David Bahn – Reflections

John 8:48-59

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered,“I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵² The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Last night we had a lecture here at L’Abri Canada. Clarke Scheibe, the director of this community spoke about Alain de Botton’s book, Religion for Atheists. In this controversial, but engaging book, de Botton offers his solution to the reality of modern secular culture: the lack of ritual. For example, he doesn’t believe in God, but loves singing Christmas Carols. He believes that there should be a set of commonly held morals, but believes that once a year the people ought to get together for a sexual orgy. It is a far stretch for me, but many people – including one young woman here at L’Abri – have seriously considered secular religion as an alternative to the church.

As Jesus interacts with the people of his day the question rightly comes up: who are you, Jesus of Nazareth? What authority do you have to speak into our lives? How is it that you are able to define good and evil, right and wrong? The answer is as profound as it is startling: Jesus is the One who existed before Abraham(!). He is I AM in the flesh. He is the Son of God from all eternity come to earth in the flesh.

If Jesus is some sort of Johnny-Come-Lately, he can easily be dismissed. But if he is God, he’d better not be dismissed. If he’s a fraud, better stone him indeed. But if he is God in the flesh, we had better listen to him and believe in his words.

de Botton’s ideas are new in some ways, and as old as Adam in others. For these questions, and any reaction to the Christian church’s abuses and faults (and there are many to be sure), have to do with defining what is good and what is evil. That question is an old one, and ultimately it must be defined by God or by man. I’ll go with God’s definition as revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. How about you?