Daily Affirmations - Day 7 - The True Vine - One and Only
Day 7: One and only
Simon Peter answered [Jesus] “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
Lord Jesus, You are fully trustworthy. You are the personification of truth. You came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14); You bear the name Faithful and True, (Revelation 3:14; 19:11), and You declared of Yourself, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
And You, Lord, who are the embodiment of truth, said with authority as You prayed to Your Father in heaven, "Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3).
This is the message of Your cross— the message of a penalty only You could bear; the recreation and rebirth only You could give to fallen man: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45).
You made this clear when You said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). You made this declaration not out of arrogance, or other twisted, sinful motive, for You are pure and perfect, holy and humble.
Indeed Lord, it is because You know that no one [else] in heaven or on earth or under the earth could ever be equal to the requirements for the way, the truth, and the life. No one else could meet the singular qualifications or pay the massive price that alone could give unholy humans access to a holy God of both love and justice:
You alone are worthy... because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).
But perishing humans consider Your message of truth, of wisdom, of good news, of reconciliation— foolish or offensive (1 Corinthians 1:18; John 6:61). In fact, Your message of life eternal through Your sacrificial gift of Your body and blood was outrightly rejected as a hard teaching. It was so unacceptable to those who desired access to God by their own truth, their own way, that many... turned back and no longer followed You ((John 6:60, 66).
Yet, You have given us this encouragement, “Blessed is [the one] who is not offended because of Me” (Matthew 11:6 - NKJV). You have left us this reassurance, "to us who are being saved [the message of the cross] is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Lord Jesus, You alone have triumphed over sin, death, and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:57). You alone have the words of eternal life (John 6:68). This is not a hard teaching, but good news of grace and truth from a God who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
This is Your gospel of hope, of peace, of unshakeable truth.
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