He Who Is [Lent 5; Passion Sunday; St. John 8:46-59]

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO HERE.

Jesus speaks to you today, saying:

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

The part of the text we are focusing on today is “whoever is” in the phrase “Whoever is of God…” The reason for this is because “whoever” is a modern attempt at translating the Bible in a gender neutral, PC way in order to sell more copies. What they miss in translation is a very important sacred name for Jesus.

The “whoever is…” should read “He who is…” and I want you to know this because in the ancient church, if you were to find and icon or a crucifix, you would most likely find the two Greek words translated “whoever is…” in the cross-halo of Jesus. They will look like an “o” by itself, followed by a “wv”. (Or "O WN", in capital lettering)

Now, if those two words in Jesus’ halo stood for “whoever is” then that would be very confusing, at least to me. What does “whoever” have to do with Jesus and His cross? What does “whoever is” mean? Does that mean whoever could be on the cross or whoever could be just as holy and sacred as Jesus?

No. The words there are “He Who is” and we hear the rest of the message of the Bible to back us up. In John 6, the One that has seen the Father is He Who is from God (v.46). In Revelation, St. John gives peace from He who is, He who was, and He who is to come (1:4,8).

In the same book, the four living creatures bow down giving glory, honor and thanks to the Lord God almighty, He Who was, and is, and is to come (4:8, 11:17). This is not just idle naming or correct grammar, but a revelation to Who Jesus is. God is the only One Who is, was, and is to come. He is eternal. Thus, this sacred name equates Jesus with God; a necessary Christian belief.

So, what we miss in the English is Jesus. It is not “whoever” on the cross, but it is Jesus. Jesus Who is from God, Who hears God, because who are we? It may make you uncomfortable to hear the demons ask you that question, yet they do in Acts 19.

There, certain Jews were attempting to get back into the exorcism market by using Jesus’ Name, whom Paul preaches, they said. The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this and the demon they encountered said, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-16)

They were then possessed themselves and failed in their attempt at the exorcism.

Who are you? Or as we heard today, who do you make yourself out to be? Are you popular? Are you amazing at what you do? Does everyone look up to you and compliment you? Do you have no need for anything except you? Who are you?

Repent. We fill our entire life trying to answer the question to who we are and think that some magical-peace-rainbow lies in wait for us when we finally figure it out. If we could just get to know ourselves better, then our lives would not be the mess we make them.

Indeed, some people spend their entire lives looking for that answer and never find it. Others destroy many lives in their quest for the answer and still are not satisfied.

Who is Jesus? He was and is and is to come, but He is also your brother in the flesh. He is your captain at the helm. He is your God on the cross. He is Lord in the tomb. He Who Is will be the one to not only save you, but give you a real identity in Himself.

Jesus is the man Who is washing away your old self and giving you a new self: Himself. Jesus is the man Who is giving you new words to speak and new songs to sing, which are His Word. Jesus is the Man Who is transforming this lowly body to be like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21).

Jesus is He Who Is and Jesus recreates you to be just like Him. Your identity is now Christ, the only Son of God, inheritor of heaven and earth, eternal Life and eternal wisdom. You may not know how this will be, but by His Word and Sacrament, you will be like Him when He returns for you.

Now, the real question is not, “Who am I”, but “Who am I, in Christ?” and who I am in Christ is exactly like Him: forgiven, sanctified, justified, comforted, loved. This is the comfort we take along with us wherever we go. This is the courage that sees us through the agonizing nights and days of sorrow.

This is the reason for our hope, because He Who Is has given us His life and His Name forever. He Who Is of God hears the Word of God and whoever believes and is baptized is of Jesus.

Jesus is not a “whoever”. He is the most high God, crucified for your sins. In Christ, you are not a “whoever” either, but a beloved heir to the Son’s Kingdom. There is no ambiguity in the Bible. Jesus is the recipient of all the promises of God; every single good thing goes to Jesus alone.

In Jesus, you are assumed into the Godhead that we confessed today. In Jesus, you are now an integral part of the Body of God; the Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity; the uncreated, the infinite, the almighty; He Who Is.

But, you don’t go around saying, “I am He Who is’s” or “His Who Is is”…because the Pharisees, the princes of this world, and the demons will most certainly accuse you and interrogate you concerning your sin, asking, “Who are you”.

However, when that happens, and it will, you already have your answer: “I am a Christian”. For, Christ Who Is has made full atonement and satisfaction for my sins. Christ is He, Who died and shed His blood for me, for the forgiveness of my sins.