God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. – John 8
With my recent illness came A LOT of time in front of the television. I watched more shows and movies then I have in a very long time. I watched a movie called The Last Word, starring Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, and AnnJewel Lee Dixon – directed by Mark Pellington. It was only rated two stars by Rotten Tomatoes but looking past the language, I really enjoyed it!
Anyway – this is how Rotten Tomatoes describes the movie:
“Shirley MacLaine is Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishments, she’s suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life’s story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet’s high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future.”
In the movie, everyone is terrified of and seems to hate Harriet Lauler. She has a very dominating personality that doesn’t sit well with many people. In fact, when she employs Anne Sherman to write her obituary you see just how “awful” she appears on the outside. This is part of the appeal of the movie. You see this older woman knows exactly who she is and she doesn’t care if anyone likes that or not. She just is who she is. But then this beautiful friendship is created between Harriet and Anne. Anne loves the woman Harriet is. She doesn’t ask her to change who she is. She doesn’t ask her to be anyone other than herself. Harriet ends up passing away having developed this beautiful bond with someone unexpected. I dare say she died and with absolute confidence knowing that finally she was loved!
Our story in John 8 is the last in this chapter. It is called I Am Who I Am. If we have learned anything thus far, it is the fact that Jesus knows EXACTLY who he is and who’s he is. The problem is getting all the people to believe in Him and believe in themselves. To love with confident hearts. He is realizing that is a most difficult task.
Jesus said, “I’m not crazy. I simply honor my Father, while you dishonor me. I am not trying to get anything for myself. God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. I say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I’m telling you, you’ll never have to look death in the face.”
Jesus tells us in this paragraph all we really need to know. God brought Jesus into our world for the gloriously grand purpose of his death for our sins. If you believe in Jesus you will have eternal life and death will not have a say for you.
Jesus said, “If I turned the spotlight on myself, it wouldn’t amount to anything. But my Father, the same One you say is your Father, put me here at this time and place of splendor. You haven’t recognized him in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said, I didn’t know what was going on, I would be as much of a liar as you are. But I do know, and I am doing what he says . Abraham – your ‘father’ – with jubilant faith looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and cheered.”
The Jews said, “You’re not even fifty years old – and Abraham saw you?”
“Believe me,” said Jesus, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything.”
God intends for all of his children to live eternally because of the gift of his son Jesus. We only need to believe. Jesus knew who he was and knew what his purpose on earth was. He wanted those on earth to follow and believe in that purpose. He wants that for us today. We only need to be confident in who we are – A CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING! Now just sit back, open your heart, and watch God work “something gloriously grand” in your life!
Simply. Honestly. Emily. 