No IFs, ANDs, or BUTs
This morning as I studied the passage
found in the eighth chapter of John, I
was intrigued by the phrase, ‘no ifs ands, or buts.’ We typically think of this phrase in the context
of making no excuses. So I wanted to see
whether it had relevance to this gospel writing. In looking up the etymology for this phrase, ‘no
ifs, ands, or buts,’ I learned that this idiom means to do something precisely
as instructed, without modification, limitation, or addendum.1 As this was described, I thought of the
phrase, ‘written in stone.’ This phrase
means that something is unchangeable or permanently fixed in nature. This second phrase dates back to the time of King
Hammurabi (1795-1750 B.C.) king of Babylon, who had chiseled 282 laws into
stone.2 One may also consider
the ten commandments which were also written in stone, giving the Israelites
instructions on how to conduct themselves to be pleasing to God.
While reading and re-reading this passage
in John 8, I discovered eleven ‘ifs,’ twenty ‘ands,’ and thirteen ‘buts.’ Could these words have been strategically
placed to help us understand that the argumentative dialogue between the
Pharisees and Jesus were immensely important, guaranteeing either life or death? Only God can be the judge.
Beginning at verse 12 it says that Jesus
was speaking to them, but it is not until verse 13 that we discover that ‘them’
means the Pharisees. This is where Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of
the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life.”3
This is the first of three ‘buts’ found in chapter 8. Two chapters prior, we see the Pharisees were using questions to discredit Jesus. Now they are using 'the law.' They
told Jesus, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not
true.”4 Jesus concurs with them that their law found in
Deuteronomy required two or three witnesses to convict or acquit someone of a
crime.5 Then Jesus uses two ‘even-if’ statements to point out that both his testimony and his judgments are true.6 The second ‘but,’ in Jesus argument shows that the Pharisees had no idea where he came from or where he was
going to. In the 7th chapter of John, verse 42, we see confused dialog among the Jews. In their conversation amongst themselves, they did not understand Jesus earthly origins (Bethlehem), nor his heavenly one. Jesus third 'but' told us that Jesus was given his authority from God (the Father) who sent him. With these three be-it-as-they may' statements, Jesus defines his purpose, his residency, and his authority; theses were not casual 'but' statements, rather significantly relevant.
The
pharisaical retort, so “Where is your Father?’ found in verse 19 shows the Pharisees had no respect for Jesus as he revealed that everything he hears, says, or does comes directly from the Father. It would
have been cool to see the skies scroll back and a loud voice exclaim, “This is
my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” and see the mockers scatter, but
instead Jesus used five profound statements revealing the hearts of his audience.
(1)
“You know neither me nor my father,”7
(2)
“You will seek me, and you will die in your sin,”8
(3)
“You are from below,"
(4) "You are of this world, ”9 and
(5)
“Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”10
And like a tennis
match, the Pharisees return the ball with an overhand slam when they asked, so “Who are you?”
Jesus couldn’t be any more emphatic in response as he tells them it is the same message he has been telling them from the very beginning. See both verse 25 and 58, not only has Jesus been trying to reveal his identity from the beginning of this disrespectful encounter, but also from the very beginning of time. He explains that he
had existed even before Abraham, their father. Jesus adds more truth as
he tells his listeners that they have no family resemblance to Abraham, the father they claim, because their character does not measure up (v. 39).
Jesus message is clear, ‘his testimony' (v.14) and 'his judgments' (v. 16) are true because both come from God. Jesus declares no-thing, but what the Father
reveals to him (v. 26), and also says he only speaks what ‘the Father taught” him.11 So how important is it that they listen
to his words?
In John 7:26, we see the crowd arguing about the identity of
Jesus when they question whether the Pharisees and Priests actually knew that
Jesus was who he claimed to be. “And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to
him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?”12 In chapter 8, we see Jesus clarifying their
knowledge when he says, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will
know that I am he.” And in the
same breath, he said, “I do nothing on my own authority.”13 It is good for us to consider the
significance we place on God’s Word, not just to testify of its truth, but to regularly
partake of its wisdom.
Jesus gives four revelations to the Pharisees
regarding their zeal for the Word of God:
(1) “You seek to
kill me because ‘my word’ finds no place in you,
(2) “You do not understand what I say, because you cannot bear
to hear ‘my word,’
(3) “I tell the truth, you do not believe because whoever
is of God hears the words of God, and
(4) “If anyone keeps ‘my word,’ he will never see death.”14
Jesus
makes the reason clear; the Pharisees do not heed God’s Word because they are
not “Of God.”15 Jesus has
given the Pharisee’s a preliminary judgment to God’s final judgment by saying
their lack of interest in ‘his words’ reveals that their heart is not with
God.
Let’s take a closer look at who was in the
audience hearing Jesus proclamation. In
verse 30, we read, “as he was saying these things, many believed in him.’ Then in verse 31, we see Jesus is talking
specifically to those Jews ‘who had believed in him.’ Lastly, we see these same Jews, many who
believed in him ‘picked up stones to throw at him’ in verse 59. Jesus was talking to those who claimed to
believe in him. They were ready to kill
him if he had not withdrawn from the temple.
Let this be our warning too. We
may claim to be Christ-followers and believe in him, but when push comes to
shove will we find ourselves in the same predicament described in this chapter. Jesus gives three instructions, (1) abide in
my word (v.31), (2) hear my word (v. 47), and (3) keep my word (v. 51). When we do this, we are acknowledged as disciples of God and are promised that we will never see death. Jesus spoke the
truth when he told the Pharisees, “you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”17 This
chapter (John 8) is worth reading and re-reading. Do not miss how clearly Jesus taught us to be
lightkeepers. Do not use excuses (no ifs,
ands, or buts) regarding the importance you place on God’s Word. Let it not be said, “God’s word finds no
place in you” (v. 37), or that you do not understand it because “you cannot
bear to hear his words” (v. 43). The outcome
for those is not good. Jesus reveals that
the devil is their father, and they will only desire to do his will. (v. 44). What Jesus has revealed has been written in
stone and is unchangeable and permanent (See Exodus 20).
1"no ifs and
buts." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2019. Web. 6 Aug. 2019.
<https://www.phrases.com/phrase/no-ifs-and-buts_13821>.
2 “Did
Moses copy the Law from the Coe of Hammurabi,” GotQuestions.org Web. 6, August
2019.
<https://www.gotquestions.org/Moses-Hammurabi-code.html>.
3 John 8:12
4John 8:13
5Reference
Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15
6
Reference John 8:14, 16
7John 8:19
8 John 8:21
9 John 8:23
10 John 8:24
11 John 8:28
12 John 7:26
13 John 8:28
14 John 8:37, 43, 47, 51
15 John 8:47
16 John 8:31, 30, 59
17 John 8:21
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