Well, there certainly is a lot there in these verses that we could talk about for hours, but don’t worry, I won’t. Many of the things that we see such as Jesus’ saying that his hour having not yet come and no one laying a hand on him are things that we have seen several times throughout John’s gospel. There are also some words and phrases that we find in this conversation largely dominated by Christ that are quite familiar to us as well. Why, beginning in the first verse when Christ refers to himself by saying, “I am the light of the world” is reminiscent of the prologue of this gospel. The distinction that he makes between the light (himself) and the darkness further emphasizes this point as well. Now, using the words I AM is something that we find throughout John’s gospel. The question becomes why Christ uses (and John records) this phrase continuously. You see, one of the primary purposes of John’s gospel is to expound upon the person of Jesus. Whereas the other three gospels focus much more on the events of Jesus’ life, John focuses on his reasons for coming, his relationship with the Father, and his struggles with fulfilling his earthly ministry. The phrase I AM (or ἐγω ειμι in Greek) can literally can be translated I AM WHO I AM, and it is the same as the name that God claimed for Himself in the Old Testament. In essence, Jesus is saying that his words are not just his words, but they are the testimony of both the Son and the Father. He is very much claiming an intimate relationship with God that places him on the same level as the Father.
Now, this is important given what comes next from the Pharisees. They deny Christ’s testimony. They say that his testimony cannot be credible because not only is he speaking of himself, but he is the only one who is doing so. You see, there had to be at least two witnesses for something to be considered true in this day and age. If you were to commit a crime only one person saw you, then you could not be convicted of that crime because the testimony of only one person was deemed to not be credible. Jesus’ words here are not only telling the Pharisees that he is not the only one who bears witness to his identity, but that the Father, the one who sent him, bears witness as well. Then Jesus goes on to say in essence that even if he was the only one to bear witness about himself, then it would still be enough because he is from above. He has an intimate knowledge of heaven. He has been since before creation. He is reminding the Pharisees that they are only capable of judging from an earthly perspective, while Christ sees things from the perspective of truth, from the perspective of heaven. He continues to emphasize that anything that he does is not simply a work of his own or something that happens on a whim, but is part of a very carefully planned mission given to him by the Father. Regardless of what the Pharisees may think that they know and think that they see, they don’t know the whole story. They don’t understand that Christ and the Father both are bearing witness about him. It’s ironic that the Pharisees view Jesus’ words to be untruthful, since they are coming from the source of truth Himself. It gives us a little bit better glimpse into the mind and motives of the Pharisees.
Of course, we have to think about things from the perspective of the Pharisees too. As Jesus is saying that the Father also bears witness about him, we have to ask the question of who the Pharisees had in mind when they heard these words. Did they think that Jesus was referring to Joseph? If they did, it would make sense that they would ignore these words. Did they even have any idea that he could be referencing God himself? After all, the Pharisees and the Jews notions of God was that he was monotheistic. In other words, that He existed only as one “person.” The concept of the Trinity was completely foreign to them. True, we may not be able to understand and fully grasp what it means even to us, but at least we know what that title means. We are not completely confused by hearing the One True God referenced as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why, just look at the words of the Pharisees, “Where is your Father?” They are wanting Jesus to go and get this person who is also bearing witness about him. They want to find out what authority Jesus’ father has to bear witness about Jesus’ identity.
Once again Jesus has to correct misunderstandings on the part of the Pharisees. “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” I want to take just a second and step away from the context of our passage and look at these words as they apply to today and the world that we currently live in. You see, these words, as well as statements like “No one can come to the Father except through me” or as we will later see in this gospel “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God” speak to the mindset of many people and even some Christians today. We live in a world that is very concerned with not excluding anyone or offending anyone, or at least that’s what they tell me. I seem to find myself offending someone on a regular basis, but it’s usually because of my view of God and of Christianity. The notions that exist in our world today that we are all worshipping the same God just in different forms and practices is ludicrous to me. Jesus makes it as clear as he can by saying that you cannot have God without Christ; there is no separation between the two. You see, the view out there that doesn’t deny God as the ultimate Creator and Ruler of all things, while at the same time denying the teachings of Christ is not okay with me. This belief exists in numerous forms. There are the faiths of Islam and Judaism, to name a few, that openly say that Jesus existed but that he indeed wasn’t the Messiah. There are others that hold Scripture in no regard at all, but still hold the belief that there is a higher power that exists in some form or another. Perhaps you have had some experience with one of these different belief systems.
Unfortunately, these beliefs are even found in some folks who claim themselves to be Christians and who completely acknowledge that God accomplished all he that we have recorded for us in the Old Testament. They profess the entirety of Scripture to be the Word of God. They cling to Jesus as the obtainer of our salvation. The problem comes when we find how they treat the actual earthly teachings of Jesus. When we hear the words spoken by Christ that condemn a particular sin and yet we dismiss it because we say that it doesn’t apply to us today. Maybe you have come across this belief or have even held it yourself from time-to-time. The truth is that we just don’t want to change. So many want all of the benefits that go with bearing the name Christian, but want no part in the responsibilities that go with it. Some flippantly throw out the name God, while Scripture has no bearing on how they live their lives. I see it all the time in folks that really don’t know if they believe in God, but they certainly don’t act as if they do and yet when it comes time for a marriage or a funeral or even the baptism of a child, they want some type of Christian service. I’ve often found this to be the most puzzling aspect of pastoral ministry.
You see, Jesus is telling the Pharisees that he’s leaving. He’s telling them that the entirety of his ministry is not about him but it is leading up to something much greater than any of them can possibly imagine. How could they understand? After all, they are from below and he is from above. He’s been telling them this whole time exactly who he is, yet they have refused to believe him and believe in him, much like the people that I mentioned a moment ago, but they will. “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” The Pharisees have no idea what Jesus is talking about, but we do. We know that the being lifted up here is a direct foreshadowing of the cross that is to come. And we not only do we know that that cross is to come, but we what was accomplished on that cross.
You see, this whole passage about Jesus being the light of the world is really a conversation before the fact about the cross. It’s a look at the fact that what Jesus is doing and what he is to accomplish is not his own work, but a work of God. Friends, we will see numerous times in the upcoming chapters in John’s gospel that Jesus is making it clear that he is the way to the Father, that he is the way to heaven. There is no way around Jesus when it comes to entering into the kingdom of heaven. So we have to ask ourselves, what about all those that we mentioned a moment ago who deny or downplay Christ as the Messiah? If there is no way to the Father but through the Son, then what about those who deny the Son? Well, the answer seems pretty simple doesn’t it? The truth of the matter is that there is no salvation, no life eternal in heaven, without Jesus Christ. We see that in our text after people hear the words of Christ and the testimony that he and the Father give about him that many believed in him. You see, when we testify, when we witness to others about Jesus, we are not acting alone either. God has sent the Paraclete, the Helper, the Holy Spirit to bear witness and change the hearts and minds and lives of those around us. Let us have the boldness and the strength to go out into the world and proclaim with confidence that Jesus Christ is the way. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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