DCLM Daily Manna 16 November 2026: Yet Unknown
KEY VERSE: Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” (John 8:19)
TEXT: John 8:12-31
Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.
13 Whereupon the Pharisees told Him, You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid and is worthless.
14 Jesus answered, Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is true and reliable and valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
15 You [set yourselves up to] judge according to the flesh (by what you see). [You condemn by external, human standards.] I do not [set Myself up to] judge or condemn or sentence anyone.
16 Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true [My decision is right]; for I am not alone [in making it], but [there are two of Us] I and the Father, Who sent Me.
17 In your [own] Law it is written that the testimony (evidence) of two persons is reliable and valid.
18 I am One [of the Two] bearing testimony concerning Myself; and My Father, Who sent Me, He also testifies about Me.
19 Then they said to Him, Where is this [a]Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.
20 Jesus said these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple [[b]court]; but no one ventured to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21 Therefore He said again to them, I am going away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of) your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come.
22 At this the Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come?
23 He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world.
24 That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.
25 Then they said to Him, Who are You anyway? Jesus replied, [Why do I even speak to you!] I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first.
26 I have much to say about you and to judge and condemn. But He Who sent Me is true (reliable), and I tell the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.
27 They did not perceive (know, understand) that He was speaking to them about the Father.
28 So Jesus added, When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realize (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught Me.
29 And He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.
30 As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
READ OTHER DCLM DAILY DEVOTIONAL HERE
When Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17th-century philosopher and Christian thinker, encountered the living Christ, he recorded in his journal a single word repeated twice: “Fire. Fire.” Though a lifelong Catholic and theological debater, it was not until that encounter that he truly knew the Christ he had long spoken of. His notes that night began with this line: “From about half-past ten until half past midnight—FIRE.”
It is one thing to know about Christ; it is quite another to know Him. In our key verse, Jesus exposed the tragic blindness of religious men who claimed spiritual insight. They recited the Law, occupied seats of teaching, and adorned themselves with piety, yet they did not recognise the very One whom the Scriptures proclaimed. “Ye neither know me, nor my Father,” He declared. Their knowledge was accurate, but not intimate; theological, but not transformational.
Such is the peril in many pulpits and pews today. Men preach Christ, but do not tremble before Him. Women sing of His majesty yet walk in defiance of His lordship. Entire congregations build ministries around the name of Jesus, while remaining strangers to His presence. Proclaiming a Christ they have never truly met, He remains unknown to them. Spiritual blindness among the religious is not new. The tragedy lies in their comfort in spiritual blindness. One may grow fluent in church language, serve in leadership, even cast out devils in His name, and still hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
Knowing Christ is not mere assent to creeds; it is surrender to His lordship, daily walking in the light of His word. He is not a subject to be mastered but a Sovereign to be obeyed. Let no one mistake familiarity with Christ with faith in Him. Head knowledge about Christ does not translate to heart transformation by Christ. The risen Lord is not impressed with lip service. He delights in those who know Him, love Him, and follow Him in truth.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
You know about Christ. Do you really know Him?
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 9-10
DCLM Daily Manna 16 November 2026
