The Jews had protested that no one was trying to kill Jesus. After Jesus reminds the people that the Jews are trying to kill Him because He healed a man on the Sabbath, they remember that they had heard something about killing Him. At first they couldn't believe that anyone was trying to kill Him. Now the people can't believe that Jesus is teaching in public if people still want to kill Him. Perhaps the authorities have concluded that Jesus is the Christ?
The people might have left it at that, but humans rarely do something so simple. Rather than just trusting that Jesus was the Christ, they considered other evidence that might help them certify His Christ-hood. "Wait a minute! We know where Jesus comes from! We won't know where the Christ comes from!" And so they continue to doubt Jesus and His teachings. If people want to doubt, there are always more reasons for doubt. Certainty is almost impossible – even with solid evidence – apart from faith.
Jesus was still teaching in the temple courts. He knew what the people were saying. And He responded: "Yes, you know Me and you know where I am from." So far, to them, so good. Jesus seems to be affirming their doubts. To them, Jesus is from
But then He continues: "And I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true." Jesus was not the initiator of His ministry in the world. Jesus did not come by His own authority. The source of Jesus' ministry is someone else, somewhere else. Not Joseph and Mary. Not
Just in case the crowds were still thinking that Jesus was perhaps referring to Joseph, perhaps really honoring His earthly Father, Jesus says more: "You do not know Him." Who might be unknown to this crowd? Joseph? No. It has to be someone distant. Jesus is a spiritual teacher, so He is probably referring to either Satan or God. And considering that He has claimed to be teaching the will of God, Jesus must be referring to God. Surely Satan is not true! But Jesus tells the crowd that they do not know this person.
Not only so, but Jesus tells them that He does know this person. Jesus knows the One who sent Him; Jesus knows God! How can He know God if they don't? 1. Jesus is from God; 2. God sent Jesus.
Jesus begins by telling the crowd that they know where He is from. But what He claims is that He is from God (as He has said all along). This is very different from what they meant – they thought that they knew Jesus was from
The people understood. They tried to seize Jesus. But they did not succeed – God's Word says simply that it was not yet Jesus' time.
Despite the angry response, many put their faith in Him. Why? They trusted in the evidence they had, without continuing to seek complete certainty. "When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?" Between Christ's teachings and Christ's miracles, they had the evidence they needed.
Father, over and over John testifies that Jesus claimed to come from You. It is so easy to find reasons not believe this – to doubt, to delay trusting in Him. Father, help me to trust in Jesus. Help me to trust His teachings. Help me to trust His miracles. Help me to be humble enough to realize that I cannot understand everything You say and do. I cannot understand all the pieces of Your divine puzzle. At some point, I must trust You. You have revealed that Jesus is from You. Help me to trust You by following Jesus. Help me to trust You by obeying Jesus' words as though they are truly divine. And may those who doubt Jesus learn to trust. May they stop acting as though they are worthy to judge Jesus – as though they are worthy to put Him on trial and determine whether He is trustworthy or not. May they instead submit. Trust. Obey. May I set a good example in this.
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