An Eternal Post-Mortem? John 8:12-19

Text:  “Jesus answered and said unto him (Simon Peter), What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know HEREAFTER.”

John 13:7.

Good morning, trusting Christian!  There are many many Eternal mysteries that you and I cannot fully understand at present; many things concerning Eternity that our minds just cannot comprehend.  But we know and trust Christ Jesus - and He knows everything that concerns our Eternity with Him.  Is it not time that we began to trust Him more?  Amen, so be it.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”   (Proverbs 3:5-7)

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”    (1 Corinthians 2:9)

In this morning’s Bible Study we find the Lord Jesus, the Scribes and the Pharisees holding what could be recognized as ‘An Eternal Post-Mortem’ on the incident concerning the woman caught in the act of adultery.

The humble dictionary defines the noun ‘Post-Mortem’ as follows: a post-mortem examination, an autopsy; an after-the-event discussion, especially of what went wrong, held after a game or other contest.  (The Chambers Dictionary, page 1281)

The ‘what went wrong’ aspect of this discussion was the fact that the woman caught in the very act of adultery had not been summarily executed by public stoning - Jesus had intervened in a most serious ‘contest’ to save the sinner.

The ‘contest’, as always in Scriptures, was between Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the religious, social, and political leaders of the day.  Religion - of all forms and universal practice - always seems to be the worst opposition to Christ and to true Bible-believing Christianity.  That’s a well recognized fact.

It was the Pharisee that was lost - the Publican went away justified!

The ‘Eternal Post-Mortem’ begins in verse 12 of today’s Journey in John’s Gospel - Christ declared Himself to be ‘…the light of the world…’

The Pharisees and religious leaders present instantly proved his word to be true - they argued with Christ, ‘…the light of the world…’, and thus proved beyond doubt that they would not follow Him; that they indeed ‘…walked in darkness…’; that they were utterly devoid of ‘…the light of life…’

“…Let God be true, but every man a liar…”  (Romans 3:4)

The Lord Jesus Christ IS the Truth.  Therefore, anyone who disputes with Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living Lord God, is disputing with the absolute Truth.  ‘…Thy Word is truth.’  (Romans 17:17)

“In the beginning was the Word (Christ Jesus), and the Word (capital letter) was with God, and the Word was God.”  (John 1:1)

The Scribes and Pharisees had brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Christ for His judgement.  Now, after Christ’s judgement did not suit them, they were declaring, ‘…Thy record is not true.’ (V.13)  These religious charlatans wanted their cake and eat it too!  They had no faith to believe and receive Christ as God’s Truth.  They were in darkness indeed.

Christ’s damning words to them have no doubt been a constant source of torment for them as, ever since, they have reposed in the torments of Hell.

“Ye neither know Me, nor My Father; if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.”  (V.19)  These lost wretches knew not their God.

Many today, after hearing a sound Gospel message preached or taught will instantly wish to hold a ‘post-mortem’ showing opposition to what they have heard.  If only they knew that such murmurings against Bible truth are always conducted in the light of the great ‘Eternal Post-mortem’ to come - all such opposition to Truth is recorded in Heaven.  Complainers beware!

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”  (Matthew 12:36-37)

Let us latter-day Christians be swift to hear the Word of the Lord, and even more swift to obey it.  Remember that ‘Eternal Post-Mortem’.

Thought:  “…Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.”