“DENIAL” 

“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

1 John 2:23

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He faced severe opposition. In fact, as early as John chapter 2, the religious elite of Israel were already displeased with Him. Do you remember when He drove out the money changers and merchants at the temple with a whip? From that day on, the Jews’ eyes have been on Him. They were determined to stop Him.

In chapter 5, Jesus healed a man who was unable to use his feet for 38 years. This event took place on a Sabbath, which further enraged the Jews. Their tradition prevented people from doing any ‘work’ during Sabbath. So, when they saw the man carrying his mat, they came to Jesus, confronted Him, and started a theological wrangle. John even wrote that the Jews sought to kill Him.

In John chapter 7, Jesus went up to the temple and began teaching. As usual, people gathered around Him, again, raising the Jews’ eyebrows. They questioned His education, accused Him of being demon-possessed, and attempted to arrest Him. However, many believed in Him on account of the miracles, signs, and wonders He had performed.

In chapter 9, He healed a man born blind, who was later brought to the Pharisees to tell his story. As expected, the Jews did not believe the man’s testimony and decided that Jesus did not come from the Father because He did not observe their Sabbath rule.

At the Feast of Dedication in John 10, Jesus delivered the bomb, saying “I and the Father are one.” His declaration made the Jews furious, so they picked up stones and tried to stone Him to death. They did this because Jesus equated Himself with God and regarded Him as a blasphemer deserving of the death sentence.

The Jews had three years to examine Jesus and His claims. But instead of humbly and diligently seeking the Scriptures, they spent those three years trying to put Him down. And because of the hardness of their hearts, they were bent on rejecting Jesus despite the countless amounts of evidence.

In today’s verse, John points out that anyone who denies Jesus denies the Father, even if they claim to know Him. To deny (arneomai) is to reject something or someone. In the NT, the use of this word connotes serious consequences. In this case, rejecting Jesus would mean rejecting the Father, who is supposed to be the object of the Jews’ worship.

In the same sentence, Jesus also says that anyone who confesses in Him is reconciled with the Father. To confess Jesus means “to concede, to not refuse.” It can also mean “to profess one’s self the worshipper of one.” To believe Jesus is to enter into a personal relationship with not only Him but also the Father.

Today, countless people are walking the same path that the Jews’ walked. They ignore the overwhelming amount of biblical passages teaching He is fully God and fully man. What makes it more saddening is that, just like the Jews, they claim to know God, but they vehemently reject our Lord.

I am not advocating that we should hate such people. On the contrary, I encourage us to love them and pray that God may open their eyes. I entreat is to study the Bible diligently, know God as He revealed Himself in Scripture, and reach out to the lost. Only Jesus can save them from an eternity filled with horror, pain, and regret.

Will you help proclaim Jesus to the lost?

Pursue The Savior today!