In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and the Jewish people in the Temple courts regarding his identity. He’s challenged by the Pharisees, who refuse to believe in him, so his offers of grace then turn to warnings of judgment. But all is not lost (or so it seems)! For, as we see here, some in Jesus’ audience did “believe.” It was to those who “believed,” but who didn’t yet understand what they were signing up for, that he issued the above statement. 

It appears from this passage and the surrounding verses that there are different forms of acceptance of Jesus in the heart of an individual. There is an acceptance which on the surface seems real, but proves to be otherwise by quickly withering and dying. (Cf. also Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower) That seems to be the case with these people that Jesus is talking to here, since, by the end of this chapter, they take up stones with which to stone Jesus! On the other hand, there is a belief which is far deeper and more vital; one that leads us to follow Jesus as our Lord and to grow and flourish, instead of withering and dying. This is a faith that abides in his word! For, Jesus tells all who would believe in him and truly be his disciples, that we will abide (continually) in his word, that the truth will be known to us as we abide in it and obey it, and that his truth will set us free! 

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, when we believe in him as our Savior, we are justified before God and freed from the guilt of our sin. But as we continue, with his help, to align ourselves with his word, trusting that he has broken the power of sin in our lives, we are progressively freed from the sin that entangles our hearts and minds and steals our joy and our peace. This ever-increasing freedom is the promise of our Lord to those who abide in his word!