Study Desk

Your real life is a spiritual one that comes from the Spirit of God. You think life is what you can see and touch, but it's not. Your flesh is like the color of a horse. It's nothing but decoration. My words are not decoration. They are the foundation of Spirit and the foundation of life.

Then he added, "That's why I told you that you wouldn't be able to ride for me unless God sent you."

We believe what you said and we know with all our heart that you are the Holy One of God."

Jesus knew their questions and said, "My teaching does not come from me. It comes from God who sent me.

Anyone who rides for God will be able to tell if my teaching is from him or it is merely my own.

Those who speak on their own are after personal glory, but the cowboy who seeks glory only for God is a man of truth. There will be nothing false about him.

The crowds follow him because they are just ignorant farmers, ranchers, and day trash. They are dirty and uneducated, unlike us. They are ignorant of the Law. God will curse them all."

You all are acting like your real father."They yelled back, "We are not bastard children! God is our real father."

Jesus said, "If that were true, then you would love me. I have been sent by God. I have never said that I came on my own.

A child of God understands what God says. You don't understand because you are not a child of God."

You claim that he is your God, but you wouldn't know it if he was standing here talking to you. I know who God is. If I said I didn't, I would be a liar like y'all. But I do know God, and I obey him completely.

"Boss," his cowboys asked, "why is this man blind? Did his daddy commit some kind of sin that made God mad or something?"

"Neither of his parents did anything to make this happen," Jesus said as he dismounted. "This happened so God could show y'all what he can do.

Some of the Pharisees said, "This guy isn't a man of God. If he were, he wouldn't have done work on the day of rest." Another Pharisee stood up and asked, "If he is not, then how can a sinner perform such a good work as this?" A squabble broke out among these religious know-it-alls.

So the Pharisees called the healed man back in and said, "Give God the credit for your eyes, not this sinner who claims to have cured you. He was just a swindler prayin' on helpless folks."

We know he was a man of God, but we don't have any idea where this Jesus fellow came from."

You may not know him, but this we do know, We know God don't cotton to sinners, nor does he answer their prayers. God answers the prayers of people who ride only for him.

If Jesus wasn't from God, he couldn't have done that and y'all know it."

The Jews attacked him again and said, "You were blind because of your sin. Who do you think you are that you can teach us anything about God?" Then they threw him out of the church and told him never to come back.

Jesus said, "I've already told you, but you won't believe me. The things I do, and the fact that I only give God the credit, tells all you should need to know.