John 8:47
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He sat with his back to a pillar. The crowd, previously gathered had dispersed. A few remained, those of us who would not leave his side, and a few who sought any opening to make a challenge against his teachings.
He had only just saved the adulterous woman from the stones of men who believe they do not sin. He told the throng that the sin was theirs as well as hers. All should be stoned. Every stone in every masculine hand was dropped to the ground.
He also knew what the Pharisees and scribes had in mind. In response to words they had yet to utter he turned to us and said that he was the light of the world. I could tell John was taken by that phrase.
Then the teacher continued, while his enemies waited for an opening.
Again, he mentioned his death. "I am going away." We all pondered what this meant, but there was much more that he had to say. Listening as John listened, one phrase stuck out in my mind. I would later ask the others. They would recall the Pharisees suggesting that the teacher was possessed by a demon. Only John heard the words, which were spoken before the argument made by the pious teachers of the law.
"Whoever is of God, hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
That's where their anger came from. He told them they were unhearing, and they were not children of God. The Pharisees were outraged. They let their indignation rise to the surface with shouts and curses.
"Sometimes, one can be so full of things learned," one of the others said. "For them there is no room for truth. The voice they hear, is the one they accuse Jesus of being."
"But sometimes I'm confused," I said.
John nodded his head, so did a few of the others.
"It is no different for every one of us," John replied. "The master told Simon to row out farther into the sea. None of us saw the example he was making. He said, 'We will fish for men'. If we bring half as many men to the truth, as the fish we caught, the Kingdom of God will be blessed. None of us understood his words at first."
"The sower," One of the others said.
"But He gave us the answer," I replied.
"Only so we would know how to seek the truth," John interjected. "It is as He said, 'Whoever is God's, hears God. The voice of the Father is triumphant over that of any demon. The child of God is made safe by the words heard. He who hears is not of this world. They are of the Kingdom. He who does not hear the voice of his maker, he has chosen not to listen. He has chosen darkness."
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