What Jesus Did! 'You Don't Know My Father' — John 8:19-20

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

[After Jesus told the Pharisees the Father sent him and was a witness for him, they asked] "Where is your father?"

Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

— John 8:19-20 NLT

Key Thought

People can be so incredibly gullible about charlatans and scam artists, yet push away those who genuinely want to help them. Many people who follow false messiahs and false teachers reject Jesus, both in his time and now. As Jesus does so often in the Gospel of John, he emphasizes that when people reject him, they are also rejecting the Father who sent him. Yet the very fact that the authorities cannot and do not arrest him till it is God's timing is testimony that Jesus is who he claims to be. Jesus continues his emphasis on the importance of our decision about him and our relationship with him. We do not have God if we reject Jesus. It may not be very politically correct in many places today, but Jesus' exclusive claims remind us that being politically correct is not nearly as important as being eternally correct.

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, it troubles my heart that so many people do not know Jesus or have rejected him as your Son and their Savior. Please open the door of the hearts of the millions who need to know Jesus. Bless those who have crossed cultural and language barriers to share your grace. Bring a deep longing in the hearts of the people of the world to know Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 14:6-11
  • John 5:43
  • John 20:17

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Listen Very Carefully: Guard Your Heart'
"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. … Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Isaiah 52:7
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,....."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Stop Signs!' (Ac. 16:6-7)
"[Paul and his companions on the second missionary journey] went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Living for Me No Matter the Cost'
"Dear Follower, How do you find the strength to go on when times are tough? That's a really important question because a lot of people will follow Me..."

Illustration

Illustration of John 8:19-20 NLT — "Where is your father?" —— "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!