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Where is God?

John 8:19-20
Then they asked him, ‘Where is your father?’ ‘You do not know me or my Father,’ Jesus replied. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. (NIVUK)

Jesus repeatedly spoke about His 'Father'.  He was not talking about Joseph, the husband of his mother, Mary, and the religious leaders knew that.  The 'Father' was clearly identified as being God; as in Isaiah 63:16 "… you Lord are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name" and in Psalm 89:26 "He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour."
 
So they tested Jesus, taunting Him as they demanded to know where His Father was.  Jesus’ reply was straightforward, ‘you do not know where to find God even though I am with you ... so you do not know me either'!  He was unafraid and unashamed to say that if they knew Him they would know God also (John 14:7).  To the traditional Jewish mind this was blasphemy, and yet the authority of His words and the protection of the Holy Spirit prevented them from arresting Him. That moment would only arrive when Father God decreed (John 17:1).

This conversation took place in the Court of the Women in the Temple.  That was where the 13 large chests were found, the offering boxes which were narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, like trumpets – which is how they were referred to.  It is interesting that Jesus protested that hypocritical religious people would announce the value of their giving like the blowing of trumpets (Matthew 6:1-4).  But Jesus Himself was the real treasure (Matthew 13:44-45), because He was God in a human body.
 
Jesus claimed to be equal with God, and to be the only way through which people can come to know God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  In our day, the words of Jesus are still shocking to many; and yet they are true.  All those who believe them are saved and become children of God (John 1:12) rejoicing in salvation. That is why believers everywhere need to be bold to proclaim Jesus above their church, their worship and their ministry.  Although people may be fascinated by, or ridicule, what Christians do, their lives will only be changed when they believe who Jesus is and so find their way to God.

Prayer 
Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for revealing Yourself through Jesus Christ so that I can know what You are like. Thank You for the gospel record of His life and teaching, and especially for John's passion that people should know who Jesus is and have eternal life as they believe in Him. I am sorry for being ashamed of announcing Him to my friends. Please help me to realise that God walked on this earth in a human body, and died to save me because I could not save myself: and then help me to introduce my friends and family to Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams