Christ appearing to Nicodemus, by Henry Ossawa Tanner. 1859-1937. He was the first African American painter gaining international acclaim.
John 8:28-59
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ [He is your God] 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Isn't today the same? We all have areas where belief is difficult. For some, the fire and tongues of Pentecost drag them down. I personally struggle with the Ascension. But the Bible never says, oops, yeah, you're right, we got that bit wrong. Just as Jesus didn't give this crowd an inch. It's difficult to picture Jesus zooming up into the atmosphere and going into orbit. Yet the Bible says it happened and the formerly fearful men who saw it went straight into the Temple to proclaim Jesus. Mankind isn't logical, if I can believe Jesus suddenly appeared to these men, even in locked rooms, why would it be difficult to believe Jesus can transcend space and time, & why would I have to picture Jesus in orbit? My faith is bolstered by the others, Jesus and the Bible proclaim, are lifted up as well.
Jesus proclaims to His believers "I am". Yet, they didn't really believe. Jesus tells them they will believe after He is lifted up; conversions occurred in the thousands after Jesus had given the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was a man walking the earth, men always asked for just one more sign. More. When the Spirit comes, the Spirit requires faith - the unseen. Mankind began to believe when the Spirit requires faith.
How did Jesus talk to the crowd of believers? With truth. How did Jesus treat Nicodemus, questioning and coming, secretly, to Jesus? With truth. Jesus says they are not condemned. In John 8, He is repeating "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Jesus says, in other words, "slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever." Jesus overcomes our sins.
Jesus didn't use a lot of spin, but He knows faith requires love. For those seeking to a different way? Jesus hid Himself.
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."<><
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