It's interesting that we are mocked when we explain our belief that we will become as God. People get offended and think we are borderline psychotic to believe such a thing. The Jews were doing precisely the same thing!! The Psalmist wasn't talking about Jesus only. He wrote in the plural. It's very interesting and frustrating that the Christian world believes that we are sons and daughters of God but doesn't believe that we can be like him. It's strange to me.

I think Satan has something to do with it. I think, if he can switch that around and make the purpose of life and our potential something else or nothing altogether, that's a big win for him.

Knowing that we are sons and daughters of God and that we have divine potential is perhaps the greatest truth for any one of us to understand. We must know this and remember this regularly. This truth will help us stay on the path that leads to eternal life. This truth will help us when we step off the path and desire to return. This truth will help us endure any challenge that we face in this life. This truth will help us see things as they are. This truth will motivate us to continue to learn and grow and endure until the end.