John 8: The Jesus Profile
Before reading text below, please read John 8
Who is Jesus?
“You are from below, I am from above.” – v23
It’s a heavy chapter. Again, a heads up that John is primarily trying to address the question of Jesus’ identity, rather than trying to give us a historical picture of Jesus’ ministry and character. So with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at what this chapter has to say about Jesus’ identity:
1) Jesus is the Light of the World (v12): This is one of the universal metaphors used in John. Jesus is the light of the world. Light makes everything visible. Without light it is impossible to see, without light it is impossible to understand. Jesus claims that he is the light because he puts everything into perspective. All 500 pages of the Old Testament make sense in light of Jesus. Every prophetic vision that foretold of a saviour, all the mysterious covenantal rituals that foreshadowed a sacrifice for the sins of men; these were all just pieces of a puzzle of which Jesus was the central piece. Jesus is the light of the world,
“Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” – Jesus (in Matthew 13:16-17, referring to himself)
Jesus is our Moving Streetlight: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” –v12b.Whoever follows Jesus will have a light to guide them in life. Jesus does not only shed light on God’s purpose. It also sheds light on our own. Those who follow Jesus are given enough light to see which direction they need to go. Those who walk apart from him stumble through life in the dark.
2) Jesus is the Son of God (v18): Though it’s old news for us folk in the present, it was a breakthrough fact for Jesus’ contemporary audience. Because claiming to be the “Son of God” was just as good as claiming to be God (John 5:18). And only God had the power to forgive sins, only God had the power to redeem his people.
“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” –v19
3) Jesus is the Redeemer (v24): Jesus makes it very clear that he is above human beings (v23). Even though it is true, there is a sense of arrogance in that claim. But I believe he explicitly makes states this because he wants to justify his next claim: “…if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be you will indeed die in your sins.” –v24. Jesus claims to be the one to be able to save humankind from their sins. Jesus made it clear that he was above humankind then, to put himself in a position to be able to save it. A man in the quicksand cannot be saved by another man in the quicksand. Only a man who is above the quicksand on solid ground can pull him out.
Who is Jesus?
“You are from below, I am from above.” – v23
It’s a heavy chapter. Again, a heads up that John is primarily trying to address the question of Jesus’ identity, rather than trying to give us a historical picture of Jesus’ ministry and character. So with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at what this chapter has to say about Jesus’ identity:
1) Jesus is the Light of the World (v12): This is one of the universal metaphors used in John. Jesus is the light of the world. Light makes everything visible. Without light it is impossible to see, without light it is impossible to understand. Jesus claims that he is the light because he puts everything into perspective. All 500 pages of the Old Testament make sense in light of Jesus. Every prophetic vision that foretold of a saviour, all the mysterious covenantal rituals that foreshadowed a sacrifice for the sins of men; these were all just pieces of a puzzle of which Jesus was the central piece. Jesus is the light of the world,
“Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” – Jesus (in Matthew 13:16-17, referring to himself)
Jesus is our Moving Streetlight: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” –v12b.Whoever follows Jesus will have a light to guide them in life. Jesus does not only shed light on God’s purpose. It also sheds light on our own. Those who follow Jesus are given enough light to see which direction they need to go. Those who walk apart from him stumble through life in the dark.
2) Jesus is the Son of God (v18): Though it’s old news for us folk in the present, it was a breakthrough fact for Jesus’ contemporary audience. Because claiming to be the “Son of God” was just as good as claiming to be God (John 5:18). And only God had the power to forgive sins, only God had the power to redeem his people.
“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” –v19
3) Jesus is the Redeemer (v24): Jesus makes it very clear that he is above human beings (v23). Even though it is true, there is a sense of arrogance in that claim. But I believe he explicitly makes states this because he wants to justify his next claim: “…if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be you will indeed die in your sins.” –v24. Jesus claims to be the one to be able to save humankind from their sins. Jesus made it clear that he was above humankind then, to put himself in a position to be able to save it. A man in the quicksand cannot be saved by another man in the quicksand. Only a man who is above the quicksand on solid ground can pull him out.
posted by Peter Wong at 11:03 PM
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