Bible
Class Lecture By Leader Olumba Olumba Obu
TEXT: John 8: 1-End.
"Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the
morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he
sat down and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a
woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto
him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in
the law commanded us that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This
they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped
down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So
when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He
that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again
he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the
eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in
the midst. When Jesus lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said
unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:
go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am
the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life. The Pharisees said unto him, Thou bearest
record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though
I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and
whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge
after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgement is true: for
I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your
law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of
myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they
unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my
Father; if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These
words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid
hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I
go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins; whither I go ye
cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith,
Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I
am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore
unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he,
ye shall die in your sins. Then they said unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus
said unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the
beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me
is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They
understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them,
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and
that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these
things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for
I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many
believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my words, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free. And they answered him, We be
Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall
be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house
for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed, but ye seek to kill
me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with
my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered
and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were
Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill
me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not
Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not
born of fornication; we have one father, even God. Jesus said unto them,
If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from
God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my
speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And
because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of
sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God
heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then
answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a
Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I
honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory:
there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If I may
keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now
we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou
sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou
greater that our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom
makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is
nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your
God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him
not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then
said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they
up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple,
going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:1-End)
Since it is impossible to recollect the words of the Father
verbatim, I enjoin you to document all Bible Class lectures for posterity. What
the disciples said were actually, true testimonies of Jesus the Christ. The
situation repeats itself today as many people are interested to know what the
Father has said.
Our main thrust is in verses 56-58 of the text:-
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it,
and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old,
and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM." (John 8:56-58)
What do you understand by that statement by our Lord Jesus Christ
that before Abraham He was? Your answer should be guided by the fact that He
(Christ) was an offspring of Abraham.
Why then did He make the statement, that He was before him? Can
any person explain this? You continue to celebrate Christ's birthday as if you
know when He was born. It is irrational for you to fix the birthday of someone
you do not know. The preoccupation of this sermon is to unravel this puzzle.
We shall start this by asking a simple question: who is Jesus who
claims to have lived before Abraham? Who can trace His genealogy? Why did He
have such audacity to make such a statement? Such a statement should prompt you
find out who He really is. And this is how you discover the truth; because He
had said that: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free. (John 8:32)
People of the world are blind because they do not know who our
Lord Jesus Christ is. Yet they call Him many names. Some say He is the son of
Joseph, the Carpenter. Others say He is the son of David. Some say he is a Jew;
while others call Him different names ranging from the son of God. Some say He
is a prophet. But none of these people know a particular name to call Him in
order to trace His origin. Read verse twelve of our text. You would wonder the
more.
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light
of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life." (John 8:12)
WHO IS THE SON OF MAN?
Can the son of a human being or an ordinary human being make such
a statement? Reading through the text you will know that these are not the
words which a human being can make. Many people claim that our Lord Jesus
Christ had died. As such, mere human beings like him will die accordingly. But
the statement in verse fifty-eight does not portray Christ as someone who is a
mortal, and had died. He neither spoke like a human being, the son of man, the
son of God nor like God. So I want us to trace His origin now.
As a Christian who do you think Jesus the Christ is? As a member
of Brotherhood, where our Lord Jesus Christ is preached about everyday, who and
what do you think He is? It is written: "When the son of man shall come in
his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory." (Matthew 25:31) The question is, who is this son of
man written about? See reference below:- "When Jesus came into the coasts
of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I
the son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some
Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But
whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he
was Jesus the Christ." (Matthew 16:13-20) Is this portion not yet
another statement? It has revealed another thing. It is written: "Behold a
virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew
1:23)
Also see what is written in the book of Isaiah: "Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) According
to this Biblical excerpt which name were people directed to call Him, and what
did they call Him? Read another authority concerning His name: "And
behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call
his name JESUS." (Luke 1:31)
What is the connection between Immanuel and Jesus? What is the son
of man, son of God, Immanuel; and what is Jesus? If you would be truthful to
yourself, you would confirm the fact that the entire world has a problem of
identifying the Saviour and King of kings. Everyone calls Him what he feels is
correct.
This is the failure of all churches in the world. Has he told the
world what he has come to do? Nobody knows Him; and they cannot reveal Him
either. And this is what I have come to do. I want to tell you who Jesus the
Christ is.
A SPIRITUAL SONG
Brothers if you know the truth, the truth shall set you free.
Sisters if you know the truth, the truth shall set you free.
Brethren if you know the truth, the truth shall set you free.
Read also this passage: Hebrews 7:1-3)
"For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, priest of the most
high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and
blessed him. To whom also Abraham gave the tenth part of all; first being by
interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which
is, King of peace; Without Father, without mother, without descent, having
neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God;
abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:1-3)
What is written in the above excerpt reveals yet another thing
about the word of God. Do you know the father and mother of Melchizedek? Do you
know his birth place?
I have specially prepared this sermon about him because it is
cloaked in mystery. You believe in trees, water, animals, earth and other
creatures. The different religions have their different dogmas. And they have
dogmatic approaches to God. So also are their different beliefs about Christ.
That is why the world calls Him variously, as God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God
of Jacob, and God of this and God of that. Some say He is God of Moslems, God
of Christians, God of Hindus, God of the whites and God of the blacks. You
should know that:" God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must
worship Him in Spirit and in Truth." (John 4:24)
Know also what the scripture says: "Now the Lord is that
Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." (2
Corinthians 3:17)
There was this promise that: "But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you." (John 14:26)
ALL THESE BIBLICAL EXCERPTS POINT TO ONE BEING.
See citation below:
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit And
there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge
by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of
tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (1
Corinthians 12:4-11)
Who is God? Who is the King, Lord or the Father? Who is the Holy
Spirit? And who is the Supernatural Teacher?
See citation (Matthew 23:8-10) below:
"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even
Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth;
for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for
one is your Master, even Christ."
Who then is the Teacher and Master? Who is Rabbi and who are the
brethren? Who are these children of God?
See the reference below for further detail: (John 10:28-30).
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave
them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand. I and my Father are one."
How many people are involved in this matter?
This is where the confusion comes from. In a particular place He
refers to the Father. At another place He talks of the son; and at another
place He says Jehovah God. So people get confused when they read what seem
confusing reports about God like this; and as such they brood over it.
Read this portion and see what you can make of it: (John
14:12-13):
"Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the
works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Remember that when He
said, "I and my Father are one," the Jews picked up stones to stone
Him. If you think that God cannot be seen physically, does it mean that Christ
was not beheld? Now that you have seen Jesus Christ, the son of man, the son of
God, God and man, God and the Holy Spirit, do you believe in Him? You call on
your Father who is in heaven and the other on earth. You cause commotion because
of your doctrines and beliefs. You have now seen God. Do you believe? Have you
not seen the Holy Spirit, the son of man, the son of God and the children of
God? Despite this you are yet to believe.
Who is the Father. Who is the Son, and who is the Holy Spirit?
See the citation below:(1 John 5:7):-
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
I wonder how you can be with me yet you cannot learn anything. I
give you my teachings free. I want you to understand these teachings, so that
you may impart them to others.
You think that you are a human being; and as such, you are like
the Father. Are you sure? Do you know that we are one? If you are a human
being, what is the Father? Is He a stone? If He is a stone, what then is stone?
Is stone tree, man not God?
This is why He has given everything their due glory. Know that
once you call on the name of Jesus Christ, you are calling on God at the same
time. And if you call on the son of man, you are calling on God. If you
call the son of man, you are calling Jesus still. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the
son of God as well as the son of man. He is the begotten son.
Jesus the Christ is also God. You can draw your own conclusion
that He is God. He is the Spirit as well as God. When He said that He is
one with the Father, He was referring to the Holy Spirit. And it is the very
Spirit that is ruling now. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father, the Word
and the Holy Spirit as written in first John chapter five, verse
seven. He takes any of these names anytime He likes.
WHAT IS BROTHERHOOD?
See the citation below: (1 Peter 2:17):-
"Honour all men, love the Brotherhood, fear God, honour the
king."
What do you understand by, "all men" referred to in the
excerpt? What then is the "brotherhood"? Then who is God, and who is
the king? The same spirit is everything. He is all men, brotherhood, spirit and
God. He transforms Himself in different ways. He can become anything at any
time.
See the citation below: (Hebrews 12:25-29):-
"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they
escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape,
if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the
earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth
only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of
those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things
which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which
cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."
What is fire? Is it not the same God? God is a consuming fire. He
is the rain and wind. You can see that I am taking you round the boundary of
the farm, i.e. a survey of the whole thing.
See the citation below: (1 Corinthians 10:1-6):-
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat
the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not
lust after evil things, as they also lusted."
Did you know that a rock could be Christ? If someone tells you
that that rock is Christ, would you believe? What of the water that came out of
the rock? It was Christ.
SPIRITUAL CHORUS:
He has come in a hidden way but the world is still seeking for
him.
God Himself has said that what He likes is what people despise. If
you are looking for something as huge as a mountain before you called it God,
know that He can be as small as a mustard seed. At the same time He is greater
than any mountain; and all the mountains put together is not as huge as God.
This fact is underscored by the parables below.
See our reference below: (Matthew 13;30-33):-
"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind
them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."
"Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom
of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in
his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is
the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and lodge in the branches thereof."
"Another parable spake He unto them; The kingdom of heaven is
like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the
whole was leavened."
THE TRIUNE GOD
The above excerpt is fulfilled in Brotherhood of the Cross and
Star. As a member of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, you may go to a place
to set up a bethel. Many people will take your action as a child's play because
they do not see you with mighty things. But with your flower on the table it is
enough to work miracles. Before the people know it, many people are healed of
their various sicknesses. And in no time, people will come in their numbers to
baptize into the fold because of the truth they behold. Other churches may be
annoyed at the rate they lose their members to the kingdom. But it will be too
late for them to do anything because the people have seen the truth and are
liberated. Initially you went there as insignificant as a mustard seed only to
germinate and grow into a huge tree in the course of time. That is the way the
Father wants; and it is the very way He came into the world.
See the reference below: (Revelation 22:1-3):-
"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of
the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life,
which bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no
more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his
servants shall serve him."
This is the Holy Spirit. He is God and He is the Word. He is the very
Word in our midst. What is that tree? Is that "tree" not God as well
as Christ? He is also the Holy Spirit who is responsible for all the great
works on earth. He is everything we see. Do you know that all these stones,
trees, and other creatures you see are Christ, as well as God and Spirit?
Do you know that a person who falls on his face to worship trees
or stones is worshiping these objects per se? No. The person is worshipping
God, the Holy Spirit and God. Leaves are God. Roots of trees are spirit which
is Christ and God.
The fact that these objects are both Christ and God explains why
he glorifies himself in these things. He is also a man and angel because we are
one. He is the spirit that operates in the stone, tree, human being and all
other creatures. That is why when you pray for anything it comes to you. If you
pray for water, a stream appears before you.
The same is true of rain, sunshine, rocks and other creatures.
Even the food you eat daily is God. When you go to a stream, river, or any body
of water, for that matter, you are washing in the blood of the Lamb. The water
is God and Christ, as well as the Holy Spirit. Get it right that there is no
other thing existing on earth other than God who is the Holy Spirit as well as
Christ.
See the citation below: (John 15:5):- "I am the
vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."
At this stage of the discourse, do you then believe that Christ,
i.e. God, is a tree? Have you seen also that the branches are the children of
God? Are you not the leaves and fruits? So there is no mistake in calling you
gods. Are the tree, branches, leaves and fruits not part of this kingdom of
God? The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present in all things. If one calls a
tree God, he is calling the true God, which manifests in the object.
Now let me go back and begin from the beginning.
See our reference below:(Genesis 1:29):- "And God
said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face
of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding
seed; to you it shall be for meat."
At this time, the Spirit of God was moving upon the face of the
waters. Was there any other thing? Was that Spirit not God? Were the waters,
darkness, and light not the same thing? From the beginning, nothing existed
apart from the Holy Spirit, which is God as well as Christ."
Let my peace and blessing be to the entire world, now and forever
more. A-men.
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