To Know that I Am He

Lesson #143

With this lesson we will cover John 8:26 – 30 and finish this section. The Pharisees continue to ask Jesus who he is and he continues to tell them but they don’t understand what he is saying or if they do they will not accept it and believe in him. Jesus continues to say to them: “I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the word what I have heard from him” (John 8:26 ESV). Jesus, speaking to these Pharisees is like speaking to the deaf; they are unable to hear so as to comprehend what he is saying. Jesus knows these Pharisees very well and could say much about them and there is much he could accuse them of concerning their relationship to the doctrine being presented to them. That which Jesus Christ teaches will always stand against the wickedness and contempt of men. Jesus listens to his Father and what he hears is true and so what he declares to the world is true and so we need to listen to and head what he says.

As we just said above, “They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father” (John 8: 27 ESV). They are altogether blind and walk in darkness and unless they come to Jesus in belief that darkness will not be removed and they will continue along the pathway to eternal destruction. This is happening to people all around us today who reject the Gospel. Such blindness and deafness we see here among these religious teachers should warn us to walk in fear before God because without Jesus Christ, eternal judgment stands before us.

Jesus continues his declaration to them and says, “. . . When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28 ESV). There is a time coming when they will know who he is. They will first judge him for blasphemy, based on false witness, scourge him, and nail him to a cross between two thieves. At his death “. . . the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matthew 27:51 – 54 ESV). The Pharisees will also know that he did nothing on his own authority and spoke the truth given to him by his Father, but most will still not believe.

Jesus declares that he is not alone, “[Because] he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8 29 ESV). As believers this is to be our position before God. We must understand and believe that he who chose us is always with us and will never leave us. In return we are to always do the things that are pleasing to him.

“As [Jesus] was saying these things, many believed in him” (John 8:30 ESV). Even though the Pharisees did not believe, John tells us that there were others who believed. The meaning of believe at this point is probably not believing faith that occurred after Pentecost, but a sort of preparation for that faith. These people who John says believed were able to accept the doctrine Jesus was presenting in preparation for belief after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, what a powerful example Jesus is for us; how he stands before those of unbelief and presents the Gospel without argument. His presentation is clear and brief that he is the Son of God who has you as his Father in heaven. Jesus is clear concerning the kind of relationship with you we are to have; one of belief and obedience. Thank you for your love and mercy in choosing me and the security of knowing that you will never leave me or forsake me.