Why do you not understand what I say?

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

---

When I think about Abraham I think of a person that had a relationship with God. I also remember how he responded in faith when God directed him to leave his homeland and also when he believed that God wanted him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham was a very spiritual man. Yet the Jews who claimed him as their father seemed anything but spiritual. These who challenged Jesus at every turn were now seeking to kill him. These were absolutely not the spiritual descendants of Abraham. How could they be?

Since that time we have seen many spiritual men arise - the Protestant Reformation is rife with names like Luther, Wesley and others. These men had no intention of institutionalizing their life's work and having their names linked with specific denominations. Yet this is the way that fleshly minded people respond to such men. Instead of embracing their God, their faith and their heart they choose to embrace external ideologies and rites. Jesus responds to them, and to us, with the challenge to do the spiritual and loving work of Abraham.

Help me to follow you alone Lord. Help me to lean on you and not my flesh.