John 8:48-59. “Who do you think you are?”
Alexei Navalny, a Russian strongly opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government, served many jail sentences for organising protest rallies that have been mainly directed against government corruption. In October 2018 he was publicly challenged to a duel by Putin’s longtime Security Chief, Viktor Zolotov. This challenge was made in a video, with Zolotov appearing in full uniform with cap and epaulets when he said that, whatever weapon was chosen by Navalny, he would ‘make mincemeat of him’. Navalny accepted the challenge, but his weapon of choice was to be a live television debate. The duel has not taken place! He was subsequently poisoned with On 20 August 2020, he was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent and only just survived. In January 2021, Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately detained on accusations of violating parole conditions while hospitalised in Germany. He died in a prison camp in Siberia.
Jesus was also considered to be a public enemy by the Jewish rulers and they wanted to find ways to get rid of him. In the passage we are studying today the Jews engage Jesus in a public debate, that had all the features of a verbal duel. Jesus had just told the Jewish authorities that the reason they do not hear God speaking to them was because they are not God’s people - they did not belong to God.
They respond very aggressively with two aggressive statements,
“Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed.” John 8:48
Jesus, without calling them names, repeats the truths he has so frequently made previously.
“’I am not possessed by a demon,’ said Jesus, ‘but I honour my Father and you dishonour me.’” John 8:49
Then they attack again,
“Now we know that you are demon possessed!” John 8:52
In response Jesus restates his divine claims but now accuses his attackers of dishonesty. The result was that the authorities wanted to stone Jesus to death there and then, but Jesus managed to slip away. There is however much to learn from the details of this dialogue which is the climax of the last two chapters.
Jesus had set the scene for what was to come when he had cried out publicly in the Court of Women of the Temple, which was bathed in light from the four massive lamps during the Feast of Tabernacles when these conversations took place.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Jesus claims that he alone is the key to understanding life. This theme of light shining is the basis for what John selected in his subsequent writing. Chapter 8 is a searchlight that makes the claims of Jesus abundantly clear. Then, at the beginning of chapter 9, Jesus will heal a man who had been born blind. This story is surely inserted here to highlight the blindness of the religious leaders opposed to God’s truth and that Jesus alone can enable them to see. It is all part of John’s thesis that ‘light is shining in the darkness’.
The claims of Jesus
Jesus accentuates two statements in this passage that are clearly very important because they both begin with,
“I tell you the truth . . .”
They summarise the message of the whole Bible. The first is,
“I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:51
This teaches what Jesus had come to achieve although it is put in a negative form. Jesus has come that we ‘may have life and have it to the full’ (John 10:10), he came that we might never see death..
The second is,
“I tell you the truth, . . before Abraham was born, ‘I am!’” John 8:58
This teaches who Jesus claimed to be. He is saying that Abraham looked forwards to his day.
A person who understands and accepts these two statements is a Christian, they are the basis for experiencing ‘life to the full’.
Let us look at these two verses in more detail.
1. If anyone keeps my word he will never see death (John 8:51)
The word ‘death’ has three meanings in Scripture. It can mean the physical dissolution of our bodies at the end of this present life.
Death also is used to refer to that ultimate disaster when we leave this world without the forgiveness Christ offers, to meet God the judge, and be dismissed from his presence for ever.
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
Thirdly, death can also mean our alienation from God before we find forgiveness in Christ. Thus Paul wrote,
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins . . “ Ephesians 2:1
“When you were dead in your sins . . .” Colossians 2:13
We need to distinguish which death Jesus is talking about. In this context Jesus clearly cannot be talking about physical death as all his disciples would die physically. Later John brings the different meanings of death together when Jesus comforts Mary and Martha after the death of his friend Lazarus,
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” John 11:25
The following verse adds another meaning, eternal death,
“. . . and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?’” John 11:26
Note these final words are left out in the liturgy of funeral services. As the minister walks down the aisle in front of the coffin, surrounded by people who normally would not be in church, it might be helpful if he could add these words whilst looking at everyone,
“Do you believe that?”
Their eternal destiny depends on the response.
When the great evangelist D.L.Moody was about to die, he said confidently to those around him,
“Earth is receding, heaven is approaching. This is my crowning day.”
Christian funerals should be a mixture of triumph overcoming the natural sadness – contrast their joy with the atmosphere at atheist or humanist funerals.
“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?. . . But thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
Jesus is absolutely clear when talking to his opponents, if any will believe in him, follow him, let his word be their guide then they will never see death, they will never be separated from the God who made them and would die to save them.
During this discussion Jesus makes yet another claim to be the one and only son of God.
“My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.” John 8:54-55
There could be no confusion now. He is saying that his Father is the God of the Old Testament and he is adamant that this is the truth. Jesus had never and would never say anything untrue, so he throws down the gauntlet. The proof that he is God’s Son is that he always does what his heavenly Father says.
As this article was being written the television and newspapers were full of the manifestos of those who want to be the next Prime Minister. Here Jesus is putting forwards his manifesto that begins with what he longs to bring about. For him nuclear war is not the ultimate disaster, it is for us to face eternal death; to enter eternity unprepared to meet God; to die and wake up the other side knowing that there is no more hope. This is Christ’s manifesto, he wants to save us from hell for heaven, so this should be the manifesto of his church. Why are our churches so embarrassed about passing on this manifesto about heaven and hell and the only Saviour? Our message should be that any person who follows Christ, and who lives by Christ’s word, will never face the tragedy of hell.
2. Before Abraham was born, ‘I am!
Verse 58 is the other main point in Jesus’ manifesto.
“I tell you the truth, . . before Abraham was born, ‘I AM!’” John 8:51
The grammar here seems to be all wrong, ‘before Abraham was, I am!’ The answer is to be found in the Old Testament. When the Lord met Moses at the ‘burning bush’ and told Moses to be his representative in freeing the children of Israel from their captivity in Egypt, Moses asked how he was to expalin this to the Israelites
“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your Fathers has sent me to you’ and they ask me ‘what is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?’.
God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I
AM’ has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14
Jesus is clearly referring to this account and is claiming to be the same God as the one the Jews debating with him were pretending to follow. The Jews clearly understood what Jesus was saying; it is made eloquently clear by the sentence that follows,
“At this, they picked up stones to stone him.” John 8:59
It was blasphemy for a man to claim to be God. What was missing was a fair investigation of the charge.
What is staggering is that, in spite of this immense claim by Jesus, there is a complete lack of self seeking by him.
“I am not seeking glory for myself.” John 8:50
“If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” John 8:54
How many of the world’s politicians could honestly say that they are simply doing what God wants. How many would be willing to die for what they say they believe in? Jesus is surely the light shining in our darkness.
The message of the church
These two sentences together are a summary of the Christian message. Jesus is saying, ‘I am one with the eternal God. I have come to earth to brings this news of salvation to you. I have come to give you life, both now and in eternity. If anyone keeps my word he will never see death.’
Jesus is saying that anyone can avoid being separated from God eternally by accepting these two claims. Only if Jesus is who he says he is can he save us by taking responsibility for our sin. If he is not God he cannot be our Saviour. They must stand together.
Today many think that a Christian education is to help children to become nice, kind pleasant members of society. That is not the Christian message, it is far too limited, even though this may be a spin off. Why are we so ashamed to pass on what Jesus teaches?
People will want to know how they can change for the better and experience the power of the Spirit to change them into becoming like Jesus. Just telling people to be good will never bring about this change.
A headmaster wrote the following in his autobiography,
“I was happy in conversation with boys always to tell them what ideal behaviour was and where selfishness, cruelty and exploitation lay, but unwilling to talk of the very centre of Christianity, the meaning of the cross, because I found it at times repugnant and in part beyond belief.
With this semi-religion I was able to live with some contentment, but I knew well that it was ‘non-infectious’. That if what I believed was all Christianity amounted to, it would attract few. I knew that our Lord did not walk about Palestine beginning a world revolution, by saying,
“Come along everyone, be nice to everybody, be truthful, be honest. No he spoke of repentance, of salvation from sin, of conversion.”
How right this headmaster is. The Christian message is that the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God, is at work. He enables individuals to recognise the rebellion against God, that is in us all, and draws us to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of any who turn to him. When we respond, his Spirit enters our life and begins the radical change in our characters. The Holy Spirit wants us to become like Jesus.
The darkness
Jesus claims that the darkness man is in is very great and John illustrates this by the reaction of the Jewish leaders. Note the characteristics of those who oppose him.
1. Anger
They lapse into irrational, vitriolic anger,
“The Jews answered him, ‘Are we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon possessed?” John 8:48
Such slurs are quoted in all four gospels. In Mark’s gospel we read,
“And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said,, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebub. By the prince of demons he is driving our demons.” Mark 3:22
On that occasion Jesus answered the irrational attack. He argues that if a king is fighting himself, he must lose! In the same way, a household in which the husband and wife are constantly fighting will be destroyed. Jesus is saying that it is irrational and absurd to think that he is driving out Satan by the power of Satan. It is darkness that is irrational and spiteful, God is recognised by truth and love.
2. Lying
Darkness is also characterised by dishonesty. Satan is the father of lies. Jesus picks this up,
“Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.” John 8:55
Those, in whom God has put his Spirit, also know God and this will be seen in the way they speak the truth with love.
3. Ignorance of God
Have you noticed how often politicians who are being interviewed and are facing a difficult question will begin their answer with,
‘Now the fact is . . .” or ‘We all know . . .’ or ‘To tell you the truth . . .
Although the Jewish leaders knew and understood so little about Jesus they said,
“Aren’t we right in saying . . .” John 8:48
Yet they were clearly wrong.
“Now we know . . .”, John 8:52
Yet they were clearly ignorant if they really thought that Jesus could conceivably be demon possessed.
Later the Jews confronted the man born blind, that Jesus had healed. We read,
“Then they hurled insults at him and said, ‘You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” John 9:28-29
The man answered using irony ,
“Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” John 9:30-33
Such understanding was met with further ridicule and opposition. They said to the man,
“‘You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!’ And they threw him out.” John 9:34
Summary
Jesus claims to be God’s light shining in the darkness, yet the darkness betrays itself in the way it reacts to the light.
The prime issue
The issue at stake is the person of Jesus. John focusses on ‘glory’ in verse 54, but the issue was not the glory of God, that was not questioned, but the ‘glory’ of Jesus, and this is what his father is trying to establish.
“I am not seeking glory for myself, but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.” John 8:50
There are many religious leaders in the world who claim that God is their God yet they also fail to glory in Jesus.
“My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” John 5:54
The wording here is fascinating. The Jew’s authority is their claim to follow their God and yet their God excludes the true Son of God. It seems they had a different God. Their demeanour, their anger and spitefulness betray that they are not following the God of love of the Bible, who is slow to anger!
In the modern world there is a feeling that all religions are essentially similar and are there to give people an ethic to live by and a purpose to live for. We should be saying to them, as Jesus said to religious people of his day,
“You claim to worship God but are you pointing people to me?”
One of the marks of the faith the real creator God wants to see is one that he points people to Jesus, so that men may glory in him and be changed by receiving his Spirit when they turn to him. The Jewish faith looked forwards to the coming of God’s Messiah and the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. True religion gives people a confidence that they have been put right with God, who then empowers them to live for him in his style.
The average man, even if a church-goer, doesn’t glory in Jesus and is not being changed by him. However God seeks to glorify his son, Jesus, and so do all those who are members of the Kingdom of God.
Is there a middle way?
Can people not try to live good lives but reject Jesus? The Bible is clear, they can try to do that but it can never put them right with God. The vital point is that no-one can be good enough for God. Being sincerely religious does not impress God. We are either forgiven, and this can only be found in Jesus, or we are still responsible for our own sin. This will be apparent when we die and meet God. We are either members of the Kingdom of God or outside it – there is no middle way, as far as God is concerned. Either Jesus is demon possessed or he is the Son of God.
Too many people are willing to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher but refuse to accept his claim to be God. C. S. Lewis, wrote powerfully in his book, ‘Mere Christianity’,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.”
In John chapter 8 there is no thought of Jesus being a great moral teacher, it was his claim to be God that was the focus of discussion.
“Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” John 8:53
Any who reject Jesus’ claim have to conclude, with the Jews, that somehow he is of the devil.
In 1936, Watchman Nee, the great Chinese Bible teacher and evangelist, made a similar argument in his book, ‘Normal Christian Faith’, saying that a person who claims to be God must belong to one of three categories:
“First, if he claims to be God and yet in fact is not, he has to be a madman or a lunatic.
Second, if he is neither God nor a lunatic, he has to be a liar, deceiving others by his lie.
Third, if he is neither of these, he must be God.
You can only choose one of the three possibilities.
If you do not believe that he is God, you have to consider him a madman.
If you cannot take him for either of the two, you have to take him for a liar.
There is no need for us to prove if Jesus of Nazareth is God or not. All we have to do is find out if He is a lunatic or a liar. If He is neither, He must be the Son of God.”
Who knows for certain?
Clearly there is one person who knows the truth about Jesus because he is the very definition of truth. That person is the Lord God. He revealed what he thought very clearly by raising Jesus form the dead. At Peter’s Pentecost sermon it was made clear that the cross demonstrated both what man thought of God’s Son, Jesus and the empty grave tells what God thought of his Son.
The decision we make about Jesus has immense consequences both for our lives here on earth but also for eternity.
BVP
