Sunday, April 2 John 8
Destiny: Where I Came From and Where I am Going
A particular theme recurs in John’s Gospel. It has to do with Jesus’ “hour.” Three times we read, “His hour had not yet come” (John 2:4, 7:30, and 8:20). Then, as Jesus approaches His crucifixion, four times, “His hour had come” (John 12:23, 13:1, 16:32, and 17:1).
Jesus’ awareness of His own destiny is remarkable. In John 8, He summarizes by saying, “for I know where I came from and where I am going.” As He spoke these words, He was approximately 33 years of age, in a human sense. Behind Him lay Bethlehem, Nazareth, and a short stay in Egypt. Behind Him lay a carpenter’s shop. Behind Him lay the normal upbringing of a Jewish boy. But, I think He was referring to something far bigger. I think He knew that His past and His origins lay in the eternal divine decrees. He knew that His path had been laid out before time began. Revelation 13:8 speaks of “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.”
Jesus was SECURE in His past. He was SECURE in the knowledge that He was sent from the Father.
Because Jesus was secure in His past, He could be CONFIDENT about His future. “I know where I came from and where I am going.”
We might easily accept this as concerning Jesus. After all, He is divine. He is God. But, then we deflect such security and confidence concerning ourselves. After all, we are but fallen humans. That would be wrong. The Bible is replete with promise and perspective of how God knows YOU by name. He wants us to walk like Jesus – to know “where we came from and where we are going.”
Today, ask God for a clearer understanding of His great plan for your life. Knowing this, you can be secure in His love and confident of His direction.