Final Discourse

Final Discourse
John 15:20-21

20 Remember [mnemoneuo] the word [logos] that [hos] I [ego] said [epo] unto you [humin] , The servant [doulos] is [esti] not [ou] greater than [meizon] his [autos] lord [kurios] . If [ei] they have persecuted [dioko] me [eme] , they will [dioko] also [kai] persecute [dioko] you [humas] ; if [ei] they have kept [tereo] my [mou] saying [logos] , they will keep [tereo] yours [humeteros] also [kai] .
21 But [alla] all [pas] these things [tauta] will they do [poieo] unto you [humin] for [dia] my [mou] name's [onoma] sake [mou] , because [hoti] they know [eido] not [ou] him that sent [pempo] me [me] . KJV-Interlinear

20 'Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 'But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. NASB

If wicked people, or anyone who rejects God or His Word, had known the heart and nature of the Sender (the Father), then they would have understood the mission of the Savior, Jesus Christ. But to know means that one has to learn. And to learn, ones has to listen. And to listen, one has to be interested.

All very simple concepts just as the simple concept which Jesus introduces in these verses. 'A slave is not greater than his master.' Seems obvious enough, but what does it mean? We are the slave, and God is the master. We are human and God is the deity. Now here is a test. Which of the two is the greater and which is the lessor?

Now think very carefully here. We just finished a lesson on being friends of God, so does that mean this is a trick question? Hummm. Wish I could just end this lesson now and look at every ones answer before going on. Dum de dum de dum. Ok, times up.

Now before we answer that question lets look at how we conduct our lives. First, do you study your Bible daily? Second, do you remain in fellowship as often as possible? Third, do you ever commit a sin? Fourth, did you create anything in this universe? Fifth, do you know the future? Sixth, do you know what the events of tomorrow will be? Seventh, can you prevent your own death? Eighth, do you know what is in store for you in the future, both near and far? Hummm! That should be enough questions.

Now if you know more than God, then obviously you do not need Him nor His Word. We should be reading your book and not His. If you ever compromise your life for the sake of your convenience, for the sake of your indifference, for the sake of your laziness, because it is just easier for you, then you obviously believe that you are greater than God. Thus the answer you gave or thought, earlier was not your true answer, but only an answer for the sake of convenience. You thought earlier that the obvious answer is that God is the greater, but that is not how you conduct your life. You live as though you are the greater. Caught ya!

But then that is true about all of us, so don't be ashamed. We all, both you and I, have lived in opposition toward God many times in our lives.

So now for the point. Humility is the key in our lives. And humility is a state of the mind and not what you see on the body (posture or clothing).

Remember our study of the 'world ' yesterday. I set that study up as a 'special' study on the Index page of the web site so it could be located again in case someone might be interested in it.

We are not to be a part of the world, nor even associate with its approach or thinking toward life. If the world, crucified God, then do you think that it will treat a lessor person (we slaves) any better? In the olden days (love that phrase), when an enemy attacked and was victorious, it took its captives and made them into slaves and it took the slaves and made them into slaves. The slaves were not liberated, but were treated even worse.

So it can and very well might be that way for with you and I. Oooo! Scary thought. Makes you want to change sides? But here comes the tough part. Expect nothing better from this world than it gave God. Expect worse. And here is the good part. We receive our support from God, not the world. What God wills, the world cannot interfere with. What God does not will, the world cannot cause to occur.

Do not have unrealistic expectations from life. Do not be superficial and shallow and hurt when life dumps everything it has on top of you. God is in His heaven and is never caught by surprise by anything. He knows your situation better than you. He has provided for your life, better than you ever will.

So, the question of the day is what? Who is the greater, God or you? And if you really think it is God, then you need to prove it (not to me) but to God. And you do that by getting with a serious Bible study program on a daily basis (you cannot learn it all in one weekend crash course), and stick with your daily studies in a systematic and persistent fashion for the rest of your life.

Get yourself into fellowship and monitor your life ('if we should judge ourselves'), and live within the fellowship sphere. Get used to people and learn to tolerate all their quirks and do not be surprised when folks mess with you. Keep your cool and do what is right. Often that means just ignoring their challenge and walking away (turn to other cheek).

Study doctrine, learn doctrine, memorize verses (make up a list and dedicate yourself to memorizing a verse a week).

Become responsible to yourself, to your family, to God, to others. Do that which is expected of you.

God is greater than us, so that probably means that He just might know more than we do. Hummm! Something to consider anyway. Might be worth considering His counsel?

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