David Bahn – Reflections

John 8:28-30

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.

I have had the opportunity to visit with a young man who is “not far from the kingdom of God.” He is a thoughtful philosophy college student who is on the outside of the faith looking in. I think he may be closer to faith than he supposes; perhaps even in the faith. But his own witness is that he is not ready to declare himself to be a Christian.
The issue doesn’t seem to be any negative connotation of the term itself, nor even the often-repeated criticism against Christians that supposedly keeps people far from Jesus. The issue seems to be a fundamental/philosophical/intellectual issue around putting oneself into a system of belief that requires one to let go of the need to answer certain questions of why and how. To believe that God is good, that he is to be trusted is not a simple or unimportant matter for him.
So, for that reason, this portion of John 8 really captures my attention. After Jesus speaks about his own identity, their culpability and guilt (“much to condemn”), and what the future will hold, John tells us that “many who heard him say these things believed in him.”
What was it that he said which tipped the scales? It seems not to b some great or profound revelation or theological insight. It seems, rather, to be the truth. Our deep and utter need for redemption and forgiveness, and his identity as the Son of God combine to compel faith. Truth and grace is the essence of Jesus’ fullness. In him we have hope. He does what pleases God – no matter the cost – for he realizes that God is the source of all that is good, and of life itself. That is a simple and profound truth that will sustain us into eternity.

John 8:21-30 (NLT)

Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.