Confident in the Father

John 8:12-30

In this interaction with the Pharisees, Jesus makes incredibly bold claims that He stands with the Father. That the Father sent Him. That knowing Him means knowing the Father. That He always does what pleases the Father.

This interaction began with the Pharisees trying to poke holes in Jesus’ authority. But instead of getting shaken up, Jesus comes off incredibly confident. How can Jesus be this confident in the face of such persistent adversity? How can His words have so much power that “as he spoke, many believed in him.” (John 8:30)

Look at what Jesus says in verse 14, “... for I know where I came from and where I am going.” Later, in verse 26, Jesus says, “...what I have heard from Him [the Father] I tell the world.”

Jesus’ confidence comes from a deep conviction of whose He is and what He hears. These things can only come from a deep communion with God the Father.

Jesus has existed with the Father for eternity past. This is what John 1 says of Jesus, who is the “Word,”

“1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.”

Jesus has existed with the Father from the very beginning. He was with the Father in perfect relationship and oneness. This is the identity that Jesus clings to when He is belittled and opposed on Earth.

When Jesus begins His work on earth, He is pulled from this perfect communion with the Father. How does Jesus respond? He consistently goes back to the Father in prayer. He seeks the Father’s will and does it. Think about when Jesus says in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Jesus’ confidence in today’s passage is evidence of a deep communion with God. He is confident that the Father is with Him. Secure in His identity as the sent son. Confident that He is pleasing to the Father. He is confident in obedience to the Father.

Jesus knows the Father and knows His purpose. This results in confidence.

If you follow Jesus, He has made it possible for you to have this same confidence. Jesus died and resurrected on our behalf so that we can be reconciled with God. This means we can have communion with God! He is with us. He calls us His children. He speaks to us. He is pleased with us because we have Jesus’ righteousness.

Have you lacked confidence in your identity recently? Have you doubted something that you thought you heard from God? Have you felt insecure in your relationship with God? Cling to the truth that Jesus reconciled you to God perfectly. Jesus is our confidence and assurance that we are God’s and He is with us.