Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God…you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil.
It appears that Jesus never read Andrew Carnegie’s book, how to win friends and influence people.
Can you imagine the tension created when Jesus said this? Here is the scene:
The year is 32 A.D. Jesus and his disciples are in the Temple. The religious leaders have just tested Him by throwing a woman caught in adultery in front of Him (first time only one person was caught- nothing political about that move, Eh?).
Now the discussion shifts to Jesus’ authority. Helps to remember that these political and religious leaders rule the day (With Rome’s permission of course). They are in control of all the activities of the people, what they eat, how they pray, were they work, who they marry, etc. To get to this position they have gone through at least 15 years of intense training and political maneuvering; scratching and clawing their way to the top. Now this itinerant preacher from some dinky penal town called Nazareth comes with a bunch of dropouts and tells them they are of the devil?
Why? Because they did not believe Him when He said that He was God!
But sometimes direct confrontation is what is necessary! Jesus called these hypocrites out many times. He did not intentionally stir the pot, but He purposefully set things straight! He smacked religiousity in the face declaring it to be the hideous stench that it is!
Awesome!
We have many so called "Christian" churches and movements that claim they are the cat's meow when it comes to being God's representation on this earth. But can you imagine Jesus donning their garments, or practices, and performing their rituals? Or, would He be walking into thier board meetings and calling them of the Devil?
Makes me go "Hmmmm."
Shalom.
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