John 8:25-30 (NIV)
“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
Jesus had done such amazing things, and was now saying so many amazing things, that the religious leaders wanted Him to say directly who He believed Himself to be. At least that way they would be able to evaluate His claims.
But Jesus wasn’t into playing their games. He had already told them on more than one occasion who He was: the Son of God (John 2:16, 3:16-18, 5:17, 19-23, 43), one who had come from heaven (John 3:13, 6:38), the one who could deliver from condemnation (John 5:24), the one who has life in Himself (John 5:26), the one with God-given authority to judge (John 5:27, 30), the Bread of life (John 6:35, 48, 51, 57), the giver of living water (John 4:13-14, 7:37-38), and the Light of the world (John 8:12). He had answered their question clearly, accurately, and repeatedly over the previous two years, and was not going to repeat it. If they hadn’t paid attention, if they hadn’t heard what he had clearly said, the fault was not in Him, but in them.
The leaders of the people refused to believe in Jesus (although more and more of the people were believing). But Jesus pointed to an event that was approaching quickly: His crucifixion and, by association, His resurrection. When He died on the cross, even His death would point to His true identity for all who had eyes to see (Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47).
But that wasn’t all. God was not going to leave Him helpless in death’s grasp. He would raise Him back to life on the third day as an undeniable testimony that all that He had said about himself was true; that His words were, in fact, God’s words. On that day, each man would have to make a choice as to whether or not to believe Jesus and be saved, or deny who He really was and be lost. Their choice, and the consequences that would accrue because of it, would be on their own heads.
Events and conversations that followed this challenge proved that, tragically, few if any of the leaders chose to believe in Jesus at that time. But of the people standing nearby and listening, Jesus’ words convinced many, who put their faith in Him.
Father, it is tragic how many are so bound up in their own belief system that they will not see Your truth when it is standing right in front of them. Jesus was not only telling the truth, He was the truth. He was not only telling them about the God that they claimed to serve, He was that God in the flesh. But they were unwilling to accept that truth, and instead chose to cling to their own version of the truth, which was being proved more and more incomplete and incorrect with every teaching that Jesus brought forth. Lord, help me to always keep an open heart as You use Your word to polish, adjust, and even supplant the truths that I hold to with Your truth. Amen.