~ The Voice of Truth ~
(A 10-part series on John 7:11–John 8:59)
The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” (John 8:48-59)
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:48-59)
THIS FINAL SCENE in our lengthy narrative between Jesus and his accusers is played out on the grounds of the Temple, and moves now towards its inevitable conclusion. The background for their scathing comments comes from the Jewish hatred of the Samaritans. This runs deep, stemming from the eighth century B.C. and continuing into our own modern times. The primary issue is that each one claims that their version of the Pentateuch is the true version, and that their own respective place of worship is the true mountain of God. Both consider the other heretics, but for the Jew, the historical fact that the Samaritans intermarried with their Assyrian captors is the only proof needed to firmly and vehemently objectify the Samaritans as the lowest of the low, and traitors to their own kind. When these Jews call Jesus “a Samaritan and demon-possessed” (John 8:48), they categorize him as a reviled heretic and worshiper of a false Y-H-W-H. This is heresy of monstrous proportion to them. They also place him lower than that, as one who is controlled by demonic forces under the aegis of the ancient adversary, ha-Satan. Jesus is, therefore undeniably, under the ordinances of the Sanhedrin and Temple law, worthy of death.
Both Jesus and the Jews are playing to the crowds surrounding them. Both hold to the viability of their respective position. But they are motivated by different desired outcomes, which will collide at the cross. The Jews want to kill Jesus; only this will fulfill righteousness—God’s holiness must be kept from contamination from the unclean. Jesus simply continues his mission, undeterred by these challenges, because they fit perfectly with his desired outcome: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:51)
The accusers rebut, “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” (John 8:51) Another point in their favor, they think; Jesus continues to label himself a heretic! But Jesus is scanning the crowds, looking for those, addressing those, who have “the ears to hear—the eyes to see.” (cf. Matt. 13:13-15) He has not lost his focus; he scans the faces in the crowd—perhaps even now one or two more may understand.
Jesus refutes the argument of the Jews: “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” (John 8:54b) He tells them, for all to hear, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56; c.f. Heb. 11:8-10) The Jews can only respond in derision, “You’re not yet fifty, and you have seen Abraham?” (John 8:57)
At this point, Jesus makes the statement that has been awaiting its moment since he came to the Temple grounds during the feast, days earlier (cf. John 7:11-14), and began to reveal himself through both his message and his actions. This statement will seal his fate at the hands of the Jews. It will also lead to the fulfillment of his mission and the completion of his destiny. He says, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) The Jews hear this with perverse delight—he has just identified himself with the voice from the burning bush (cf. Ex. 3:12) that called Moses to his mission; Jesus now calls himself greater than Moses and the Law, and names himself as God! What greater heresy could there be than this? The Pharisees, incensed, feeling righteously incited, “picked up stones to stone him.” (John 8:59)
So, for those with “ears and eyes” (cf. Matt. 13:13-15)—then and now—what greater revelation than this? In the din and confusion of all the angry voices that take part in the continuum of the ages-old clash of worldviews, somehow we must separate out the voice of truth and give it the attention it demands. It helps to first suppress the extreme volume, to turn away from all the strong emotions and wild expressions of ego. Many will attempt to do that by engaging with something else, some hopefully positive activity, as a diversion that at least compresses the babble into a tolerable level of white noise and gives some space for reflection and a semblance of peace. But that in and of itself is not enough, for it doesn’t satisfy the deepest yearning at the center of the soul to find meaning; instead, it merely covers over that need with a repetitive busyness that provides the delusion of a comfortable routine.
The problem that must be solved is to find our own authentic self, our own true identity, for only this self can interpret truth and make it actionable in steps that lead to the establishment of the ideal self. Paul struggled with these same needs, and through many trials, arrived at this: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
In John’s gospel, Jesus is the voice of truth, and says to us, “I call my own sheep by name, and my sheep follow me because they know my voice. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:7-14)
And now, this one great truth emerges for us, if we ‘know his voice’ : “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) Brothers and sisters, the promise is great, the rewards are greater still; turn away from all the noise, and listen to the voice of truth. “Therefore come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:17-18)
Q. Do I know truth when I see it and hear it?
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