The Centrality of the Messiah

Scripture: As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. John 8:30

Observation: Jesus has a pretty confusing debate with the Pharisees. He effectively pronounces himself as the Messiah, and when challenged about the authority of his claim he states that his father - God - also testifies to this truth. He explains that they don't understand God's testimony because they don't know God. He predicts his death, then explains that they don't understand his words simply because they don't believe in him. It's some confusing language, but hinges on the idea that - if they understood God's promises about salvation - they would see he is the Messiah.

The section ends saying that many believe! This is an out-of-the-blue statement, given that the conversation wasn't with "many" (though Jesus was in the temple court teaching at the time). In other words, there is something more happening. There are two conversations ... one in which Jesus is teaching the masses, and one in which he is getting harangued and heckled by a judgmental few trying to derail the teaching. John is not reporting on the teaching, but only the side-debate.

Application: This is where the random statements can be understood only by reading John through the lens of his purpose in writing the gospel. The early church already had Jesus' teachings, so they didn't need to be told again what Jesus was teaching in the temple. What they didn't have was the arguments about Jesus' lordship. John is filling in the holes left by other writings and oral lessons. There is a body of work around the teachings of love, mercy, and salvation through faith. John is focusing on Jesus' divinity, the single fact of his Messiahship, upon which belief must be based. Without that fact - Jesus as the son of God - Christianity is just a morality system.

This is the entire purpose of John's work. From his signs, to his debates, to his confusing metaphors, this version of the gospel is about one thing: Jesus is the son of God, and it is only in that context that ... obeying his instructions, placing hope in his resurrection, having faith in his love, and telling others the good news ... has any meaning.

Prayer: Lord, Jesus is my Lord and my savior. I know Jesus is the son of God, who existed from the beginning, and by whom all things are created. I believe it all, and place my faith in this hope alone. Amen.