“Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.” John 8.25-30
[Yesterday I wrote on this Scripture and after I finished, and read through it twice to proof, I lost the whole thing! I accidentally went to another page and did not save what I had written. Which makes me think, perhaps I need to spend a little more time on this passage!]
In this Scripture, Jesus is confronting the Pharisees as he did many times. They can not seem to figure him out. Time and time again they are asking, “Who are you?” and “We know where you come from and we know your parents so you must be just a common man” (my interpretation.) But the time for niceties is over. Jesus is bringing the heat when he says, “I have much to say in judgement of you.” Jesus’ judgement is coming from a God he says is trustworthy and in who says “what I have heard from him I tell the word.”
Jesus didn’t come up with his own monologue. What he taught was given to him by God. He first heard it from God and was now relaying it to a world deep in sin, pain and far from holiness.
Jesus then talks about his own resurrection (“when you have lifted up the Son of Man…”) and how this will give evidence to who he is — God’s own son sent to redeem the world. Jesus says only what “the Father has taught” him to say. And the one who sent Jesus has not “left him alone,” for Jesus always does what pleases the Father.
How remarkable a relationship between the Father and the Son. No one gets jealous about not being the spotlight. The two are one with each other and with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the perfect imitation of the Father come to reach a lost world.
After Jesus said all these things the Scripture tells us that “many believed in him.” Good news for the hearers and for the generations that would be following in their footsteps. For what Jesus did in winning over a world must be repeated for each generation.
Will you believe in the One True God today? Will you learn to imitate Jesus, lean into his teachings and become one with the Father and gain life eternal?
“O Lord God, you are good. Even in my distress I cry out to you. Your love is beautiful and your grace bountiful. Thank you for capturing my soul and securing my heart for holiness. I praise you Lord for your patience as each generation must hear, respond and either believe or reject your truth. Come now, Holy Spirit, bring conviction upon your land. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen
