JOHN 8:48-59 HOW ABOUT YOU?

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52 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. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 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. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

The various discourses of Jesus recorded in chapters 6 through 8 present the reader with an increasingly black or white decision. During each stage in the discussion, people reach a point at which they are no longer able to abide his words. Jesus forces us to make a decision. There is no middle or “maybe” position when it comes to believing in Jesus. He makes sure of that. As C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse” (p.56).

The question Jesus asks of each of us is, “Who do you say that I am?” Answering will not take much time as you can only check one of 2 boxes: “Son of God” or “Not Son of God.” If you check the first box, pray that the Holy Spirit will empower you to live your life in a manner consistent with your choice.

Come Holy Spirit and enable me to truly be a faithful follower of Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. May my life faithfully reveal the identity of my Lord and honor God in this world. Amen.