Who Are You?



John 8:21-30
 21So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

I feel frustrated for Jesus when I read this passage. He’s been dealing with the Pharisees for a long time at this point and has had many conversations with them. They’ve probably witnessed a few miracles with their own eyes and heard about dozens more. And yet they have the temerity to ask Jesus, “Who are you?”

Out of all these words today, the phrase that sticks out is “Who are you?” It could be asked in a tone of confusion, sarcasm, or sincerity. I doubt if it was spoken with sincerity. My imagination hears sarcasm coming from these guys who are supposedly looking for the Messiah but in reality were only looking out for themselves.

Jesus answers that questions with every word and action for us every single day. Throughout the Gospels He says that He the great I AM. “I am the light of the world.” “I am the bread of life.” “I am the Son of God.” “I am the Son of Man.” His answers are numerous and grace-filled. We can choose disbelief like the Pharisees or we can embrace what He brings to us. His ultimate answer is that He is the Savior of our souls and that in Him alone is found eternal life. When I ask Jesus that question my thoughts are immediately taken to the Word of God where He so clearly defines Himself for me. Both the Old and New Testaments tell me exactly who He is and what I can expect from Him. Every day I am grateful for that Word and my hearts worships at His feet as He shows me His greatness. “Who are You?” He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

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