Apr 03

Children follow their parents' example. Jesus called the religious leaders who tried to trap him children of the devil:

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire" (John 8:44).

Earlier, (v. 40), he went so far as to accuse these opponents of Jesus' ministry of wanting to kill him. What was it about Jesus and what he said that so enraged a group of supposedly pious religious leaders that they would want to kill Jesus? Jesus told the truth. Because of this one, simple fact, Jesus' life was in danger.

Speaking the truth in a world that does not want the truth is a very dangerous proposition. The world will even seek to kill the one who dares to expose its hypocrisy and phony religious life.

Jesus went on to reveal the true nature of the devil as a liar and one who opposes the truth. He also described the devil as a murderer who seeks to destroy the messenger of truth.

Is this not the way of the world as well? When it cannot stand up to truth, it seeks to do away with the one exposing its true nature -- as though truth somehow would go away and disappear simply because the messenger has been done away with.

But truth is not so easily dismissed. In fact, it cannot be killed. It has a habit of resurrecting when the world thinks it has been put to death.

Scripture for today: John 8:37-47
Thought for today: Jesus is the truth; he was killed; he arose. Truth can be killed, but it cannot stay dead.
Prayer for today: I praise you, Jesus, for being the truth that is stronger than death.

APR 03