Jesus invaded the world beneath from the world above in order to provide – by means of faith in his sacrifice – the only bridge leading back. In John 8:21-24, Jesus described the impassible chasm sin has opened between the two worlds and repeated the warning he’d made to the religious leaders in the previous chapter concerning the urgency of their need to place trust in his messiahship.
His message was straight and strong. But their jealousy and pride had produced a faithlessness that continued blinding them to the light of the world – as Jesus had described himself in verse 12. They refused to grasp the simple clarity of his words. Instead, they chose to accuse him of being suicidal and completely ignored the offer of salvation he was extending by confronting them with the consequences of their unbelief.
So sad…
But there are at least two things described in these verses that should stir us to deep gratitude.
First, Jesus didn’t give up on the jewish leaders. He certainly could have, and I certainly would have. Yet, twice in as many days, he warned them that his time among them was short and that the path of unbelief they were travelling would lead to eternal separation from God. Instead of dismissing or damning, he was urging them to change course while he was still physically in their midst.
What a demonstration of our Savior’s love, pursuing to the last even the hardest-hearted that they might turn from their sin and know his grace! It’s humbling to realize we’ve been loved like that. The forgiveness that secured our eternal destiny is not the result of anything we’ve done but is the fruit of his relentless pursuit of our lost souls.
Second, the Lord’s statements that he is not of this world and would be returning to the world above when his redemptive work was done brings such peace to our lives. In John 16:33, Jesus said that we can be of good cheer because he has overcome the tribulations of this world on our behalf. In other words, His triumph over all the brokenness in this world beneath has become our victory too. He is our bridge to the heavenlies not just for the day we pass from this life but for the many days we’re tempted to lose hope in the midst of it.
Let’s allow our spirits to fill and our worship to overflow with praise for the one who refused to give up on us and who is daily introducing us to the joys of a life focused on the world above.