The Know-It-All
John 8:42-59
March 29, 2020 anno Domini – Redeemer
Jesus is a know-it-all. There’s nothing worse than a know-it-all. A know-it-all doesn’t begin his statements, “I think” or “I feel.” He doesn’t say, “Well, Jim Acosta on CNN said…” or “Bret Bair on Fox News said…” He doesn’t give room for compromise. Your opinion doesn’t matter. Your source for truth, no matter how impeccable, is not the truth. He says it and it is so. There’s no agreeing to disagree. He’s right. You’re wrong. He knows. You don’t.
That’s the problem with Jesus in the text. He’s God and the Jews are not. He’s God and you are not. He’s omniscient – that’s the big church word for He knows it all and you do not. That’s also the great thing about Jesus – He’s God and you’re not. The Jews didn’t need a god who would do what they wanted. You don’t need a god who follows your orders. That sort of god will get you nowhere – that’s the Devil’s god. You need a God who tells the truth, who has power, and who is willing to do whatever is necessary to save you and that’s Jesus.
If you’ve been paying attention to the readings during Lent (and Jesus says you should – he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Now hearing takes a lot of work, just ask any husband.)… If you’ve been listening, all of the Lenten Gospel readings are battles between the Devil and Jesus. There was the temptation in the wilderness, the woman whose daughter was demon possessed and the mute man with a demon. Last week, even though Jesus performed a sign that only God could perform, most of the disciples walked away because they couldn’t stomach God’s Word. If you don’t love God’s Word you are not a child of God. Satan has you. The battle for your soul is heating up as Jesus’ passion approaches. Jesus is finished with kindness and miracles of grace. Now He calls it like He sees it. He calls the Jews the Devil’s children and they call Him the same.
Why don’t the Jews want Jesus? The Jewish people to whom Jesus is speaking were not reading their Old Testament like we read it. They had begun to believe that because they were of Jewish ancestry (descendants of Abraham) according to the flesh they were God’s favored people. They didn’t read the Old Testament as the promises of God to rescue the world or to save sinners. They read it as if it was the history of their nation and special status before God. They believed that their ethnicity saved them, that their suffering saved them, and that their works saved them. The fulfillment of the Old Testament was not the Messiah, but the nation of Israel. If there was a religion which believed the United States was God’s chosen nation, that we were His favored people, that religion would have no need of Jesus. If you think you are God’s favorite, if you believe God loves you because of who you are – then the last thing you need is the Savior from sin, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ whom God sent.
Is it any wonder these Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus? They believed that they were the true descendants of Abraham, that they were God’s people, the Kingdom of God. And then Jesus told them the truth, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad. … Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Today’s Old Testament explains what Jesus said. In Genesis 22 we see that Abraham believed the promises of God. Those promises were tied to Abraham’s son – Isaac. Only in Isaac would the blessings come from Abraham to the whole world. But Abraham believed God’s Word more than he loved Isaac. Abraham’s faith was informed by his ears not by his eyes. That’s what the test was about – faith vs. sight. The New Testament tells us that the reason Abraham could sacrifice his only son was because he believed in the resurrection of the dead. Abraham believed in Christ. He believed that God would deliver on his promises through Isaac even if Isaac died.
This is what Jesus said to the Jews. It isn’t about what you see. It isn’t about your nation. It isn’t about how you understand the Bible or what you think of God. It’s what God says. And with the little statement, “Before Abraham was I am” Jesus claimed to be the God whom Abraham worshiped and believed. The Jews were wrong. Jesus was right. So they picked up stones to throw at Him.
You’re wrong. Jesus is right. President Trump is wrong. Governor Walz is wrong. The CDC is wrong. This quarantine is wrong. All the little things you’re doing to save your life are wrong. They won’t save your life. I think you should keep listening to the government, washing your hands, shelter in place and avoid too much interpersonal contact. But if you think some pills or plan or politician is going to save your life, you’re wrong. It’s probably a good thing I’m in an empty church because you might want to throw some stones at me.
Jesus escaped the rocks, but He would have taken them if that’s what it took for the Jews to believe. This is what love does. Love is willing to risk life itself to save another. Good parents do this all the time. They say to their children, “I’m right. You’re wrong.” They are willing to lose their children to save their children. Good friends do this – a good friend will confront you about your slanderous tongue or frequent pity parties. Jesus is more than a good friend. He is the Good God. Jesus gladly made the Jews angry if by that anger they came to believe. Jesus loves you so much He’ll tell you, “I’m right. You’re wrong.” Get mad at Him. He can take your anger and offense. After all He took your sin. He took your death. He took the stone that should have sealed your tomb.
In the ironic mystery of our salvation Jesus was judged wrong by His Father so that you could be pronounced right – righteous, forgiven, holy, cleaned up before God. He was judged guilty so you could be proclaimed “not guilty” of sin, and therefore alive and heading for the resurrection.
Jesus is right and you are wrong. That’s what offended the Jews. All the proof for truth was on Jesus’ side. Could they name a single sin Jesus had committed? Could they testify to a lie He had ever told? They were experts in the Old Testament – which Old Testament prophecy did He not fulfill? Even their father Abraham’s witness sided with Jesus.
Not one of us wants to be told, “You’re wrong.” We assume any one who tells us “you’re wrong” doesn’t like us or is out to get us. Jesus is out to get you, but not in the way you think. He loves you. There’s not a single shred of evidence He’s against you. He never sought His own glory. He sought His Father’s glory and He sought your glory. He willingly suffered the sorrow of rejection from His own people. He voluntarily let the nails pin Him to the cross. He freely carried your sin and suffered your hell. So don’t be offended by His Word because He’s right and you’re wrong. Rather keep His Word, hold to it, confess it as right and true even when it hurts, because Jesus promises, “If anyone keeps my Word, he will never taste death.” That’s the saving truth and you know it in the name of Jesus. Amen.