John 8:25 “Who is Jesus”

(John 8:25) Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even [the same] that I said unto you from the beginning.

Jesus never comes right out and says that He is the Messiah or the Christ. The people pictured the Christ as a king only. They were looking for the Christ to be a great military leader who would run out the gentile powers and establish the throne of David once and for all time. But Jesus needed these people to see the Christ as the savior. They needed to see that they were dead in sin and could only be made alive by faith in the Christ as the savior of men. Jesus thus used phrases which acknowledged His being the Messiah but also emphasized the role of messiah as the savior. He called Himself the bread of life, the light of the world, the living water, the one from above, the Son of God, the true bread from heaven, the giver of life, the forgiver of sins, the not of earth one, the I AM, the Good Shepherd, the way, the truth, and the life. When Peter said “thou art the Christ the son of the living God” Jesus commended Peter for speaking the truth. Jesus had to remind His disciples when they wanted to set up the kingdom right away that He came to save men’s lives not to destroy them. Jesus may have killed a fig tree but He never harmed a single human being. He may have used a whip to drive out the money changers but it was for their own good.

I. The reason for the question.

The reason we do things is important. I washed dishes and shook the rugs when I was a child not because they needed to be cleaned but because I did not want to be punished. It would have been better for me to have volunteered to do these chores out of love for my mother and a strong desire to help her with her daily work. I did not talk back to my mother because I feared my father! It should have been that I loved and respected her to much to behave thus. The Pharisees do are not asking the question “Who are you?’ for information. They are seeking to ridicule and accuse Jesus of wrong doing. I have many times responded to questions with “why do you ask?” for the reason is often important to know.

These men have been deeply impacted by the statement of Jesus that they would die in their sins and thus would not be able to go where He is going. Out of hatred then they ask Him to confess before them all plainly who He is.

II. The answer Jesus gave.

Jesus told them, in effect, that His story has not changed. He is exactly who He has always been claiming to be. The fact that He is the giver of life, the water of life, the bread of life, the one who is not of this world necessitates His being the Christ.

Jesus has said this from the beginning. He has said it from the beginning of His ministry. He is meek and lowly in heart. He is good. He is the bread of life. He is the bread that came down from heaven. He is the light of the World. He is not alone. He is the one from above. He is the One who is not of this world. He is before Abraham. He is the giver of sight to the blind and the giver of blindness to those who see. He is the door of the sheep. He is the good Shepherd. He is the Son of God. He is the resurrection and the life. He is Master and Lord. He is the way, the Truth, and the Life. He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. He is the true vine. He is no more in the world. He is one with the Father. He is Jesus of Nazareth. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the one who was. He is the one who is. He is the one who is to come. He is the almighty. He is the one who lives and was dead. He is alive forevermore. He is the one who has the keys of hell and of death. He is the one who searches the reigns and hearts of men. He is the root and offspring of David. He is the bright and morning star. These are the answers which Jesus gives to the question “Who are you.”

III. The Answer God has given in His word as to Who Jesus is.

Jesus spoke earlier of the witness of His Father. The Pharisees could have read in the scriptures and gotten their answer. He is the creator of all things. He is the crusher of ?the serpents head. He is the wonderful counselor. He is the almighty God. He is the everlasting Father. He is the prince of Peace. He is the Rock of ages. He is a man of sorrows. He is the Lord of hosts. He is the great I AM. He is the one that sitteth in the heavens. He is the Lord of David. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is a man of war. He is the Son of Man. He is the most high. He is king forever. He is the God of our salvation. He is the king of glory.

IV. Do you know who Jesus is?

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Do you know Him as your friend? Do you know Him as your Lord? Do you know that He is trustworthy? Do you know that He can turn your sorrow into joy? Do you know He cares for you? Do you know He hears and answers prayer? The only way to know Him is through faith. You must believe in Him before you can know Him. To know Him better you must experience His saving grace. To know Him you must spend time with Him in prayer. To know Him you must spend time with Him in His word. Do you know Him?