John 8:21-30 (CEV)
You Cannot Go Where I Am Going
21 Jesus also told them, “I am going away, and you will look for me. But you cannot go where I am going, and you will die with your sins unforgiven.”
22 The Jewish leaders asked, “Does he intend to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying we cannot go where he is going?”
23 Jesus answered, “You are from below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don’t. 24 That is why I said you will die with your sins unforgiven. If you don’t have faith in me for who I am, you will die, and your sins will not be forgiven.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked Jesus.
Jesus answered, “I am exactly who I told you at the beginning. 26 There is a lot more I could say to condemn you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the people of this world only what I have heard from him.”
27 No one understood that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.
28 Jesus went on to say, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know who I am. You will also know that I don’t do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me.”
30 After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him.
I can’t go
where you are going?
But that is what you promised,
it’s what I want,
what I need…
I need
your presence,
your support,
your strength,
your guiding
in my life.
Oh,
but you’re talking about them,
the ones
who seek only to make trouble,
do all they can
to turn others from you,
refuse to hear your word,
and try to stop others doing so too.
Is that me?
Am I one of them?
Thinking I am secure
in my cosy God-world,
when it is anything but?
Or
can I actually go with you?
Will I go
where you are going?
The way of sacrifice
or pouring out your all,
for those
who need your offering
of love
and forgiveness?
Can I walk that way?
Give up my securities,
my certainties,
that hold me back;
and live
the way
that pleases you?
Where am I going?
Lord,
let it be with you.
May I follow
in faith
day by day
