Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, February 24, 2014 Read John 8:21-30 The conversation regarding the origin and the identity of Jesus continues. This is a conversation that has gone on for a long time now – it started way back in chapter 5. Earlier Jesus had spoken of his “going away” and the religious leaders had misunderstood. Jesus repeats his message to them – he is going away and though they search for him they will not find him because where Jesus is going they cannot come. This time the Pharisees speculate that perhaps Jesus is going to kill himself. Why they jump to such a conclusion is hard to figure out – but, ironically, they are getting closer to the truth. Jesus’ “going away” will have to do with death – his death. In spite of the fact that they are clueless, John has a subtle way of making them speak the truth. The reason why the religious leaders cannot perceive the truth is because they are from below. Jesus is from above. They belong to this world. Jesus does not belong to this world. When Jesus makes statements like these the religious leaders have no way of understanding. Yet, there is a way to understand and that way is to believe that Jesus is “I am!” Once again John confronts his readers with “I am” language. We have encounter this earlier in John’s gospel (John 4:26). Our English translations hide something from us. For the convenience of reading the translators have written “I am he.” But the “he” is missing in Greek. What Jesus really says in John 8:24 is, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am!” The Divine Name from the OT book of Exodus 3 is again on the lips of Jesus defining his identity. Jesus is “I am!” The religious leaders can neither comprehend nor accept this. They ask Jesus directly, “Who are you?” In frustration Jesus wonders why he is even speaking to such people. They will not understand. Because they think they know who Jesus is, that they know his origin and his identity, they are blind to the truth. John tells us “they did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.” Mistaken identity plagues the religious leaders. Now Jesus recalls something that was said in the encounter with Nicodemus – “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am.” Once again the “he” is added in English to provide ease in reading. In chapter 3 Jesus had said that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so shall the Son of Man be lifted up (John 3:14). This image will be recalled once again in chapter 12 as the death of Jesus in immanently approaching. When “the hour” comes the Son of Man will be lifted up and then he will draw all people to himself (John 12:32). We noticed earlier that the word “lifted up” is one of those words that John uses which has a double meaning – it means both to be crucified and to be exalted. It is obvious that the religious leaders cannot understand what Jesus is saying. Once again Jesus claims that he does nothing of his own but only what his Father tells him to do. Jesus takes comfort in the reality that he is not alone – not abandoned – because God is always with him. One cannot help but think of Mark’s gospel and the last words on Jesus lips as he died upon the cross – “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Of course it is unfair to mix Mark and John together in an attempt to harmonize things. Mark has his reason for portraying the crucified Messiah as he does. John also has his reasons for portraying Jesus fully in control and victorious upon the cross with words of triumph – “It is finished!” Yet it is good to hear the contrast and to know that God is speaking through both Mark and John. Our reading for today concludes with the comment by the narrator that many believed in Jesus as a result of hearing his words. The response to Jesus is once again mixed. But we are left wondering whether the “belief” spoken of here is genuine or not. Our hopes will be dashed with tomorrow’s reading.