The Word of God

Anyone who encounters Jesus, from His early pronouncement to His final appeal, is confronted with a choice that determines their justification or condemnation. This choice is centered on how they receive or reject His words.

In Matthew 12 Jesus says,"the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath" (v. 8) He also speaks of the sin against the Holy Spirit and those attributing the work of God to the works of Satan (vv. 22-

32). Jesus had performed miracles in front of many people that could have been verified by investigating the evidence. Instead of believing that Jesus, the Son of Man, had the authority from God to do said miracles, full of unbelief they continued to ask Jesus to perform more signs.

This is a clear demonstration that these people were willfully rejecting the divine evidence that was in front of them. This would ultimately culminate in the refusal to accept the words of Jesus as well as the signs pointing to Jesus being the son of God. This is how unbelief works, instead of examining the evidence, people choose the praise of men over approval from the truth of God's word. Jesus then makes certain that we all understand in the clearest manner possible. Jesus says, "whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (v. 30).

Jesus then says with emphasis the connection between a person's words and the condition of their heart, "on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (vv. 36-37). These two verses help us to understand John 12:48 more clearly, "The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."

A person's response to the teaching of Jesus is consequential, which impacts their destiny. Therefore, everyone must recognize they stand in one of two spiritual kingdoms, and being neutral with the words of Jesus is a deception. Our words and attitudes toward Jesus and His teaching will be the basis of our personal judgment in the end. Jesus' power over the material world was to prove who He is. The power of His word is to prove He is the I AM. -asa