I read John 8:28-30 the other day. It says, “So Jesus, said, when you lift up the son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught me. And he who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. As he spoke these things, many came to believe in him.”
This passage fascinated me. Jesus Assures his death here…and this point of death is his guarantee of the beginning (of faith).
What confidence and control Jesus demonstrates over his life and cosmic events, and his death is a sign of who he already is…Belief here, is possible now, In fact it seems that to Jesus, salvation is not hinging upon his death—or the cross event but more so on his identity itself! For Jesus, belief happens here and now, and someone’s life is hanging upon it before Jesus even goes to the cross because he is connected with the father now (before death) (vv24).
If this is true, then it is imperative that we weigh our teaching on salvation not just on the cross event but especially on the identity of Jesus himself—that in the identity of Jesus, there lies salvation, not just in what he did. Our Salvific celebration services must celebrate identity, and character, and must be well informed in that, because whatever Jesus did flowed out of who he already was/is.
Also, what intrigued me was verse 29. Jesus holds himself to a principle worthy of note…If the question arises, “Is God with us in what we do, or are we left alone.” One needs only to ask, “Am I doing the things that are pleasing to him?”—A question which should be continually asked in order to protect yourself from God disassociating himself from you (II Tim 2:12).
Interested to see what you think.
Jesse, I think this is an interesting post--I'll think about it and post something soon.
ReplyDeleteSorry this has taken so long to reply (I blame my final papers and exams). I think verse 32 goes along with your thought: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I think this verse is often interpreted as, "And you will know the correct doctrine, and the correct doctrine will set you free." However, in John 14:6, Christ calls Himself the truth. Thus, I like to read John 8:32 as, "And you will know Jesus, and He will set you free." It is in Christ, not in abstract doctrine, that we are set free.
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