Who is this Jesus? [Part 4]

Jesus claims to be the God of Abraham.

This section continues the long, heated debate between Jesus and the Judean party. Jesus had said to the people that if they would believe the truth he was teaching that they would have true freedom from sin, John 8:31-32. The outraged Judean party said that they were never in bondage, claimed Abraham as their ancestor, implied that Jesus was born as a bastard, claimed God as their father, and accused Jesus of being demon possessed, John 8:33, 39, 41, 48, 52-53. They were saying that everything about Jesus and everything he said was a lie.

Jesus confronts them about their unbelief and the reason why they did not believe, John 8:42-45 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.”

Jesus clearly claims to have come from God the Father. He claims to be speaking the truth that God has sent him to speak. Why do those who do not want to accept his teaching reject the truth he tells them? Remember, Jesus said “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” John 3:19

He denies their accusations and yet, despite their hatred, he offers life to anyone who would believe his teaching. John 8:49, 51 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me . . . Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

What does it mean to keep his word? It is another manner of describing those who trust him, those who believe his promise. The Judean party could not understand nor believe in Jesus. He offers them life and they cannot accept it. Abraham and all the prophets had died. How could Jesus claim to give never-ending life to anyone? This leads us to the crux of the issue. Who is this Jesus? In answer to that question Jesus makes a claim that is astounding.

He then tells them that he existed before Abraham, John 8:56-58, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Remember this is said in the context of Jesus’ other claims. Jesus here claims to have existence before Abraham existed using terms of self-identification commonly used by the God of Abraham in the Old Testament. Note the introduction to John’s Gospel, John 1:1-3, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. The introduction to John clearly makes the claim that Jesus is the eternal Word of God, Creator of all things.

The Judean party heard these words through ears accustomed to hear such language about God alone. Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty . . .” If Jesus is the same God who appeared to Abraham and who created the world, then are his other claims impossible?

The Judeans' reaction indicates that they knew exactly what Jesus was saying. Jesus had already claimed to be from God the Father, claimed to be one with the Father, claimed to be the Messiah, and claimed to give eternal life. The Judean party clearly thought Jesus to be speaking blasphemy. The penalty for this was stoning, John 8:59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Compare with John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

If Jesus is who he claims to be, would his assertions be blasphemy? If Jesus is God, what would rejecting his claims amount to?

What kind of life is Jesus offering? Is this life offered to anyone who rejects Jesus’ teaching?

Jesus calls himself the Door of the Sheepfold and the Good Shepherd.

In chapter nine, Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth. The point of the chapter, coming immediately after Jesus’ claim to be the God of Abraham, is that some people are willfully blind. Those who reject Jesus despite the abundant evidence to the contrary are blind and condemned by their sins.

John 9:39-41 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Those claiming to be wise, to know the truth, and yet are rejecting the True Word, Jesus, are condemned because they have rejected the only One who can give them Light and Life.

In his interaction with the blind man Jesus claims to be the Messiah (using the Son of Man language from Daniel 7:13-14). The healed man worships Jesus, John 9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Ironically, a blind man sees and responds to Jesus. Those who claim to know everything are truly blind

This contrast between those who acknowledge Jesus and those who reject him leads immediately to chapter ten. The dialogue actually continues from chapter nine. In John chapter ten Jesus uses the well-known imagery of a sheepfold and a shepherd. The idea is that the sheep are God’s people. The sheepfold is the place of safety for the sheep. The sheep follow their Shepherd because they know him and recognize his voice.

The imagery of sheep, sheepfold, and shepherd have important connections to David, the Shepherd-King. A descendant of the Shepherd-King would come to shepherd God’s people. This One was known as the Messiah. Ezekiel tells about this time to come: Ezek. 34:15-16 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Ezek. 34:23-24 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.

How do the sheep enter the sheepfold? A sheepfold was a walled enclosure with only one door. The only way in and out was through the one door. Jesus teaches them that he is that door. John 10:7, 9 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep . . . I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Entering the sheepfold through Jesus is the way of salvation. Jesus does not teach that there are many doors or many ways of salvation. There is one door, one way of salvation. What does entering by the door mean? It means entering through Jesus and what he has done for us. It is another way of teaching about faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, the One who gives his life for his sheep. What does Jesus give to anyone who enters through him, anyone who trusts in him? John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus shifts his imagery slightly. He has told them that he is the door, the only way into the sheepfold. Now he tells them how he makes this possible, how he can offer life to all who come into his flock through the door.

John 10:11, 14 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd.”

This imagery picks up the idea that the shepherd will sacrifice his own life in order to save the lives of his sheep. In the context of John, Jesus speaks frequently about his crucifixion using the idea of being lifted up, John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32. The idea of sacrifice is also used, John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The Lamb of God is the sacrificial lamb, the sin atonement for the whole world. That sacrifice, that laying down of his life for his sheep, happens on the Cross, John 19:16-18, 30 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him . . . When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The crucifixion is not the end of the story. Jesus clearly speaks of his resurrection in John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

What man has ever claimed this power--not only to give his life, but then to take it up again? The resurrection validates this claim. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything he has taught is also true.

Much like the Judean party who rejected Christ even though they had seen the evidence that proved Jesus’ claims, many people today reject Christ because they cannot believe he rose from the dead. They cannot believe that he truly is the Son of God. They are blind even though Christ offers them light and life.

John 10:24-26, 30-33 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock . . . I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Jesus has clearly said that he is both the Messiah and the Son of God. The Judean party wanted to kill him for these claims. The next chapter is the crisis chapter. From this point on Christ’s enemies conspire together with the Jewish authorities to kill him.

[Part 5 will continue this study.]