John 8:12-20   ¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."   ¹³ Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid."          ¹⁴ Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.  ¹⁵ You judge by human standards; I judge no one.  ¹⁶ Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.  ¹⁷ In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.  ¹⁸ I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf."  ¹⁹ Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  ²⁰ He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

This week’s devotion is from Lutheran Hour Ministries (http://www.lentendevotions.net).

"Die in Your Sins "
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

March 27, 2011

Jesus' enemies want Him dead. Has He pressed too hard? Is it time to lighten up or compromise to find common ground? No! Jesus knows there is only one way for them to be saved. So He presses even harder. He declares, "I am the Light of the world."

Instead of backing down Jesus draws a line in the sand and says, "Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." But to those who reject Him, He says, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin."

Their hearts should be stirred, but instead they stubbornly refuse to listen. In idle curiosity they ask each other if Jesus' talk of "going away" means He will kill Himself. Jesus answers, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am He."

When they lift Him up and nail Him to the cross, they will know who He is. The miraculous signs at His death: the darkness, the earthquake, the torn curtain in the temple and His glorious resurrection will make it clear to them that Jesus is the mighty Son of God, the promised Messiah.

Which side of the line are you walking on? Are you truly walking in the light of Christ or the darkness of this unbelieving world? Jesus warns all of us that our time is short. Don't wait for tomorrow. Today is the day to live in Christ through faith, rather than die in your sins.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, bring me out of the darkness of my sin to the light of Your Son Jesus Christ. I pray in His Name. Amen.

In our prayers this week:  Ann

God’s Peace,