Adam's story-Summer 2017

MY OLDEST SON ADAM WAS A PASSENGER IN A SERIOUS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ON THE LATE NIGHT OF 8-19-2015.  HE HAS A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.  THIS IS THE PLACE FOR UPDATES.

TO PLACE A COMMENT SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM, NEWEST UPDATES ON TOP

If for some reason you want to access older posts, you can search for Adam’s name to find them.  The pages get sluggish when there is too much info so I make a new one.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  Luke 18:1-5

Update 9-18-2017

Video with Adam visiting with Toni Drugmand and Aurora and Linna (sp?).   They are with ‘Sit means Sit’ of Phoenix.

Update 8-31-2017

Unfortunately Adam’s next roommate has passed away.  He is the second roommate to die in the last couple weeks.   We don’t know how this affects Adam, we don’t have much of a choice. We appreciate continued prayer that whoever shares the room with him will hear when we read the Word and as we reiterate the gospel with Adam most days (Eph 6:15).

Time is short, we never know what might happen in our lives.  I pray all will think on that and be sure they know where they would go if they should die tonight (See here if you are unsure of the answer).

Update 8-20-2017 

Seems impossible that two years has passed since Adam’s accident.  I know it says 8-19 above, but it was actually about 1 a.m. on the 20th, when we were called.  Elsa, my friend and Adam’s landlord came to pick me up to bring me down to the hospital.

I really don’t know even now the official time of the accident.     I do know it was my daughter’s birthday the 19th.  Both she and Adam worked until close that night, so we decided to celebrate her birthday on the weekend instead.   I ‘almost’ told them to come by that night anyways.  Funny how you think of those things later, and you can’t — I know we cannot undo what has already been done.

Yesterday Adam told Doreen he was sad.  He didn’t know why, but he just knew he was sad.   She wondered if somewhere in him he knew.   I hope not, there is no point to dwelling on these things.  I wanted to take this moment to thank you who have been with us all this time, including those who may have just joined in to pray.    We appreciate you very much.

Love in Christ, Adam & Holly and all who work so hard to support Adam.

Update 8-13-2017

Some people are not sure where they are going when they die.  There are a few reasons for that.   The worst case scenario is that the person has never believed the simple uncorrupted gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.    

Most likely it is because of religion, which tells you that you must DO something or BE a certain somebody in order to enter heaven.   How could you ever KNOW if you were a good enough somebody, or if you had done enough?  Be honest with yourself, no way anyone could know….  

Only ONE has ever been perfect (Jesus), and no person that is not perfect can enter heaven.  I’m not are you?  Certainly not good enough to meet God’s perfect and Holy standard either.  I’ve learned in life through the truth of God’s Word that it is not by being good — stopping certain sins, giving to the poor, going to masses, saying certain prayers, belonging to a certain religion, none of that will help us get into Heaven, in fact doing works (might be righteous ones in our sight) can hinder us for we are told that it is by Grace we are saved through faith (in Him), not of ourselves, it is the GIFT of God, NOT of works lest any one should boast (Eph 2:8-9pp; Rom 4:4-5; Rom 11:6).  Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death BUT the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.   If you believe this for YOU, then the Bible says you can KNOW you (right now) have eternal life (1 John 5:9-13; John 3:15-17; John 5:24; John 6:40, 47).

If you are trusting in faith + works or another Jesus (Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, the Mormon or Jehovah’s witness version of Jesus etc.) you are believing in the wrong Jesus.  I am sorry if this offends, but I’d rather offend you now than lose you forever.

Last night Adam’s roommate died.   He was an elderly veteran who we wish we had more time with.  We weep for/with his family.   We know that all of our days are numbered, He knows how much time we will be here.  May we learn to keep that in mind so we might gain a heart of wisdom.   I hope this dear man believed upon Him, but his death yesterday is a reminder to me that unless we have believed upon Jesus Christ and His work alone to Save us, we have no hope.

Paul was addressing the Church at Corinth in chapter 15 of the first book of Corinthians.  They were being deceived by some who were saying Jesus had not risen from the dead.   He assured them of the truth of the gospel which they had believed and were saved by.  Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, He came and died for our sins, He was buried and rose again in three days as the Scriptures said, and was witnessed by many.    By taking up His life again, He proved He had the power to do so (as He said in John 10:17-19.)   This alone proves Jesus is God, only God can give or take life.  Later in this same chapter of 1 Cor 15, we are told He had the victory over sin and death (1 Cor 15:50-58).  Please consider believing on Jesus as YOUR Savior.

Pray for Adam, he was aware something was going on and was disturbed — to what degree we don’t know, Amber distracted him with drawing and talking.  Please also pray for her, these things aren’t easy for anyone.   Please also pray for this gentleman’s family, for God’s comfort for them.  We are told Adam will have a new roommate shortly, always appreciate you keeping them in your prayers with us.

If you don’t know where you are going for sure, please don’t be afraid to ask me.  It’s not about religion, or me somehow being better or holier than thou, I am not.  Please pray about it, ask Him to show you, and open the Word or again, please ask me.

I’ve lost so many loved ones and friends early.  In essence I’ve lost the Adam I knew, although I have a different Adam now.   Both men are sweet 🙂  The Word of God, which is truth, assures us we can know where we are going when we die. Please do not wait before it’s too late.

Update 8-7-2017

I received a call this afternoon that Adam’s roommate was going to be moving to another room, and that we would be receiving a new roommate.  Thank You Lord.  I pray this one may be more compatible so that Adam has a better atmosphere for healing and rest. Thank you so much for all who prayed.     I need to be reminded to thank God in all things, even those that seem hopeless.   We appreciate you all very much <3

Holly, Jason & Adam

URGENT update 7-31-2017

Today I had some testing for myself, afterwards, I went to Adams.   We were waiting for quite some time for them to put him on the toilet (almost an hour), he didn’t make it.   The roommate was changed first, and he did his typical yelling and hitting and the CNA’s mentioned to the wife how he would pinch or bite, hit and scream etc., and her comment back was “He always said, ‘I’m the man”” (not sure what that implied).

The man’s wife left the room so it was just me and Jessup.   Please understand I have the utmost empathy for this man, and would appreciate your prayers for him too.

They finally had a lift available (they will no longer use CNA’s to lift him).  They took care of Adam, we got him in bed, and then shut the door so he could nap.

All of the sudden, there was this unintelligible SCREAMING.  Emphasis on Screaming. Adam yelled, (at about 1/3 the volume), “Oh ______, I HATE that”, while at the same time flipping to his back from his side.  I am not a person who startles easily at all.  My kids try to scare me all the time, I don’t even flinch, drives them crazy.  But this still has me shaking and I jumped too, Jessup said it scared even him.

I told Adam how sorry I was and hugged him and all of the sudden the roommate did this SCREAMING (maybe it only lasts a few second, I don’t even know truthfully) but it would be like an exorcism type movie, or One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, (what I remember from way back when), anyways, the screaming was terrifying to all of us.

I went to go find the head nurse, she was busy and I never was able to talk to her before I left.  I have already tried to meet with the director of nursing and the social worker.  I called his Health Insurance representative for the facility before when Amber told me about this.  The representative for the health insurance she tried to facilitate a meeting with them.  They just turned us down for a meeting to hear our concerns and instead turned us over to an ombudsman.

I have NEVER experienced a facility unwilling to meet with us to hear concerns and I’ve been in MANY between my dad and Adam.  This is not like we’ve had multiple meetings with them and been trouble for them.  We have only had one meeting, our initial care meeting and after that, never again.

When I left today, I cried.   How can Adam fend for himself as a brain injury patient in this situation?  How can he feel safe or secure?  How can he heal?  How can He sleep?   As a mom, this is where I feel SO helpless and yet on the other hand I know the Lord cares.

So PLEASE pray with us for the Lord to intervene for Adam’s sake.  I am not kidding when I say it is like a horror movie on high volume.  You don’t know when from on the other side of the curtain there is going to be some awful scream.  He seemed sedated for awhile, but we didn’t know what might be going on at night while he slept all day and who knows what overnight?   This man has even managed to get a needle away from a nurse, and she was unable to get it back by herself.  One of us had to go run to get another nurse to help her.   I don’t know if this man can crawl, he has fallen out of bed multiple times, but I do know he is violent and fights with anyone.

I have called the ombudsman and left a message and also emailed both the health insurance and the facility and carbon copied many.  Please pray with us for this to be resolved for what’s best for Adam, and for us to know what to do next.

Please also especially pray for the friends who come faithfully; Amber, Doreen, Karen.   Ask the Lord to bless them and help them in their own difficulties for their many kindnesses to us.

PS – When I was crying and talking to Him while I was driving, this portion from Eph 5:19-20 came to my remembrance:

speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So yes, I should always give thanks, but one thing I can’t do is sing, so I’m sitting there telling Him I can’t.   So I start to sing out a couple things and here was all I could think to rhyme and then I said, O.K. Lord, that’s it for my singing today. 🙂

When I am weak, He is made strong.
He commands His love, all the day long.
Whenever I weep, He stores my tears,
And in the storm, He calms my fears.

Update 7-20-2017

I look at the Bible verse above, and I have to smile because we have to be told to always pray and not to faint.   Told not to faint… I completely get it.

Reminds me of how weak we are on our own, even as we believe ourselves to be strong.

I come to you all, thankful for your prayers and help, and asking you to continue in them.  Once again, Adam has been given a screamer for a roommate.  This is so upsetting for someone with a brain injury, (I am sure upsetting for any person), but especially for Adam.

When I saw the text from Amber late last night I just couldn’t hold back the tears for awhile.  As a mom, it tears you apart.   I was so tired last night but couldn’t seem to fall asleep once I saw that, so I did remember to pray (see above).  Prayer does help a lot in so many ways, not only for others, but for us too.

Back to the facility.  Their (typical) response to Amber was that they could move Adam.  All these facilities must take a certain psychology class because this is not the first time we’ve heard this same kind of answer to the same problem.   It’s brilliant, because which one of use wants to pack up and move to the unknown, especially since after all the work, the very next day they could move another one in.   They must certainly know these patients are this way in advance.  I remember how long it took for us to get the screamer moved the last time at the last facility,  so I pray you might all pray about this for us today.  Adam is younger in his mind now, and so I cannot imagine how much this must disturb him.

In the daytime, he is good with this concerning others.  There is an older lady who screams or yells out loud by the nurse’s station.   Amber said she saw Adam telling her, “I love you” (after she screamed) and the woman would stop perplexed.  Then she would yell again, and Adam would tell her again and the cycle repeated.  Adam has always been very kind to everyone of all ages. (That too brought tears to my eyes, but good ones).

Also, Adam has had an infection both of his toes.  Doreen and Amber both had requested a podiatrist, and told the nurses many times, but nothing had happened until we took pictures and then Jason took those pictures to the staff.  At that point Adam finally was given the antibiotic.    I had my son Jessup take close up photos which showed green puss oozing from the bed of his nails, and his toes were red and swollen.   What does it take?  It has been weeks and although they finally gave him an antibiotic we have seen no one.  Do not get me wrong, we keep his hands and feet maintained.  Amber has mainly taken this over, pray for the Lord to bless her, she is such a faithful friend.   She makes him do the things he should do.  She has him take off his own shoes and shirt, and lift his body.  She challenges him so that he gets the exercise.   Thank the Lord for her.

Also pray for others who help in love, who some are suffering in emotional ways of their own regarding loved ones, others with physical ailments.   Hard to care for someone when you yourself are ill.  So please pray for all in that regard.

Finally, please pray regarding the therapies.  His doctor that gives him his botox shots say his feet are getting flat, so he should be able to stand, but this place is not giving him RNA services, or standing him to use the toilet or get into bed, so he has not been improving but becoming more dependent.   Adam has also gained weight, so this makes it more difficult.

We also have been unable to get a referral to an opthamologist since he has been here.  I printed out some Bible verses in 24 font, and Adam was able to read them himself, although with a little difficulty.  Not sure if it was the spacing or the size but we’ll try again.   Adam and Koby did some drawing the other day, here is the one Adam did for me ?  Amber is the artist and has helped Adam learn to love drawing.  Doreen was working with him the other day to fill in the spaces that she drew on the page.

UPDATE:  I did talk to the social worker, long story short, as I tried to tell her what was going on, she listened a moment and then started talking over me saying that they don’t have any empty rooms (we see quite a few so that we don’t understand).   She also mentioned we can move to another facility (another common response)… 🙁

SECOND UPDATE (7-21): I spoke to the advocate with Adam’s Health insurance.  She understood our concerns, and didn’t feel it made sense either to place this patient with us.   The staff there said he shouldn’t be appropriate with anyone, but it seems there is a disconnect between administrators and nursing staff.    She requested a meeting on our behalf.  We got a response back from the social worker (Angela) saying that day was not available.  She did not provide an alternative meet time as of yet.

We love you all, and thank you for your support in prayer.

Previous updates below:

Update 6-29-2017

Prayer update:  As of now Adam is not getting therapy and we don’t know why more than they say it is due to insurance.  Please pray for this, they are using mainly the standing lift to hoist him from wheelchair to facilities or bed, and so he is not even standing and he is regressing physically.   We know that prayer matters, so we appreciate your prayers in this, we are spent in more ways than one.   God bless you all for being in this with us.

Update 6-1-2017

A lot has happened since the last update, I apologize for being so slack.  Adam’s single room in the new facility did not last long, but we were grateful for the time we did have.   They have been pretty quick to respond here on doctor’s appointments, at least in relationship to Solterra.  So a few weeks or so seems like a short time compared to never.

Yesterday a dentist came in — a first in all the time we have been in facilities (and asked for one over and over and over again).  We even said we’d pay for transport, or whatever it took, but we always had to wait for a doctor’s order.  Turned out that Adam (at the end of Solterra) didn’t have a doctor.  One doctor said Adam had Optum and he didn’t take it, so he couldn’t help us. The other said Adam didn’t have Optum and that was all he took and neither would take care of him.  No one could seem to ‘fix that’ no matter who we spoke too.    Not really surprised the facility was shut down by the state, but sad for all those we came to know and care for there.

One of our dear friends Zeman, an older gentleman who knew my parents (from his work at Christian Care) and also with Adam in rehab, became sick and went home and died a few weeks later.  We never saw him again or even knew that he was gravely ill.   He was so strong for his age, and in such good shape.  Last time I saw him he hugged me and told me he was sorry (regarding my father’s death) and we chatted together.   But I am at least comforted, I know Zeman is with the Lord and my father and countless others because he believed.   We never know when our time is.   But I was blessed to have known Zeman while on this earth and he was good to minister to Adam.   We’ll especially miss him. (Makes me think on Don Moen’s song, “If you could see me now” and also Mercy Me’s “I can only Imagine” (the first time I heard Adam singing words.)

Adam is now in a semi-private room, we have had a couple mishaps, some a little worrisome, and some misunderstandings (such as with assisted feeding or toileting, etc.) but we are working those things out, their unit coordinator seems helpful so far.

Adam is getting Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy.   I am in a state of awe for that, but grateful for the time being, seems like each place it doesn’t last long.  But they all say he is improving and getting stronger (Let’s hope they keep saying that, our experience has been they stop therapy after a short time).

Please also continue to pray for the volunteers, for all their needs to be met, for others to minister to them and help them with any of their financial needs or health/emotional/physical, etc..  Some have sacrificed much to be with him.

They are also teaching him to eat by himself, very difficult with little eyesight and choking, but we will see how that goes.  One that was with him said it reminded her of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan ?  We have to find humor in these things.    One time alone someone came in at night after dinner, and saw Adam sitting there alone with jello in his socks and shoes, wasn’t sure what they were thinking about letting him eat jello by himself lol.  But we’re trying to be thankful for the good things, and let the Lord handle anything that is not in our control.  If it’s important, surely we’re being vigilant, but trying to be wise.

Adam still needs an appointment with an Opthamologist regarding his strabismus and his eyesight, so please be praying for that.  Hopefully one day he’ll get back with the chiropractor, I think that will add to his care.  Of course that is another thing insurance doesn’t pay for, but we’ve seen benefit from so we do it anyways along with other things.

We’re also giving him what Amber has laughingly nicknamed the ‘blob’. It’s a concoction that I think I could make a million dollars with ?  It’s a mixture of cayenne, turmeric, coconut oil, Ceylon Cinnamon, Desert honey, cayenne, vinegar and garlic, along with dark cocoa powder.  This creates a very glossy, interesting blob that takes it’s own shape, (I paid my two boys to try it first — you know the Life cereal commercial, “Give it to Mikey, he’ll eat ANYTHING”.  Well evidently my other boys won’t eat ANYTHING — they gave me my money back lol!  Adam loves it however, so this is great, because to get the supplementation would have been difficult. We also give him Alaskan fish oil along with some krill and believe we’re seeing some differences, but documenting in case it might help someone else later on.

On the negative side.  We think we know the reason why this has happened – (fear and instability during transfers after toileting (won’t go into detail), but the last couple of days Adam has bitten a person…  One yesterday, he bit a caregiver on the shoulder while he was somewhat falling forward (the one CNA lost her grasp and he fell forward in a sort of ‘lean’ towards my friend and when he hit her shoulder he bit).  Again I believe it’s fear because he loves her.  Today he bit a CNA (she said not hard) on her back, and again it was when he was leaning/falling forwards.

I received a call from the physicians assistant who I couldn’t quite understand.  At first she said what I thought sounded like “Adam beat the staff”.   I asked, “He beat the staff?” She responded, “yes, he beat the staff”, so I told her I didn’t quite like that terminology. (Adam has been known to pat people too hard), but to call it beating seemed a little like inappropriate terminology.   When I said that, she corrected me (sounded a little frustrated), “No! He beat with his mouth”… OH…. He BIT someone?  (I then thought she was recounting the day before, but unfortunately not).  This PA wants him to have a psych eval.  I think most know the code words there and the implications that go along with it.   I told her what I felt the common denominator was (feeling of falling while being wiped while on your toes and being unstable and afraid).   She didn’t seem terribly interested in what I was saying as she repeated to me wanting to have a psychiatrist evaluate him and probably give him anti-depressants.  I told them they could evaluate him with me there, but I wasn’t going to say o.k. to meds without going through that and making an informed decision.  I then asked her to picture herself being almost blind, with people doing things without telling you first.  Coming at you to make you stand off the toilet, then having you stand (more likened to hovering on your tiptoes) and then feeling like your falling forward (he cannot put his feet flat).  And on top of that without real warning, have someone touch you in the crotch area.  I asked her what she would feel like, and what would her reaction be as just a normal person (I think you would jump or yell or worse).  I hope and pray she considered what I said as Adam is not just normal, he is special and suffering from a TBI and can’t express what he’s feeling well.

He does seem to have more activities there, the one thing (oddly) we have to keep him from is ‘Bible study’ which one of the residents plays a sermon from a preacher she likes.  I attended one and the ‘preacher’ was a mixed bag of using the Mess-Age (new age ‘bible’) and also the “New Living Translation” (a terrible paraphrase) which uses the terminology ‘turn from sin’ or ‘repent from sin’ in order to be saved (False and impossible).   A honest person has to say good luck with that.  A Pharisee will say, “I thank God I’m not like those other sinners” (Luke 18).

I actually was shocked at this very harsh and condemning ‘sermon’ for his gospel.  I am not saying don’t call sin sin, but he was telling them if you don’t STOP _______________ and you don’t STOP __________________ then you’re going to hell for all eternity (nothing about the truth — that the only thing could save you was believing on Jesus Christ as your Savior*).

I was curious if this preacher really believed he had stopped ALL his sins, because the Bible clearly says sin is transgression of the law.    And we are also told in the Bible, break just ONE and you break them ALL.  So this preacher was a hypocrite and did not know the gospel, nor did he realize one sin, or one type of sin is the same as far as keeping unbelievers from God.

Adam was getting visibly upset just listening to this ‘preacher’.   I told him, “We know this is not the good news, not the truth (Adam was shaking his head in agreement, ‘No’).   I continued,  “this man is a false teacher, he is deceived and deceiving others.  We will be leaving, but give me a couple of minutes to just note some more things,” (basically of how many ways he was going to go into error).  We listened long enough to witness more of his false gospel and left.  One of the staff members seemed shocked at his message too, holding her hand over her face.

Pray for these people here, I am going to speak to them about maybe providing some large print Bibles and probably a gospel flyer with verses marked.  An older gentleman asked if he could get a Bible and was shushed.  Here someone wants a Bible, and they are not being given the Word but instead judgmental and condemning words of a preacher the Bible says is a ravening wolf that we need to warn of (Dream City church – Phoenix first assembly).  Oddly these people do a lot of ‘good’ across the valley in donated bikes and children’s programs at Christmas, yet inevitably they will be the ones trying to justify themselves to God when they die, “Lord Lord….we did many WONDERFUL WORKS ..in your name.”  (This will shock some that I named the church, but how will you know to avoid these if people don’t let you know?)

Jesus never denies they did GOOD WORKS.  He will tell them to depart, that He never KNEW them (Matt 7).  Jesus knows His sheep (John 10), and He knows those who have not believed upon Him ALONE as their Savior. With their mouth they say they believe on Him, but they ADD to His Word by saying to receive the free gift of eternal life you MUST turn from all your sins, (or repent from your sins), or even people like Hollywood minister Ray Comfort who tells you to STOP SINNING (or be really sorry for your sins), etc.  All untrue.

Repent DOES NOT = Repent FROM SIN

Repent = Change your mind/thought/thinking

Change your mind or thinking about what?  You need to know you and everyone else in this world has sinned.

Think you are a good person?  His Word tells us no one is good enough to face God (and live) because we are all sinners, and the penalty/wages for that sin is death.  God is Holy and He is perfect and we aren’t. Not one lie will enter His kingdom of heaven, so if you have ever been deceitful, wanted something someone else had, or looked at another person with lust — your end is death.

God doesn’t want that, which is why He sent His Son.  He created you to commune with Him, but your sin is separating you from Him and will cause your death.  You have a free will to do as you wish.  If you reject Him in unbelief, there will be no second decisions after that.

But — there is good news!   The but of Romans 6:23 is that the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.  How long do you think eternal is?  As soon as you believe, you possess it, and the Bible tells us we can KNOW this (1 John 5:9-13).  This ‘preacher’ thinks you can lose or walk away from the free gift of eternal life (again false).

Jesus is Lord (God).  The Greek word for Lord literally means God the Messiah. Jesus is God. He proved this by willingly giving His life for you and for me, and by taking His life back up again when He rose again in three days.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  Jesus 10:17-18

Only God is Savior.    If you have always believed you can somehow contribute (by turning from sin) as part of your salvation, you have not received eternal life yet.  If you do not believe that Jesus is God, then you have not been given the free gift of eternal life yet.    Jesus asked, “Whom do men say that I (the Son of man) am?”and the disciples answered what some in the group of Pharisees and rulers thought. But then He asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?”  And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

Jesus means Jehovah saves or Jehovah is salvation, (Emmanuel-God among us). Only Jehovah is Savior (Isaiah 43:10-11, the Hebrew reads Jehovah).  Christ means ‘the anointed One’ or ‘Messiah’, Lord means God, the Messiah.

So this is what Jesus had to say about Himself in John 6 after forgiving the woman the Pharisees drug out to be stoned (Only God can forgive sin).

• Jesus said about Himself, I AM the Light of the World.  (This is claiming to be God, only the Creator is the Light of the World.
• Jesus told the Pharisees He could bear record of Himself (you need two witnesses in OT law in order for something to be true).  Jesus is God, therefore there is no sin in Him, nor is He a man that He should lie.  He said His record was TRUE (and it was), because He is God.
• He said if they knew His Father (God), they would know Him (claiming to be one with God).
• Jesus told them they were from this world, and that HE was not of this world (claiming again to have come from above).

Either Jesus told the truth or He lied, and if He lied, He is not some ‘good man’ or a ‘good prophet’ because prophets aren’t wrong if they are a true prophet of God.  Good men don’t lie and cause all their friends to die for their name sake.

And here is the important part that Jesus finished with.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.  

In vs 24.  The ‘he’ was not in the original manuscript, so it should read, if you believe not that I AM you shall die in your sins.    The “I AM” is a term the Jews would have been familiar with IF they knew the Scriptures vs. searching them but not believing His testimony (John 5:37-43).  If they respected and trembled at God’s Word (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 119:140,162; Isaiah 66:2), they would have recognized the I AM as God.  In Exodus God spoke to Moses from the burning bush (which didn’t extinguish), and told Moses to tell the children of Israel His name when they ask who sent him:

“I AM THAT I AM”.

In vs. 27-29 Jesus said, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, (raised Him up on the cross) then shall ye know that I AM he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”   When He said this, many believed on Him.

Jesus is the One prophesied of.   He had over 300 fulfilled prophecies centuries in advance that can not be plausibly denied.  Can you just ignore that?

He is Immanuel (God with us) born of a virgin (Is 7:14).  Why is it significant He was born of a virgin?  Because He didn’t have the sin nature of Adam (who brought sin into the world).  Because of that sin, death passed upon all men, because all have sinned.  But Jesus came and brought a free gift by the grace of God.  The gift of righteousness which gives us eternal life is through belief upon Him alone. (Rom 5:14-21),  Those of us who believe upon Jesus (in Christ) we will be made alive.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:22.

Jesus is the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, Who would bear the sins of the world (Isaiah 53) — willingly.

He is THE Prophet that God would raise up.   Moses warned Israel they had better listen to or God would require it of them (Deut 18:18-19).  We see most of them have rejected Him. This too was prophesied many times.  There will be a day where some of them will look upon the One they have pierced and mourn… this is in their Tanakh.  Do they wonder when they have pierced God (Zech 12:10)?  Actually most Jews do not know their Scriptures, but just listen to a man.  Most are not familiar with Daniel’s prophecy of the Messiah, with Isaiah’s prophecy or Zechariah along with others, or their Rabbi has spiritualized it to mean something else.  They still will answer, being a son of Abraham will not count if you do not believe on Jesus as the Messiah (Savior) of the World.

He is our High Priest.  The soul that sins will die (the Word of God says), so we will all die — that much is certain.  We will either die and go into eternity to be with God forever, or we will die and go into judgment for all eternity (Heb 9:27).

He died in our place.  Jesus died on that cross for you, for me, for all our sins, past, present and future.  We weren’t even born yet, but He took every sin we ever have committed, and ever will commit, He saw and bore them all.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  Rom 5:6-8

All this was prophesied centuries and centuries in advance.  God laid on Him the sins of us ALL (Isaiah 53).  He did it willingly (John 10:18-19) and in great love for us (John 15:13).  All so that He could be our righteousness.  We can never be good, but the Son can step in front of us, and say, “this little one believed on me, they are innocent”.

In God’s eyes, when we believe, we are white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  Clothed in His Garment of Salvation (Is 61:10-11).  Perfected forever by His sacrifice (Heb 10:10,14).  You may have priest still standing daily offering for sin (as in the Mass/see Hebrews 10:10-14 for the Bible’s Word on this.)   He says His Sacrifice is the only perfect, acceptable and final payment, which has dealt with sin’s consequence forever — there remains no other sacrifice for sin (but His).  So if your priest is offering up things for you for forgiveness and/or a part in salvation, and you place your faith there, you are mistaken, it is of no benefit, in fact it will do you great harm in the end.

We become flesh of His flesh.  When we believe upon Him, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ.  We are sealed until the day of redemption (1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:4-6; 4:30).  We’ll still sin, but if we will continue in His Word, we will be His disciples (Jn 8:31-32).

Don’t be deceived by these works-based preachers.  No amount of turning from sin, going to church, making promises to amend your ways, or being sorry for what you’ve done, etc., can be part of you becoming His.  None of those things (although they might be good things) can be added to a gift freely given.  God tells you it is free, not of works lest any of us should boast about what we’ve done (Romans 5-6:23; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:4-6; Rom 11:6).  Titus 3:4-7 tells us none of those good works can help save us.

God loves us — He loves the world (John 3:16), He is a God of love (1 John 3:16), He has even died for those false preachers (2 Pet 2:1-2).  He came to die for sinners.  So He died for every one who has ever lived and who will ever come into the world.  The only difference is, will you BELIEVE upon Him for the free gift of eternal life?

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward manappeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

If you have believed on Him as your Savior, you have already been given thefree gift of eternal life.  You have already been passed from death unto life, and are in the spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ (John 5:24; Col 1:13).  All of you trespasses were blotted out at the cross (Col 2:13-15), so when you sin, talk to Him about it, and look ahead.

I’m sorry this is so long.  But if even one day, someone reads this and believes, everything we have gone through will have been worth it.

God bless you who read here and pray for us.