Why Did Jesus Hide When Attacked?

Today’s passage is John 8:48-59.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 8:48-50 (NIV)
⁴⁸  The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
⁴⁹  “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
⁵⁰  I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.

On verses 48-50:  Jesus’ critics castigate Jesus.  They call him a Samaritan, in turn showing their prejudicial bias against people from Samaria.  They also call him demon-possessed (v49), revealing their lack of compassion for people who struggle with demon possession.  In response, Jesus says that what he says is not because he is demon-possessed (v49) or because he is seeking glory for himself (v50), but because Jesus honors his Father (v49).  It’s ironic that while Jesus tries to honour the Father, Jesus is at the same time dishonoured by his critics (v49). But Jesus doesn’t get too wrapped up in what his critics say.  Instead, Jesus finds comfort in the thought that his Father seeks to honour him (v50) and that his Father is the judge and no one else (v50).

What can we learn from this?  When you seek to do God’s will, there will be those who misunderstand you and even insult you.  But like Jesus, don’t worry about them and what they say.  Seek to honour God, and God will honour you in the end.  God is the only judge and His assessment of you is the only one that counts. 

John 8:51-58 (NIV)
⁵¹  I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
⁵²  At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
⁵³  Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
⁵⁴  Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
⁵⁵  Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
⁵⁶  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
⁵⁷  “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
⁵⁸  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

On verses 51-58:  Here in these verses Jesus makes some incredible claims:

• Jesus claims that if you obey his word, you will never die (v51)
• Jesus claims that he has special knowledge of who God is (v55)
• As a man in his 30s, Jesus claims that he has seen Abraham, who lived many centuries before Jesus’ time and even pre-existed Abraham (v58)
• Jesus refers to himself with the words “I am” (v58), which is another name for God (Exodus 3:14)

If Jesus was not the Son of God, his critics would be justified in thinking that Jesus was crazy or a pathological liar.  However, the reason Jesus has no trouble making these incredible claims is not because Jesus is a professional liar, demon-possessed or crazy, but because these claims are the truth.

John 8:59 (NIV)
⁵⁹  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

On verse 59:  I find it surprising and odd that Jesus would be ducking, dodging and hiding so as to avoid his attackers?  As the Son of God, couldn’t Jesus do the Superman stick your chest out pose and let the stones hit him and “ping” off of him to show how Jesus is made of steel and impervious to pain?  But that’s the incredible humility and humanity of Jesus.  Jesus chose to humble himself and to “tabernacle” in a fleshly body just like ours, which means that despite being God, Jesus could also be hurt, he could bruise, he could bleed, he could die.  That is why Jesus needed to hide himself in this instance.

Jesus, thank You for being so bold in saying who You are and never wavering.  I believe You are who You say You are: the Son of God.  Before Abraham was, You are.  You are the great I AM.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!