John 15 Chapter 8 The 'Here-I-Stand' Chapter

[HKHaugan]

One thing we did not cover in John 13 was the rather lonely appearing verse connection of 7:53 and 8:1, just before the encounter with the adulterous woman: “Then each went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.” The 'each' refers to the temple guards who went to arrest Jesus; the chief priests, the Pharisees, Nicodemus and whatever other rulers were present who went to their homes while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. They retire to their supposed safe places within the city walls.

But Jesus goes outside the walls through the Kidron Valley to the open Mount where He spends the night most likely in prayer and rest. In this world 'He has no place to rest His head.'

That valley's history carried images of being the place where past Israel’s kings threw and destroyed statues of pagan idols. Jesus separates Himself from the world's security, it's dwellings and limitations, to walk through this valley with its reminders of past history of broken vows, promises, politics, conspiracies and the people's sinful indulgences to be alone on the highest point in the Jerusalem area. This is also where Gethsemane is and where Zechariah prophesied it would be split in two (Zech.14:4) and where Jesus would sweat blood for the world. The point here is to ask what we do when we leave friends, work and our daily routine. Do we leave the truth behind and retreat into ourselves, safe places and comfort or do we take time to consider the valleys we have been through and are going through to be with the Lord, His Word and pray? Because dawn is coming when we either choose to follow Him or go back to the attitudes and things we have made our idols. Remember Jesus returns through the valley to the Temple to teach, to minister and to be the Messiah. What are those valleys we walk through as we face our next dawn? Jesus knew opposition awaited.

Now back to vs.12.

Vs.12 Since we have already commented on the first eleven verses about the woman caught in adultery signaling His power of forgiveness we turn to His immediate declaration that He is the light of the world which drew instantaneous opposition.

Let's think about why for a moment. This verse carries three gigantic but connected truths. First, “I am the light of the world.” Second, 'Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” Third, “...but will have the light of life.” He is claiming He is the focus for every person in all cultures for all times.

Remember when in the discussion of the adulterous woman Jesus waited until halfway through the Feast of Booths to appear? When did He appear? When the light came---At dawn! (8:1). See what I mean about John's Gospel? Jesus didn't just appear, He appeared in the dawn's early light (remind you of a special anthem?). Even our language has an expression 'You could see the light go on in his head.' It is an 'aha!' moment. The 'now I see' kind of experience. Those are not just fleeting things. They are real and John is full of those 'aha' instances. Jesus is the 'Aha' moment appearing in the Temple courts.

Now, in your mind, listen to the words of this song written by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein and reflect on them spiritually with Jesus in mind:

“When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone, you'll never walk alone.”

Now go back and apply them to the signs and miracles we have discussed. How do they lighten our darkness? Then consider the adulterous woman. What was the darkness and light in that situation? Look carefully at the characters involved and filter out the attitudes of darkness and light you see in them.

Go back again to the opening verses in Chapter 1. From them John has set us on a unique path of seeing the invisible dimension every time we read Scripture. The context of light is the setting not only for the rest of the Gospel but for every next moment to be read and exposed to the Light, His Light, His Spirit, His will, His attitude and His calling in it. Our emotions, mood swings, our first impressions and judgments, our fears and our secret inclinations, fester in the caverns of personal sin. They will surface in the stress and pressure of moving in a dark world. The more we hold the lantern of Jesus and His Word before us the less impact they have. He takes us through our valleys and lights our way to eternity.

Is it any wonder therefore, when we see in Creation God's first words when darkness covered the deep, “Let there be light” and it was not only light by day but also light by night? And He said, 'It was good.' Light is good. It is moral, spiritual, personal and relational. All the physical references to light in the Old Testament lay the foundation for the Messianic Light that is to appear in Jesus. The Light appeared to Moses in the burning bush, the Hebrews were led by a pillar of fire for light in the night and a pillar of cloud by day. The references to light in prophecy connected to the coming Messiah (especially Isaiah) are too numerous to quote here. To cap off the light theme Paul's conversion began with him being surrounded by a flash of light from Heaven (Acts 9:3). After Peter was arrested a light and an angel appeared in his cell to free him (Acts12:7). In the physical imagery is held a spiritual insight.

Scripture was given to everyone living in sin's darkness to be the lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Ps.119:105).

How amazing is that?

Of course only a relationship with the Lord Jesus can enable that since without Him we can't have the Holy Spirit . It is the Holy Spirit who opens the Word for us to see. We live not by sight but by faith (2Cor.5:7) which is eternal sight. “We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen for the things that are seen are temporary but the unseen things are eternal (2Cor.4:18).”

The best way to see Chapter 8 is as the “Light' chapter. It is like driving on a dark road but there are a few lesser lights that increase in number as you go and then you are on an Interstate with a series of bright lights. In the same way Chapter 8 gives us as a series of statements by Jesus that have singular purpose, to expose the lack of spiritual perception, spiritual sight and spiritual motivation in the leadership. They build in crescendo fashion and end with one resounding climactic declaration. We'll see it when we arrive at it.

We start the series with vs.12 and view those three statements we mentioned earlier. They are foundational for what follows.

First, “I am the light of the world.” This is one of many 'I am' statements He makes identifying with the “I AM” who appeared to Moses and told him to go before Pharaoh and tell him God, who is “I AM”, sent him. Here Jesus is saying He is the one who lights up the condition of men's hearts and God's plan to heal them.
Second, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” He not only is light but the kind of light that defines darkness, the invisible evil and its prince that darken the hearts of mankind. If we follow Jesus we will be able to see in the invisible dimension which theretofore was only guesswork and religious speculation. What we are talking about here is attitude, the state of the heart in ourselves and a deeper perception of what is driving those around us.

Third, “...but will have the light of life.” That light can be seen in Jesus in the way He discerns what is going on around Him. Even when people deny their motivations He is quick to point them out. He always does it at just the right time. It is the Holy Spirit that provides that kind of discernment but also the necessary response that is neither too heavy nor too light. It's trust in Jesus at the moment of any discernment. That's why it's good every so often to rekindle the fruit of the Spirit in our 'counting-to-ten' moments (Gal.5:22-23). When we get to Chapter 14-16 the Holy Spirit will be the main subject.

Vs.14-24 is next in the series. The Pharisees challenge Him to verify His testimony with a second witness beside Himself. His answer is because He knows where He comes from and where He is going. Their problem is they are judging by human standards and He is not judging anyone. But even if He did He'd be right because He wouldn't be doing it alone. He stands with His Father who sent Him. The very fact they ask Him where His Father is proves their spiritual vacuum. If they can't see that He is His Father's Son, 'like Father like Son', they are empty and clueless. There is no compromise between light and darkness and Jesus is the only who can make that a reality.

Then to increase the intensity of His purpose He tells them He is going away to a place they can't go. He tells the reason in three parts. First, they are from below and He is from above. Second, they are of this world. Third, He is not and that, because they don't believe Him, they will certainly die in their sins.

Vs.25-30 The Pharisees ask Him who He is. Jesus drives the wedge a bit more deeply now. He tells them He already has and they stand under His judgment. But that is not the present issue. His mission is to tell the world what He has heard from His Father. In fact everything about Him, who He is, what He has done and said, will be made clear when they have Him lifted up. (His allusion to the Cross). All of which He does to please His Father.

The more He speaks now until the end of the chapter, His goal becomes clearer. He has been sent by the Father as the sole authority to show the difference between the spiritual dimension and the world dimension as well as Jewish leadership's total ignorance of the difference. Yet, many believed in Him.

Vs.31-47 Yet there is more to Jesus than just believing in Him. His goal is to reach the hearts of those who only believe in Him but don't yet trust Him. Some might say His words to the 'believers' is more harsh than to the ones who outright reject Him. It means not only accepting Him but holding on to His words as the way to live. You can't be half world and half Jesus. He is the way to know the truth and the truth will make you free. What Jesus exposes here is seen in their reaction. They thought that simply by being Abraham's children who are no long slaves they could accept Him as a leader. Belief without living in His words is even worse, “You believe that there is on God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder (James 2:19).” He tells them that they too are children of their father, the devil. In fact they are even trying to kill Him. Not only can they not see but they cannot hear, both of which are spiritual, seeing and listening spiritually. He is already declaring that there is no other way to understand and follow God unless it is through Him. The fact that they cannot see nor hear proves they do not belong to God. The question for every person ever born is, 'To whom do we belong?'

Vs.48-59 Now in these verses we reach the climax, the peak of the mountain this chapter has us climbing toward. The Jews can't handle the idea He has accused them of not belonging to God. So they begin insulting Him to get a rise out of Him. Remember the old kid's saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?” They call Him a Samaritan and demon-possessed. He simply replies that neither is true. They can neither spiritually see nor hear Him ('their hearts are far from me' echoes here). He honors His Father and they dishonor Him. Contrary to the world attitude of seeking self-glory (heart blocker) He seeks only to glorify His Father and to seal that He says that if they keep His words they will never see death. This really hits their angry nerve and they respond with hostile questions, “Are you greater than our Father Abraham? He's dead and so are the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

What is important to see here is Jesus' responses.

First, “If I glorify myself my glory means nothing.”
Second, “My Father, who you claim as your God, is the One who glorifies me.”
Third, “Though you do not know Him, I know Him.”
Fourth, “If I said I did not I would be a liar like you.”
Fifth, “But I do know Him and keep His Word.”
Sixth, “Your Father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad (Mt.17:13, Heb.11:13 on).”
The Pharisees, now totally perplexed, “you're not 50 yet and you've seen Abraham?” Now the clincher to the whole chapter:

Seventh, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!”

'Seven' God's number. God has spoken.

The chapter ends with a visual 'sticks-and-stones' attempt to kill Jesus but He hid Himself and left the Temple grounds. It doesn't stop there. The very next episode carries the weight of what Jesus was saying in all of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 is the physical authentication of Chapter 8. Another thing that needs to be in the forefront of our study is the fact of a chapterless and verseless original manuscript. So it is natural for events to join without a break. It might be good to read it that way as an ongoing series of kairos events. Try it and see what happens.