John 8:28-30 (WEL) Then Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing from myself, but even as the Father has taught me, so I speak these things. 29 “He who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him.” 30 While speaking these things, many believed in him.
V28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing from myself, but even as the Father has taught me, so I speak these things.
Lifted up refers to Jesus being lifted up on the Cross.
Son of Man is a Jewish Messianic title.
I AM is a reference to the eternal God.
The illustration comes from Numbers 21:4-9.
Note healing came after one looked at the bronze snake, not before. Deliverance came from a person’s own faith and proven by their coming to that snake and looking at it.
We know there were two different responses:
- Those who said, “That is stupid; it will never work.”
- Those who said, “Sure sounds stupid, but I will go and look because God said that is the only way to be healed.”
The thief, next to Jesus, and the centurion believed. They understood that Jesus is the I AM.
The other thief and most everyone else only saw a man crucified.
V29 “He who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him.”
Principle: Know that God is always with those who fear Him (believe in Jesus alone for salvation).
Jesus declares that He is sinless because Jesus always did what the Father wanted Him to do.
Love for Jesus equals obedience (John 16:15) to His rules.
V30 While speaking these things, many believed in Him.
Many understood Jesus’s illustration and did believe Jesus to be the Messiah.
Albert Barnes: “Such was the convincing nature and force of the truths which he presented, that they believed He was the Messiah and received His doctrine. While there were many that became more obstinate and hardened under His preaching, there were many, also, who by the same truth were made penitent and believing. “The same sun that hardens the clay, softens the wax” (Clarke).”
We learn:
- Jesus tells the Truth.
- Jesus is the I AM.
- Jesus prophesied the Cross.
- Jesus taught that faith is the only requirement God accepts for salvation.
Questions:
Has Jesus being the I AM affected you?
Have you placed your faith in Jesus alone for salvation?