Sticks and stones

Click here to read John 7 and 8.

In these chapters, the crowds are pretty riled. Jesus is avoiding Judea because people want to kill him until it's time for the Feast of the Tabernacles, a joyous time. He travels in secret to the city and faces the crowd. In Chapter 7, you can see how different parts of the crowd struggle to deal with Jesus and his message. And at the end of the chapter, the men sent to arrest Jesus by the Pharisees return without him because "No man ever spoke the way this man does." And chapter 8 begins with the story of the adulterous woman, and the question I always puzzle over: what was Jesus writing in the dirt? I don't think it matters much, but inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, Jesus continues the conversation with the crowds until he reached that point. Have you ever been there? You earnestly desire to explain what appears to be the unexplainable. They won't step one step closer but you've reached the end of your argument...the gap remains.

I've been there. And there are several issues that can end at a gap that is impossible to cross.
The Pharisees want to know who Christ is, but they don't want to believe his claims without more proof: more than his deeds, more than prophets and witnesses, more than his teaching, more than his knowledge, more than his promise, more than his demonstrated character...more.

And Christ...what else can he say or do? Nothing. Only the children of His Father will understand. His accusers, children of Satan, will never cross that gap. And when Jesus refused to change his story in the face of their attack, they called him a Samaritan and demon-possessed. Have you ever been there? Ensnared in an argument you can't escape from? These men resorted to names and stones when they reached the limit. And the limit: Jesus' claim to be God. I Am Who I Am.

This argument reminds me of the sheep who know the shepherd's voice. They aren't fooled, tricked away from him because they know him. And if these men were truly sons of Abraham, they would recognize the Messiah. Abraham was a friend of God. His children would recognize Jesus. These men know about Abraham, but they aren't his true children. We may know about God or Jesus, and not be His true children.

John 8
I Am Who I Am
48The Jews then said, "That clinches it. We were right all along when we called you a Samaritan and said you were crazy—demon-possessed!"
49-51Jesus said, "I'm not crazy. I simply honor my Father, while you dishonor me. I am not trying to get anything for myself. God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. I say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never have to look death in the face."

52-53At this point the Jews said, "Now we know you're crazy. Abraham died. The prophets died. And you show up saying, 'If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never have to face death, not even a taste.' Are you greater than Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you think you are!"

54-56Jesus said, "If I turned the spotlight on myself, it wouldn't amount to anything. But my Father, the same One you say is your Father, put me here at this time and place of splendor. You haven't recognized him in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said I didn't know what was going on, I would be as much of a liar as you are. But I do know, and I am doing what he says. Abraham—your 'father'—with jubilant faith looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and cheered."

57The Jews said, "You're not even fifty years old—and Abraham saw you?"

58"Believe me," said Jesus, "I am who I am long before Abraham was anything."

59That did it—pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.