Sermon: Saved by Bad Grammar
Text: John 8:46-59
Occasion: Lent V
Who: Mark Woolsey
When: Sunday, Mar 9, 2008
Where: Providence Reformed Episcopal Church
John 8:46-59, NKJV: "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ’If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ’I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Intro
There are a multitude of significant themes in today’s lessons. A good preacher could take any of them and turn it into a series that would last for weeks. I hope you won’t mind if I only take a few hours for this sermon!
Today’s gospel passage starts, as the Latin phrase goes, "In medias res", or "in the middle of things". It’s almost as if you turned the TV on and the first thing you hear is an actor caught in mid-sentence. Our Lord is in the midst of a debate with the Pharisees and it’s anything but civil. Think of our service today - we were proceeding along as always in our liturgy today, smoothly transitioning from one prayer to the next, when all of a sudden two parties, a man on one side and a group of men on the other, stood up and started yelling at each other. Ad hominem arguments - that is, arguments against a person rather than against the opposing point - are flung in each other’s face. Name calling, accusations of insincerity, and unsubstantiated assertions abound. At the climax of the shouting match, the speaker tries to make his point, but ends up with a garbled sentence. And finally, a fight breaks out. All in all, quite a stimulating religious discussion - we need more of them today! Seriously, we do need more of these conversations today. At least the Pharisees cared about these matters, even if they were wrong. In fact, their wrong-headedness sunk them eternally, and it would have us, too, if it hadn’t been for a piece of bad grammar.
II. First Context: Adultery
In order to understand the text appointed for today, it is helpful to step back a bit and understand something of the context in which it is set. When we do, we find some rather surprising and unsettling things. Let’s say, for example, that you, as a presbyter, are in your study, minding your own business, when suddenly group of people burst in. It’s quite a ruckus, but you finally understand they are accusing a woman in their midst of sexual immorality - not just the internet kind, but full-blown, caught-in-the-act infidelity against her husband. All the people involved are members of your church. The woman hasn’t darkened the church doors too often, but the accusers are to a man faithful workers and financial contributors. Furthermore, you know the accusation is true. What do you do? According to the text that immediately precedes the verses from the Gospel read today, you pardon the woman who doesn’t even ask for it, and you damn the believers. At least, that’s what Jesus did. And yes, I did say that He condemned the believers and pardoned the sinner. This just does not seem right, yet here it is in Scripture, plain as day. Jesus just will not stay put in our little box that we build for Him.
The Scripture read today is from the end of chapter 8 of St John’s Gospel. Backing up to the beginning of that chapter we find the familiar story of the woman caught in adultery. The men snatch her up in the very act - what were they doing sneaking around her bedroom window, anyway? - and fling her at Jesus’ feet, demanding judgment. This was a trap for Jesus, of course. If He said to stone her, they could accuse Him before the Romans of breaking their law, since the Romans forbad the Jews from imposing the death penalty. On the other hand, if He said let her go, they could accuse Him of direct violation of Lev 20:10:
the adulteress[,] shall surely be put to death.
Either way, they get rid of Him. This is where we get one of the many famous quotes from Jesus:
He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. (v7)
Of course, her accusers melt away. With no one left to accuse her, He dismisses the case, refusing to press charges Himself.
III. Second Context: The Fight
Right after this, St John reports Jesus as cryptically saying:
I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. v12
Now what does this have to do with the woman caught in adultery? Surely it’s true, but why did Jesus choose this context to make this announcement? Seems kind of strange counsel to give right after a case of sexual immorality is brought before you. Actually, this was directed not at the woman, but at the Jews who had brought the woman in the first place. Jesus went back to them to "pick a fight" as it were. It became a Battle Royal. The Scriptures in Ex 13:21 clearly proclaimed that God was the "pillar of fire" that illuminated their way; now Jesus was claiming He was that light. Jesus’ claims were simply not credible to the Jews. God was from eternity past; Jesus was born just a few years ago. How could He claim to be the light that lights the world? Furthermore, where was eternal life to be found but in obedience to the Torah - which is what the Jews called the Law? Just a cursory reading of the Law and the Prophets showed that God repeatedly judged His people by their adherence to His word - and now Jesus claims following Him guarantees life? Again and again, we see that eternity is set before us, and that competing claims offer it to us. Yet clearly not all can deliver on their claim. We may live in a postmodern world in which each group’s "truth" is accepted as valid for them, something that will lead that tribe to their own heaven. Yet the Bible knows no such tolerance. Universal claims are made that bind all people for all time, claims of heaven and hell, life and death.
Jesus successfully defended Himself against the Pharisees attack; now He goes on the offensive with His claim of light and life. He boldly steps onto their turf and picks an argument with them about the nature of God Himself. I don’t know about you, but I’ve read a little concerning contemporary debates about God’s nature or existence. They are usually conducted by scholastics at a much higher level than me. Their arguments are so far over my head that I have to stand up to understand any of it. If you could compress these debates into a pill, it would be the most powerful sleeping aid ever. Going back 2000 years, here’s a sample from the sophisticated debate in John chapter 8. These are actual phrases and implications straight from the text. As I read it I want you to catch the subtle nuances that each side makes in attempting to explain their point to each other:
Liar!
Samaritan!
Slave!
Demon!
Son of the devil!
Who do you think you are?
Murderer!
Loner!
Go to Hell!
Convinced?
Jesus never leaves truth at the level of the abstract. He always brings it down to our level and shows how it makes demands, insistent demands, upon us. I’m reminded about a story that R.C. Sproul told about himself. He was invited to debate at an atheist’s club some time ago. He accepted the challenge; being a classical apologist, he used some of the time-tested proofs of the existence of God. I gather that he and his debater went back and forth with each other’s arguments, finding their weak spots, answering each other’s questions and countering assertions. I’m sure it pretty much ended up with neither side having changed their minds much. Near the end of the debate, after neither side would budge, RC told them that the reason they - the atheists - remain unconvinced was not that his arguments were defective, but because the atheists themselves are insincere. They are unwilling to consider the existence of God. Their problem is not intellectual, it’s moral. In essence, he was calling them not simply mistaken, but liars for not accepting what they knew to be true. He said they know the truth that God exists, but they wickedly suppress it (Ro 1:18). Our culture of tolerance demands that we treat each other as sincere even if we believe them mistaken. RC, following the lead of Jesus, said no. I doubt RC ever got a second invite! This is a holy arrogance that we need to exercise, with discernment.
IV. Third Context: The Audience
We’ve seen so far how the incident of the woman’s adultery, the Pharisee’s trap, and Jesus’ counterattack form some of the context of today’s passage. Another important context to understand is Jesus’ audience. Who was He talking to? Obviously it was the Pharisees and other religious leaders opposed to Him, right? Yes, but... Let’s look at v30-2:
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Jesus is addressing believers. And not just, as James says, "believers in one God". No, they believe in Christ. Yet it’s to that very believing crowd that just a little later Jesus says,
You are of your father the devil ... because I tell you the truth you do not believe Me. v44,5
Rome is right. The pope prevails. Luther loses. Calvin collapses. Cranmer capitulates. Many believed in Christ, but that was obviously not enough. More is required. Faith alone is insufficient as these people had faith yet just a little later Jesus tells them in no uncertain terms they do not have God for their father.
Perhaps they believed and then rejected the faith? All within a minute? I don’t think so. However, before we jettison sola fide (faith alone) let’s look back at one thing that Jesus said just after the audience’s faith was noted. He said:
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." v31
In other words, He’s not so much adding a requirement for becoming a Christian as He is testing their faith to determine if it is genuine. For most of these in this story, it was not. They were disciples, but not "disciples indeed". They were "unbelieving believers" and Jesus unmasked them right away. Unlike the rest of us, He can pull up the tares at an early stage with out injuring the wheat.
What does this say about you? Do you abide in Jesus’ word? Do you read it constantly, considering it as you lie down and as you rise up? Do you test your walk against Jesus’ talk and change, i.e., repent, when they differ? Is your faith one of "unbelieving believers", or are you a "disciple indeed"?
V. The Preamble
Here’s what our Lord said to the Pharisees in the section that immediately precedes our text today:
If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. v42-45.
Jesus obviously lived before the time of "Disagree with out being disagreeable". He was not "nice". To disagree with Him was not to be mistaken, but to be a liar. Unbelief is never sincere.
Thus, Muslims who die for Allah are insincere. Jews who faithfully practice their religion are dishonest. Hindus are morally culpable in their worship.
Now that we understand better the context of our Gospel text, let’s step thru it and try to understand what Jesus is saying.
VI. Convict or Crown
Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? v46
Jesus is demanding here that we either convict Him of sin or crown Him as Lord. Either Jesus has sinned by misrepresenting God, or we must believe and obey Him.
Derek Carlsen in his book, "That You May Believe" has an interesting comment on these verses:
Jesus equates "error" or "false statements" with sin. This is because He is speaking in the name of the Lord, proclaiming God’s will. To make a mistake in this context is sinful and that is why the Bible warns those who would want to teach the truth (James 3:1). To make a mistake through ignorance and say, "I think Tom lives down the this street", when Tom lives somewhere else, is not sinful (unless I am deliberately trying to mislead someone). However, to stand in a position of expounding the truth of what God has said and err, is sinful. Obviously, to deliberately mislead by distorting God’s truth is an even greater sin. A sign of wisdom is being slow to speak and quick to listen and learn (Prov 10:19; 17;27; Eccl 5:2,3; James 1:19). p379
VII. Saddest Verse
He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. v47
This is the saddest verse in today’s lesson. Much of evangelism today is built on the premise that if you explain the Gospel well enough, people will respond with gladness. The sad truth is that the clearer you are about the Gospel, the more you will be rejected. It’s not that the world would believe if it could; it won’t believe though it should. God holds the key to understanding His word, and He is not always generous with that key. This is why proclamation is even more important that explanation. With the proclamation of the Good News issues power to hear:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Ro 1:16)
Think of all your neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, etc. For the most part these are decent, moral people - who don’t have a clue what their real danger is. Bring them to church to hear the Law and Gospel proclaimed. Tell it to them yourselves. Or is the Bible a closed book to you, too? When you read it, do you find yourself saying, "Who could believe this?". "That can’t possibly be true." Or if you can believe it, do you struggle to obey it? Pray that God will be gracious to you and give you ears to hear and a heart to obey.
VIII. Sobering Verses
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. vv 48-50
There are a few verses related to those I just quoted that I used to avoid like the plague. I hated them because I was so scared of them. They are the most sobering verses in all of Scripture. Whenever a preacher used to be near them in his sermons, I was always glad if he somehow managed to skip mentioning them. When I would read over them in my daily reading of the Bible, I would hurriedly read thru them so I could get beyond them and forget them. But they must be said. Here what Jesus said another time when a similar insult, that He was under demonic control, was laid upon Him:
Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Every other sin you can commit is a skirting, nearer or farther, of the edge of the abyss. This one is falling off. There’s no return, no possibility of repentance. I beg you, pray that God keeps you far from this.
IX. Keep His Word
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. v51
Earlier Christ had said that simply to believe Him was sufficient for eternal life. One of the most famous and quoted verses in all of Scripture, one that’s been translated into more languages, and is known even by many non-believers is:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. v3:16
Is Christ now reneging on the promise of John 3:16? Was there fine print in that chapter that we did not notice? Who can possibly keep His word in order to avoid death? Listen to just a few of His words:
... whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mat 5:28)
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those spitefully use you and persecute you (Mat 5:44)
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. (Mat 5:39-42)
By the way, do any of you realize that you should read this verse to your baby in utero? That way when the baby is born and the doctor holds him by his feet and slaps him, he’ll know to turn the other cheek. ;-)
Seriously though, who keeps these words of Christ? Who can possibly come close? Does He really mean,
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. v51
In a word, yes, He does mean just what He says.
X. Who ARE You?
Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ’If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?"
Who does He make Himself out to be? Is He greater than Abraham? (Mockingly) Is He greater than Abraham? Well, let’s see...
He’s greater than:
Moses: Jn 1:17, Heb 3:3
Solomon: Mat 12:42
Jonah: Mat 12:41
Every principality, power, might, dominion, and name: Eph 1:21
Everything in heaven, earth, and hell: Phil 2:9-10
Sin: I Cor 15:56
Death: II Tim 1:10
Nations: Rev 19:15
Beast & false prophet: Rev 19:20-21
4 living creatures and 24 elders: Rev 5:8-9,14
Allah
Mohammad
Buddha
300,000,000 gods of India
Tribal gods of Africa
10,000 x 10,000 angels: Rev 5:11-12
All things created: Rev 4:11
Did I leave out anyone or anything? I call all of creation, all of Heaven and Earth to answer me, who is greater than Christ? (silence)
XI. I AM
Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ’I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." vv54-58
Is Christ greater than Abraham, that towering figure of the Old Testament?
Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM
Not, "before Abraham was, I was", but "before Abraham was, I AM". No, simple eternity is too small for Our Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t simply exist before Abraham; He is existence itself! When Jesus said He is "I AM", He is making the most explicit claim to deity that a Jew could make. When God called to Moses out of the burning bush He gave His name, saying:
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ’I AM has sent me to you’" (Ex 3:14)
Jesus makes this same claim for Himself. This is the "bad grammar" that saves. Don’t you see, since He is man he may take our sins; since He is God, He can take our sins. To answer the earlier question about how we can keep all the "fine print" of Christ’s commands: Our union with Him is so complete, that what He did becomes what we did; and what we did becomes what He did. His perfect obedience credits to our account, and our wicked rebellion credits to His - and He can bear the punishment. In God’s accounting book, in His eyes, to believe on Christ is the same as to keep all of Christ’s commands and the Law.
And not only this, but what He credits, He also confirms. Let us not split our faith in Him from our obedience. Faith is not obedience, but the two are inseparably intertwined. We must distinguish between them, but never confuse them. Those who receive "faith indeed" from God also receive faithfulness - obedience that grows as we mature.
This is who Christ is, and this is your hope.
XII. Repentance Finally?
Finally the Jews repent - how could they do anything else? They see the error of their ways and fall down at Christ’s feet, calling Him Lord, right?
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. v59
The Gospel always offensive because it is always preceded by accusations of serious error and wrongdoing, and a demand to admit it and change. It is always confrontational. To believe the Gospel is always to admit that you are a liar.
These closing verses are anticlimactic. The Jews could not win with words, so they tried with stones. These are dead men walking, men who condemned their souls to a future eternity of torment and misery. They are as unaware of their danger as children sticking a fork in an outlet. From them Jesus hid Himself and then left, but it made no difference on their religion. If Jesus leaves you, would you notice?
I have a friend - I really do - who is a programmer. At a company he used to work for he used to get quite poor service from the computer operators. He used to swear that if someone were to cut the heads off all the computer operators, there would be no appreciable degradation in service. If Christ the Head were to leave your religion, would you notice?
XIII. Better Things
Well, I trust better things of you today. So much so, that I invite you to this table where Christ is not absent; He is present. He is here, having offered His body and blood to the Father, now He offers it to you for a feast. The great I AM stoops to little ol’ Weatherford, Texas, to Providence church itself. He comes to you and says, "Before you were, I AM. And after you are, I AM. Here is proof. Here’s My body that gives you life, and here’s My blood that washes you clean. Partake of this bread and wine, and you partake of My body and blood. I AM."
This is the word of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Soli Deo Gloria!
