I Have Come

Introduction

Our society has fully imbibed the language of equivalency.

We are in the “holiday season” when we are supposed to wish everyone “happy holidays.”

Christianity is just seen as one of many options that people can choose, or not choose, to follow in the realm of religion.

According to the Bible, Jesus made a different kind of claim.

He made the claim to exclusivity.

A person does not become righteous through being religious.

Eternal life is not granted on the basis of being religious.

Truth matters.

We should listen and obey Jesus. We don’t listen.

Set the context of events (Jn. 12:1).

Jesus Claims to be Equal with God

Jesus’ “shout” or “wail” in Jn. 12:44 prepares us for the seriousness of the statements he is about to make.

This may have also been a statement of frustration at the inability of his generation of Jews and Gentiles to grasp the significance of his words, works, and person.

Notice that two statements about “the one believing” and “the one behold me” both point toward equality with the Father.

To “see” Jesus is more than just to gaze upon his visually with the eyes.

It is to contemplate and grasp his equality with the Father based upon the evidence of his words and his works.

Jesus is not a philosopher, or an avatar, he claims to be equal to the God, the Father of creation (Jn. 1:1, Jn. 1:14).

If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (Jn. 14:9).

Jesus Explains Why He Came

Six times in the Gospel of John, Jesus uses a “I have come” statement.

Jn. 12:46, however, begins a different series of “I have come into the world” statements.

Jn .16:28.

Jn. 18:37.

He came so that those who believe in him might not remain in darkness.

There is a fundamental claim at work here both about light and about darkness that runs throughout John’s gospel.

There seems to be a double-entendre to Jesus’ use of light and darkness. On the one hand, light appears to refer to information. Jesus teaches/reveals the Father and makes known the truth. Consequently, he reveals the truth in a world that is otherwise ignorant of and devoid of the truth. Yet, darkness is more than ignorance. It is the default evil state of the world and of each unbelieving individual in the world.

Notice the echoes of John 8:12 and of John 3:16-21 (Jn. 12:47).

Jesus Warns of the Consequences of Rejecting Him

Rejection constitutes not listening to him and disregarding his teaching.

Notice the “in the last day” statement in Jn. 12:48.

Jesus’ words aren’t the mere words of a Jewish man.

They are the words of God.

He spoke the words of life.

He spoke what the Father told him to speak.

He is either a liar, or He is the revealer of ultimate truth.