John 8:21-30

I had a good facepalm moment the other day. I found myself in an argument with my three year old daughter, slowly descending to her level of maturity. Being a new Dad has been awesome, and one of the things that I have learned so far is that it’s not enough to just tell your children how to behave, you have to demonstrate it. I think people in general learn by observing and seeing examples set with actions rather than just being told how to act.

I think God certainly understands this, being the one who put these systems into place and all, and had that in mind when he sent Jesus to earth to live among us. In this passage, John 8:21-30 we see Jesus talking with a small crowd and having a small dispute over who he is. Having already stated that he is the son of God, Jesus states:

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

[...]

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

The sin Jesus was talking about here was disbelief. Now I know that Jesus is the son of God, and died for my sins, and is the only path to salvation. However, I don’t always act like it. You would think for having done such an amazing thing for me, I could try a little harder. But I don’t and it’s because I am of this world, and with that comes an ego. After a little while I start to convince myself that I can solve my issues and the world’s and remove my dependence on God. Having an ego is an issue of humility, and like a good parent, Jesus demonstrates later in the passage

28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

He doesn’t say, BOW NOW AND WORSHIP ME, I AM CORRECT BECAUSE I AM GOD (which is probably what I would have done in that situation). He says, “I do nothing on my own”, and “I do what pleases him”. Jesus himself admits to being constantly subject to God and his will, and that speaks volumes to me.