HoHum:
"Mr. Big Stuff" is a song by Jean Knight. First words: “Mr. Big Stuff, Who do you think you are?” I can almost here the Jews saying: “Jesus, Mr. Big Stuff, Who Do You Think You Are?”
WBTU:
Last time I spoke on Sunday morning we talked about Jesus’ use of the title, “The Son of Man.” This title comes from the OT book of Daniel. Jesus used this title The Son of Man more than any other title when talking about himself.
Jesus skillfully managed his ministry and his words so that he was able to carry on his work in dangerous circumstances and build up to a crucifixion climax at just the right time. Jesus knew a lot about the plan of God since the creation of the world to save mankind. Because of what he knew, he was deliberate in his words and actions. Do not know every detail but we can piece some of this together from the NT and this is what we are calling the Passover Plan.
Jesus’ preference for a safe title “The Son of Man” over a title that makes a clear statement of deity has lead some to conclude that Jesus never intended to claim deity, Godhood. “Jesus did not believe himself to be the Son of God and it was his disciples who called Jesus the Son of God. Jesus never did that.” This is not true. It was obvious to Jesus’ enemies that he was actually making extraordinary claims about himself when he spoke about the Son of Man.
The Gospel of John contains several passages that show Jesus did believe that he was THE Son of God. Because of this some discount John’s gospel. On very dangerous ground when we do this. We determine what is truly God's Word and what is not. Do it yourself faith- not good.
Jesus sometimes used a “hit and run” strategy that frustrated his enemies. Here was the tactic:
1. Make a “deity” statement that would bring his enemies to the brink of action, violence
2. Defuse the situation by making a “submission” statement
3. Then as Jesus was leaving, he would make a clear “Godhood” statement and get away
Find two places in John’s gospel where this is illustrated
Thesis: Let’s examine these two passages from John
John 8
This discussion in John 8:12- 59 was on the temple grounds in Jerusalem where Jesus had many enemies. “The Pharisees challenged him” John 8:13, NIV seems to be the theme here.
This discussion gets rather heated as Jesus tells them this: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.” John 8:44, NIV.
In response they say this: ““Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” John 8:48, NIV.
Jesus knew that there was risk of a premature death on this occassion and he lets them know what they are thinking. “I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” John 8:37, NIV. “As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.” John 8:40, NIV.
In this account, Jesus does not answer with direct and clear explanations to many of their questions and is very guarded in his comments. ““Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.” John 8:25, NIV.
Since Abraham is a topic of discussion throughout this section, as Jesus is about to leave we hear the conclusion of this discussion: “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” John 8:56-59, NIV. Let's look at this verse by verse
Vs. 56- How did Abraham see the days of Jesus Christ? The verb tenses here are past, meaning that Abraham saw the days of Jesus Christ through the eyes of faith while he was alive on the earth. He saw it by the eye of faith, in the promise that was made to him, That in his seed (one seed) all the nations of the earth should be blessed.
Vs. 57- Jesus’ statement is not that he had seen Abraham, but that Abraham had seen his day through the eyes of faith. The Jews misunderstood this, and declared that it was impossible that Jesus and Abraham could have ever meet. Abraham lived and died at least 2,000 years before the life of Jesus.
Vs. 58- Even with this misunderstanding, Jesus answers them directly here. “before Abraham was born, I am!” Here Jesus uses for himself the name of God that God gave to Moses. “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”” Exodus 3:14, NIV. This talks about His existence at all time periods. ““Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”” Revelation 4:8, NIV. The objection of the Jews was that he was not fifty years old, and could not, therefore, have seen Abraham. Jesus replied that he existed before Abraham. As in his human nature he was not yet fifty years old, and could not, as a man, have existed before Abraham, this declaration must be referred to another nature; and the passage proves that, while he was a man, he also had another nature existing before Abraham. This declaration also agrees with John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Vs. 59- The Jews understood this and that is why they picked up stones to stone him.
John 10
We know where and when this discussion happened. “Then came the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” John 10:22, 23, NIV.
Jesus knew that there was a risk of premature death on this occasion. Twice in John 10 they try to stone or seize him.
Jesus gave a cautious answer when his enemies sought incriminating testimony. “The Jews gathered round him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.” John 10:24, 25, NIV.
Then he hits them with this: “I and the Father are one.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,” John 10:30, 31, NIV.
This is one of the strongest declarations of Jesus’ deity, Godhood, that has been recorded. Each word of this affirmation is packed with meaning: I (not a title such as the Son of Man, but I personally) and the Father (not “my Father” by “the Father”) are (not “is; this plural verb reflects the individuality of God and Christ) one (meaning one unified being rather than one person; God the 3 in one).
The Jews wanted to stone him because they understood this statement. Jesus’ language did not mean agreement of thought, purpose or will with God but that Jesus and God functioned as one.
Jesus threw them off balance with this statement: Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods’...” John 10:34-35, NIV.
Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 to stop them from stoning him. The picture in Psalm 82 is that of a court, where God has assembled the judges of the earth, to warn them that they too will one day be judged. The Psalm gives them the titles of “gods” and/or “sons of the Most High.” If those human judges could be called by such titles, why couldn’t Jesus be called by the same title? If God called human judges “gods,” or “sons of the Most High” then why should they stone Him for applying the same title to Himself? Jesus has a right like they do of being called a son of God.
If Jesus ended there this would leave much confusion for everyone but he goes on.
When all this discombobulated them he said this: “....believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.” John 10:38-39, NIV.
Vs. 38- teaches us three things concerning Christ:
1) His oneness in nature and essence with the Father.
2) His personal distinction from his Father
3) Intimate indwelling of one of the Persons in the Holy Trinity in the other.
We might misunderstand vs. 38 because on this side of the cross, we respond to the Gospel of Christ through belief, confession, repentance and baptism and from this we receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. God indwells us through the Holy Spirit. God is in us. This is true but that is not the only thing that Jesus is saying here: "I (am) in the Father." In other words, Jesus is saying that he indwells God the Father. As Christians, God indwells us but we do not indwell God. Our spirit is not living in God in the same way that God indwells us through the Holy Spirit.
2. Vs. 39- They understood him as still claiming equality with God. Nor can it be doubted that he intended to leave them with this impression; and if so, then he is God.
Hit and run tactics but clear statements of his deity, Godhood. If he was not the Son of God then this is true: “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”” John 10:20. However, He is the Son of God so we should listen to Him (John 10:27)
Conclusion and invitation:
We see Jesus personally orchestrating the details of the Passover Plan where ““He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” 1 Peter 2:24, NIV.
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to 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 authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”” John 10:17, 18
Jesus’ death was a voluntary sacrifice. His life was not taken from Him, but rather was offered by Him. Jesus had control all the time over his life. Jesus knew the time, the place and the circumstances when he would lay down his life. Several times Jesus should have died but it was not the right time. He knew the right time, right place and right circumstances.
William Barclay- Jesus was not helplessly caught up in a mess of circumstances from which he could not break free. It is quite clear that to the end he could have turned back and saved his life. He did not lose his life; he gave it. The cross was not thrust upon him; he willingly accepted it- for us.
