"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
In today's lesson Jesus again warned His followers of the coming wrath of the Jewish leadership.
Jesus knew about the hypocrisy of the Jews, and their failure to obey God's commandments, from the beginning. And, except for a select few, they were condemned by their own rules.
The best example was the imposition of the laws of Moses and the total inability of the Jews to obey them. They chose to warp the law to better serve themselves rather than to serve God.
Because of their failure, the "chosen" status would, with the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, be extended to His Church which would include the Gentiles.
In order for this to happen Jesus had to first sacrifice Himself for the sins of all mankind.
He reassured His followers that after He returned to the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit, the "Comforter" to abide with, and provide power to, all who would come to believe in Him.
Jesus, speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit, said; "when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." The "righteousness" of man would no longer matter, it was to be overridden by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
This meant that because of Christ's sacrifice, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the sins of the world would be forgiven, or "justified", for those who would come to believe.
His final statement in the above quote reminds us that the world without the sacrifice of Jesus was condemned, and tells us that as of that moment in time the guilty were judged; "the prince of this world IS judged."
Thank God for His amazing grace! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)~
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