John 8:31-59
The next conversation is Jesus talking to those who believed in him. As the conversation progresses it may be easy to imagine that Jesus is being confronted by those who oppose him, maybe they do, but John tells us first that they believed in Jesus and we must keep that in mind.
Jesus starts by offering them a good word concerning endurance in faith. Jesus said, “abide in my word”, Paul said to stand (Eph. 6:13) and persevere (Rom. 5:3-4) and be patient (Col. 1:10-12) in holding onto Jesus’ words.
Jesus said that this hanging on despite all would reap a rich reward, knowledge of the truth. (Prov. 8:10-11). Without God, men can’t even settle on a definition of truth let alone find out what is true. Look at poor Pontius Pilate who looked into the face of Truth himself and didn’t recognize him. Knowing truth is a gift from God given to those who immerse themselves constantly and enduringly, in God’s Word.
Knowing the truth sets us free. Free from sin and death. (Gal 5:1, Rom 6:22, 2Cor 3:17, Heb2:14-15, Rev 1:5-6) Freedom can be freedom from something or freedom to something. (John 14:6) Apart from the Truth (Jesus) we are free from life (dead) but free to sin (death). In Christ we are free in Him (Life) free from sin and death and free to participate in that glorious communion that Christ had with the Father from the beginning.
These who believed in him were nonetheless offended by his words. The inference of Jesus’ saying to them was that their religion was insufficient to impart truth or deliver from sin. They are part of a rich heritage of faith, they have the scriptures, they have the pedigree. They go to church, they are respectable, they are Americans, they are christians, they were baptized, they took communion, they prayed the sinners’ prayer at camp that one time. They are us. A.W. Tozer said, “You can’t inherit grace.” We must come to Christ on his terms.
These good religious folks were sure that they were right with God so when Jesus points out that their unbelief, their inability to perceive truth and the murder they harbored in their hearts demonstrated that they were not children of God but of the devil they didn’t take it very well. The conversation deteriorates quickly into confrontation. And then Jesus nukes them.
The deliberate use of “I AM” by Jesus really ends the discussion. When this man says straight out, “I’m God.” it requires everyone who hears it to pick a side. (C.S. Lewis quote) Is my religiosity getting between me and Jesus? Am I abiding in, clinging to, living out of, obeying His word? Do I know the truth? Am I free? The ones who believed in Jesus picked up stones to stone him. Their consciences pricked awake so that the condition of sin could not be ignored made them want to stop the source of the disturbance immediately and by any means. This is clear in many ways in the world but I wonder how do I do this? When my conscience is pricked what distractions, diversion and excuses do I employ to make it stop?
brotherpayne 