Jesus did not come forth to prove His existence. He spoke in order that Israel would know that He is the Messiah (John 8:12), and it was the Pharisees who openly questioned Jesus about who He was while He was giving instruction.
God communicates to us that if we sincerely seek Him, He will reveal Himself. He is a God who wants His people to know Him and to learn more about Him.
The Pharisees challenge Jesus’ statements about who He is, yet Jesus notes that His comments about being “the light” is self-explanatory.
John 8:12-18
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
14 “Even if I testify about Myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me [judge together]. 17 Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid. 18 I am the One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
The Pharisees complained that Jesus was testifying about himself, but they were using human reasoning. Jesus points out that there are no earthly witnesses that can make a testimony of who He is based upon His preexistence; therefore, only God can make the testimony, and He reveals who He is to those who desire to know Him.
John 8:19-20
19 Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?”
“You know neither Me nor My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour had not come.
Jesus makes two confirmations of Himself…through His crucifixion and through God’s Word.
John 8:27-29
27 They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [He], and that I do nothing on My own. But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. 29 The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
Luke 23:47
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!”
John 8:30-32
30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Pharisees could not defend their position–in fact, Jesus told the truth about who they were. The Pharisees were descendants of Abraham, but they were not children of God.
John 8:33-47
33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus responded, ” I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because My word is not welcome among you. 38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and therefore you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they replied.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did. 40 But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 41 You’re doing what your father does.”
“We weren’t born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father—God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”
The Pharisees continued to talk to Jesus in a denigrating manner.
John 8:48-49
48 The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me.
Jesus’ Word is true and He will keep it.
John 8:50-51
50 I do not seek My glory; the One who seeks it also judges. 51 I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!”
The Pharisees use human reasoning about Abraham and the prophets, but their knowledge of Abraham is limited–in fact, they know nothing about Abraham, but Jesus clearly knew him.
Matthew 17:1-5
1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said:
This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!
John 8:52-56
52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death—ever!’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be?”
54 “If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing. My Father–you say about Him, ‘He is our God.’–He is the One who glorifies Me. 55 You’ve never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don’t know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it and rejoiced.”
Finally, the Pharisees tried to attack Jesus’ youth (1 Timothy 4:12), but Jesus is able to hide from those that were right in front of Him and moved away from the crowd.
John 8:57-59
57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, ” I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”
59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.
Exodus 3:13-15
13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
Jesus reminds us, through His testimony in revealing Himself, that He is God.
Isaiah 43:10-13
10 “You are My witnesses” —
the LORD’s declaration—
“and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.
11 I, I am the LORD,
and there is no other Savior but Me.
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god among you.
So you are My witnesses”—
the LORD’s declaration—
“and I am God.
13 Also, from today on I am He [alone],
and no one can take [anything] from My hand.
I act, and who can reverse it?”
God is the One who reveals Himself, and your true salvation through Jesus Christ comes from God speaking directly to you. If you are listening to Him, you will know how God is operating in your life.
Lord, we pray that you will continue to affirm your presence in our lives as your children. We pray that as we remain obedient to you and that we will be fully persuaded that you are God…the great I AM…the one who restores and truly blesses. Thank you for helping us to believe your Word and for revealing your truth to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 