Monday after Exaudi
Scripture: St. John 10:17-21 (NKJV)
10:17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Devotion
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel, and there was division among the Jews, and many blasphemed Him. We should always remember this whenever people claim that ‘doctrine divides’: the proper response is, “Just like it is supposed to.” St. Paul wrote to the Romans concerning such divisions: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18) The division which occurs when the truth is proclaimed takes place because of the evil motivation of those who reject the truth.
The Jews were divided between the blasphemers and those who recognized that the works of the Lord were in harmony with His Word: “Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?’ Others said, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’” But the determination of who was right did not rest with which men prevailed in the conflict, but with the Word. Jesus declared, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Thus Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father on the fortieth day of His resurrection, demonstrating the Truth through His fulfillment of His Word.
We pray: Almighty, Everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
