John 08(44–59)

Introduction

Throughout John 7 and 8 the Lord is speaking to the people at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. As I’ve said before, the Feast of Tabernacles was one of the great religious festival which the people had to attend each year. And during this feast, the people lived in temporary booths or huts for the week to remind them of the time when their forefathers lived in tents while they made their way from Egypt to the Promised Land in the days of Moses. They remembered those days and gave thanks to the Lord for how far they have come and how he has helped them.

And during the festivities, they drew water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it out on the altar at the temple. And the Lord picked up on that image when he stood up and invited the thirsty to come to him to drink, because whoever comes to him by faith will receive living water. And when he referred to living water, he meant the Holy Spirit. And so, whoever comes to the Lord Jesus by faith will receive the Holy Spirit so that God will be with us always to fill us with life and love and joy and zeal for God’s glory. And during the festivities, four large lamps were lit in the temple and the people danced throughout the night with burning torches in their hands. And the Lord picked up on that image when he announced that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him by faith will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. He has come into the world to lead us out of the darkness of our sin and unbelief and to show us the overflowing goodness and love and grace and mercy of God who gives salvation and eternal life to all who believe in his Son.

And then, in last week’s passage, the Lord Jesus spoke to the people about freedom. He said that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Until we come to Christ for salvation, sin is our master and it bosses us around and it makes us do evil. As the theologians say, until we come to Christ for salvation, then we live in a state of non posse non peccare. That means ‘not able not to sin’. Before we come to Christ, we are not able not to sin. We sin against God continually and we cannot do otherwise. But the Lord Jesus Christ sets us free. He sets us free from the penalty and power of sin. He sets us free from the penalty of sin, because he suffered in body and soul the punishment we deserve for our sins, which is death. And he sets us free from the power of sin, because he gives us his Spirit to help us to resist sin and to do what is good and right and pleasing to God.

And then in last week’s passage, the Lord Jesus made clear that there are really only two families on the earth: there are all those who belong to the devil and who do his will; and there are all those who belong to God and who do his will. And the Lord said that the unbelieving Jews belonged to the devil. The devil was their father and they were doing his will, because they wanted to kill him and because they preferred the devil’s lies to the truth of the Lord Jesus.

But the good news of the gospel is that is that God is able to take those who belong to the devil and give them to his Son for salvation. He’s able to set us free from the devil and he makes us part of Christ’s spiritual family. Though we all belong by nature to the devil, God adds us to Christ by grace. And so, because of God’s wonderful grace and mercy and abounding love, he delivers us from satan’s tyranny and he brings us to Christ for salvation. He enables us to trust in his Son with a firm faith. And all who trust in his Son with a firm faith are not only set free from our slavery to sin, but we’re set free from our slavery to the devil to belong to God and therefore to live for him.

Today we come to the verses we read a moment ago. And I want us to think about three things. Firstly, we’ll think about why people do not believe. That’s in verses 44 to 50. Secondly, we’ll think about the benefit of believing. That’s in verse 51. Thirdly, we’ll think about what the Lord Jesus says about himself. And that’s in verses 52 to 59. So, why people do not believe. Then the benefit of believing. And then who the Lord Jesus is.

Why people do not believe

Last week’s passage ended at verse 44 where the Lord said to the people who did not believe in him and who were arguing with him that they belonged to their father and their father is the devil and they want to carry out their father’s desire.

So, their will is to do their father’s will. They may not realise that’s what they’re doing. They may not realise that their spiritual father is the devil. But the Lord knows them better than they know themselves and he’s telling them the truth about themselves.

And before that, he told them something else about themselves which they did not know. He told them that they were not free. They thought they were free. They boasted in verse 33 that they had never been slaves of anyone. But he told them that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. And since they’re sinners, then they are slaves to sin.

And so, the Lord was telling these people two things about themselves that they did not know. He told them that the devil is their spiritual father and that sin is their master.

Now, when we go for medical tests, we’re pleased with the doctor or consultant who can tell us what’s wrong. We may not be pleased with the news, especially if the news is that we’re seriously sick. But we’re pleased with the doctor, because finally we know what’s wrong with us and hopefully there’s some treatment to follow or medicine to take to help us.

And the Lord is doing something similar with these people. He’s identifying what’s wrong with them. He has diagnosed their problem. The explanation for the way they are is that their spiritual father is the devil and they are slaves to sin. And he has not only diagnosed their condition, but he’s told them the solution as well. And he’s the solution. He’s the one who can set them free. If the Son sets you free, he said, you will be free indeed. He’s the Son. And he can set them free from sin and from the devil. All they have to do is believe in him. Believe in him and he will set them free.

But instead of believing in him, they argue with him. They don’t agree with him that they’re slaves who need freedom. And they don’t agree with him that the devil is their father. So, they disagree with him. And in today’s passage they begin to insult him. Take a look at verse 48 where they said to him: ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ Calling him a Samaritan was a kind of racial slur. They’re saying he’s no better than a Samaritan. And in those days, they regarded the Samaritans as worthless. And by saying he’s demon-possessed, they’re saying he’s evil. He’s wicked. He’s under the power of satan.

So, instead of accepting his diagnosis of their true condition and instead of trusting in him for salvation, they argue with him and disagree with him and they insult him.

He told them the truth about themselves and they didn’t like it. And we can all be like that. Have you ever confronted someone over something they have done wrong? Have you ever confronted someone over something they said which wasn’t right? If you have, then you’ll know that people don’t normally thank you for it. People don’t like to have their faults and failings and shortcomings pointed out to them. They don’t like it when you, as it were, hold up a mirror to them so that they can see what they have done. Instead they get offended; and they protest their innocence; or they explain that they’re not to blame and it was someone else’s fault; or they tell you that you’re mistaken; or they attack you about something else; or they insult you. That’s what we normally do when we’re confronted by our own sins and shortcomings. And I’ve mentioned before how we practice self-deception. When we’re confronted with the truth about ourselves, we find some way to deceive ourselves so that we’re able to feel good about ourselves.

So, people don’t like hearing the truth about themselves. But that’s what the Lord Jesus does. He tells people the truth about themselves: that they’re slaves to sin and that they belong to the devil. And look now at what he said in verse 45. He said to the people in Jerusalem: ‘because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!’ Notice that he didn’t say: ‘I tell the truth and you don’t believe me.’ That’s not what he said. What he said is: ‘because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!’ It’s precisely because I’m telling you the truth about yourself that you don’t believe me. If I told you lies about yourself, or if I flattered you, you’d believe me. But because I’ve told you the truth, you do not believe me.

And so, they had a kind of allergic reaction to the truth. They can’t bear it and they won’t accept it. And that’s because the truth about ourselves is like a mountain. So, you’re getting on with your life and everything seems fine and you have no worries. And then suddenly, you’re confronted with the truth about yourself or with the truth about something you’ve done or with the truth about something you’ve said. And you can’t ignore it or get round it or overcome it because it’s like a great, big mountain in your way and you feel like it’s going to fall on you and crush you. And we just want to run away and hide from the truth, because it’s too painful to face.

But look what the Lord goes on to say in verse 47. He says that he who belongs to God hears what God says. So, the unbelieving Jews can’t believe what he’s telling them, because they don’t belong to God. But he who belongs to God hears what God says. And God speaks to us through his Son and through his word and through other people. And those who belong to God hear what God says to them. And that’s because those who belong to God have been born again by his Spirit. And the Holy Spirit implants new life in us which grows and grows and it produces faith and repentance and an ongoing desire to love and serve the Lord. And this new life which grows in us also produces in us a willingness to accept the truth we hear about ourselves and a willingness to accept that there are things in my life that need to change. And this new life which the Spirit implants in God’s people produces in us a desire to change so that we want to kill our sins and to live for God.

And so, why do people not believe? It’s because they won’t accept the truth about themselves. But God the Holy Spirit produces in the hearts of God’s people a willingness to accept the truth about ourselves and a desire to be transformed more and more into the image of God. And we should be asking God to show us our sins and shortcomings and to change us by his Spirit so that we will honour him more and more.

The benefit of believing

That’s the first thing. Now let’s think about the benefit of believing. And we’re focussing now on verse 51, where the Lord says: ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.’

In last week’s passage, the Lord said that if you hold to his teaching, then you are really his disciples and the truth will set you free. And I said that holding to his teaching means that believers need to have a firm faith. We’re to hold tightly to the good news of the gospel about Jesus Christ. And keeping his word means the same thing. We’re to keep his word by holding on to it with a firm faith. We’re not to let go of it. We’re not to give it up. We’re to hold on firmly and tightly to his word with a firm faith.

That’s what he requires from us. And what is the outcome? What benefit do we receive if we keep his word with a firm faith? He tells us plainly in the same verse: ‘if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.’ And a person who never sees death is a person who will live for ever. And so, the Lord is telling us plainly that whoever holds on to his word with a firm faith will live for ever.

Now, unless the Lord returns, then we will all die. But for the believer, death is not the end of our life. For the believer, death is the doorway into a better life. For the believer, death is the doorway into everlasting life in the presence of God, where our souls will be made perfect in holiness and where we will behold the face of God in light and glory while we wait for the resurrection of our bodies. And then, after the resurrection of our bodies, we will be made perfectly holy and happy in body and soul in the company of all of God’s people. And all of God’s people will enjoy the presence of God and his love for us for ever and for ever.

And this is the great hope that God gives to all who keep his word with a firm faith. This is the great hope that he gives to everyone who believes. It’s not something we deserve and it’s not something we can earn. But it’s his free gift which he gives to all who believe in his Son. And such is the greatness of his overflowing love that he also produces in us the faith we need to believe. So, when we were born, we were spiritually dead. We were unable to love God or to believe in his Son or do anything good and pleasing in his sight. But because of his overflowing love for his people, God enabled us to believe in his Son for salvation. And all who believe receive this great hope of everlasting life in the presence of God, where we will see and enjoy him for ever. As the Lord will say about himself outside the tomb of Lazarus: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’

And in response to this good news we should all bow down before the Lord and give thanks to him for his wonderful love and grace and mercy and for his kindness to us in Christ Jesus and for overcoming our unbelief and sin and for rescuing us from the path of destruction and for putting our feet on the path that leads to life. We ought to fall down and worship him and give thanks to him. And we should resolve once again to live our lives, not for ourselves, but for him and his glory.

Who the Lord Jesus is

We’ve thought about why people do not believe. We’ve thought about the benefit of believing. Finally, let’s think about what the Lord Jesus says about himself.

After the Lord said that whoever keeps his word will not see death, the unbelieving Jews exclaimed that he’s definitely demon-possessed. They think he’s evil, because how can someone make such a claim? And they refer to Abraham who heard God’s word and died. They also refer to the prophets who heard God’s word and died. But you’re claiming that whoever keeps your word will not die. Who do you think you are? And really they’re asking: ‘Who do you make yourself out to be?’

And he replies by saying several things. Firstly, he’s not glorifying himself. That is to say, he’s not promoting himself. Secondly, God the Father is the one who glorifies him. Thirdly, he knows God and if he denied it, he would be making himself a liar. And fourthly, Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing his day. And he did see it and was glad. Do you see that in verse 56?

And when the Lord says that Abraham rejoiced to see his day and actually saw it, he means that Abraham knew in advance that the Lord would one day come into the world as our Saviour.

It’s possible the Lord means that Abraham understood this from the promises God made to him. For instance, in Genesis 12, when the Lord first called Abraham, the Lord said to him that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abraham. When Christians read that promise, we understand that the Lord meant that all peoples will be blessed because the Saviour of the world was coming into the world as one of Abraham’s descendants. We understand God’s promise that way, because we can look back to what God has done for us in Christ and we see how God was speaking about that to Abraham. And it’s possible that God made this clear to Abraham and that he understood that God’s promise to him would be fulfilled one day with the coming of Christ.

Or perhaps Abraham longed for the Saviour to come because of the types of his coming. A type is a divinely-ordained person or event or object in the Old Testament which anticipates the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through these Old Testament types, God revealed what he will do for his people one day through Christ. And one such type is the ram which the Lord provided to replace his son on the altar. Remember? The Lord told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. And Abraham was willing to obey God. But at the last moment, the Lord told him to stop and he gave him a ram to use instead so that Isaac’s life was spared. And that substitute ram is a type of Christ because the Lord Jesus sacrificed himself so that we can be spared and live for ever.

Because of God’s promises to him, or because of these types, or because of something else which God did to reveal his purpose, Abraham longed for the coming of Christ. And he, in a sense, saw it, because it was so clear to him.

But the unbelieving Jews don’t understand. What do you mean? You’re not yet 50 years old and Abraham lived hundreds of years ago. How can you say that you’ve seen Abraham? And the Lord answered them by saying: ‘before Abraham was, I AM.’ So, ‘before Abraham existed [or before Abraham came to be], I AM!’

And their reaction to his words tell us that they understood what he was saying. You see, according to verse 59, they picked up stones to throw at him. They were going to throw stones at him and kill him because, as far as they were concerned, he was a blasphemer. And he was a blasphemer, as far as they were concerned, because by calling himself ‘I AM’, he was claiming to be God. They didn’t believe he was God and so they wanted to stone him for blasphemy. But that’s precisely who he is. He is God in the flesh.

‘I AM’ is the name God called himself back in Exodus 3 when he spoke to Moses from the burning bush. He was sending Moses to lead the people out of their slavery in Egypt. Moses said that when he goes to the Israelites and says that God has sent him, what should he say? What name will he give them? And God said: ‘I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’

It’s an unusual name, isn’t it? But it speaks to us of Christ’s divine nature. So, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God and man in one person. He’s fully God and he’s fully man. And as God, he is the great I AM. He’s the great I AM who appeared to Moses in the wilderness.

And since the Lord Jesus Christ is God, then that means that, as God, he is eternal and that he existed before Abraham came to be and he still exists today and he has always existed. For him, there is no past and there is no future, because everything is eternally present to him. You and I have to talk about what we once were or what we will be one day. We say, ‘I was this in the past’ and ‘I will be that in the future’. But for God, there is only the eternal present. He does not say, ‘I was’ or ‘I will be’. He only says: ‘I AM.’

And since the Lord Jesus Christ is God, then that means that, as God, he is all-sufficient in and of himself. You and I have to say that we are what we are because of other people. We are what we are because of our parents from whom we came. We are what we are because of the people around us who have influenced us. We are what we are because of the experiences we have gone through. And ultimately, we are what we are because of God who made us and who shapes us. And so, we say: ‘I am what I am because of God.’ But as God, the Lord Jesus is all-sufficient. So, God has all life in and of himself. He is self-existent and he does not rely on anyone outside of himself for anything. And so, he says: ‘I am what I am.’

And since the Lord Jesus Christ is God, then that means that he is one of a kind. When we describe ourselves, we compare ourselves to one another. We might say: ‘I am older than so-and-so, but I am younger than so-and-so. I am taller than so-and-so, but I am shorter than so-and-so.’ And so on. We compare ourselves to one another in order to describe ourselves. But God is in a class all by himself. He is one of a kind. There is no other god to which he can be compared or contrasted. He doesn’t say, ‘I am like this god in these ways and I am unlike him in these ways.’ He simply says: ‘I AM. I am what I am. And there is no other.’

By calling himself ‘I AM’, the Lord Jesus is declaring himself to be God. And the wonder of the gospel is that God himself came down to earth in the person of his Son. And without ceasing to be God, he became one of us. And he became one of us in order to do what we ought to do, but cannot do, which is to live a life of perfect obedience to God. And he became one of us in order to suffer and die as one of us and to pay for our sins with his life. And through faith in him, we are justified before God, so that our sins are forgiven, because he paid for them with his life and we are accepted as right in God’s sight, because we’re allowed to share his record of perfect obedience. And so, by believing in him, we receive peace with God for ever. And by believing in him, we will not see death. Instead we’ll be brought into the presence of the great I AM, where we will see him as he is and we’ll know him and his love for us and we’ll enjoy being with him for ever.