Sermon Series Blog: The Truth Hurts Pt.5

Who Do You Think You Are?

John 8:48–59

When Being Certain Makes Us Blind

The religious leaders in John 8 were certain they knew God. They knew their history, honoured Abraham, and could speak confidently about Scripture. Yet when Jesus stood in front of them, they could not recognize Him. The more clearly He revealed Himself, the more fiercely they resisted.

That should humble us. We can be sincere and still be wrong. We can know the words of Scripture and still resist what God is saying through them.

Sometimes the hardest truth to receive is the one that asks us to admit, “I need to change.” When Jesus confronts something we have defended for years, will we listen?

Who Is Speaking?

Jesus told them, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” They objected: Abraham died. The prophets died. Then they asked the question at the heart of the argument: “Who do you make yourself out to be?”

It is a question each of us must answer.

If Jesus is only an inspiring teacher, we can keep the words we like and set aside the ones that challenge us. But if He is who He claims to be, His words carry an authority unlike anyone else’s.

We may readily say, “Jesus is Lord.” Then He speaks to our bitterness, our money, our relationships, our plans, or a habit we do not want to surrender. In that moment, the question becomes personal: Does Jesus get the final word in my life?

“Before Abraham Was, I Am”

Jesus answered with words that changed everything: “Before Abraham was, I am.”

He was saying far more than that He existed before Abraham. His words echo the way God revealed Himself to Moses and spoke of Himself through Isaiah. Jesus was revealing His divine identity.

The leaders understood the weight of His claim. They picked up stones.

And that is the painful ending of John 8: the One who could give them life stood before them, but they refused to receive Him.

What Are You Still Holding?

Years later, John saw the risen Jesus in glory. John fell at His feet, and Jesus laid a hand on him: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:17–18).

That is our hope. The One who calls us to surrender is also the One who died and rose again. He does not confront us to leave us in shame. He calls us to life with Him.

The leaders picked up stones. We may never do that, but we can still hold tightly to our pride, our control, or our need to be right.

What are you still holding?

You can lay it down. You can pray, “Jesus, if You are who You say You are, You get all of me.” And you can trust the living Christ with what happens next.

Only Jesus gets the final word.