John 8:25 -- So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
As we continued to follow Jesus in the events here in chapter eight today's verse jumped out at me. At first, I didn't really know why so I stopped, talked with the Lord about it, and started digging in.
Jesus had openly talked of who He is, who sent Him, whose will He is following. When he healed the man back in chapter five, He stood before these religious rulers and gave His testimony. Then gave four more witnesses to back it up: John the Baptist, the very signs/miracles He'd done, God the Father, and the scriptures themselves (Old Testament).
As we follow His interaction here in chapter eight after stating "I am the light of the world", He again tells them over and over who He is. It's here in today's verse we find these religious teachers, rulers, leaders looping around once again to ask, "Who are you?".
There is absolutely a place for asking questions. There is even a healthy place for doubt, if you're willing to do something with it and not let it be an excuse to do nothing. Gideon comes to mind. Thomas comes to mind. Even the Bereans in Acts, received Paul's teaching about Jesus openly, yet went home and checked the scriptures to verify things. So, it's okay and often healthy to ask questions, then pray and search the Word for answers and direction.
However, this is not what we're seeing here. We're seeing an almost willful ignorance to continue asking over and over who are you, what authority do you have, show us proof, perform another miracle, etc…
Sometimes we use questions and doubt, not to learn the truth or get clear direction, but instead to resist the truth and deceive ourselves that it's okay to not believe, or not be obedient to God's Word, or to not do what we know we're supposed to do already.
Let that marinate for a minute.
Now, if you've got questions or even doubts about believing, about God's Word, about God's direction for you, about doing what you know you should, here's my question for you.
Christian, what are you doing about it? Are you reading the Bible? Looking for those answers in His Word? Are you praying for answers? Are you reaching out to a close brother or sister in Christ to walk with you in those things?
If you haven't been doing these things, you must. If you have been doing them, are you certain you aren't using the questions to hide from the truth He's already shown you?
Just keep in mind the example of these of deeply religious Pharisees, who knew God's word inside out, were religiously living the Temple life daily, they even looked Jesus in the eye, the very Son of God, they heard His words directly, and yet continued to ask over and over and over again, who are you? They used their questions to hide from and deflect His truth.
It's some deep things to think about for sure. I pray you won't take my word for it. Be the Berean and get into the Word yourself. See what God is saying directly!
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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