The Words of Jesus - 2

Sometimes, if not always in this blog, I am writing to myself.  Yesterday, I wrote about the words of Jesus because they were coming off the pages of John's Gospel to me.  This morning, I decided to take just one chapter at random and mull over His words in that one chapter. 

Chapter 8 begins with the story of the woman caught in adultery.  There is much to be commented on in this story, but I want instead to focus on the testimony of Jesus about Himself later in the chapter.

I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

 

Even before we get very far into the chapter, we can begin to see why the Pharisees were looking for a way to put Him to death.  Either He is a raving lunatic, or He is delusional, or He is blaspheming -- from their perspective.  Who dares to say, "I am the light of the world..."?  This is supposed to be a "good Jewish boy" from a good Jewish family ---although there are rumors about His legitimacy, as suggested by their response to Him in v.41:  "We are not born of fornication," they tell Him. 

 

The Pharisees tell Him that His testimony about Himself is not valid.  Jesus counters them:  In your own Law, it is written that the testimony of two men is valid,  I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the one who sent me -- the Father.  In fact, there were three who testified about Jesus:  John the Baptist was the third one.  And of course, since His death and Resurrection, millions have testified that "He is alive," because they have met Him.

At that moment, however, the Pharisees wanted to know where His Father was.  "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied.  "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
....You are from below; I am from above.  You are of this world; I am not of this world.  If you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins.

The phrase "I am He" should have been familiar to the Scribes and the Pharisees.  Unfortunately, since it is not familiar to us, who are not familiar with the Old Testament, many translations tend to substitute words that "make more sense' to the modern reader.  But if we stick with the Greek translation, it will trigger a reference to Is. 43:10 and the following verses:

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord,

"and my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the Lord,

and apart from me there is no savior.

 

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed ---

I, and not some foreign god among you.

You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God.

Yes, and from ancient days, I am he.

No one can deliver out of my hand.

When I act, who can reverse it?"

 

Jesus told the Jews, "If you abide in my word, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free......You are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word....you are doing the things your own father does....Why is my language not clear to you?  Because you are unable to hear what I say.....if I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?  He who belongs to God hears what God says.  The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.....I tell you the truth...before Abraham was born, I am!"

 

That was all it took to accuse Him of making Himself equal to God.  Somehow, the Pharisees really heard what He said about Himself, while we as readers seem to miss it. 

 

You can see from the paragraph above, however, how powerful it can be to extract the very words of Jesus from the background story and to reflect on just the words themselves.  A great Lenten practice would be to take each chapter of John and "hear the words" that God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus.