27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
We should certainly beware and take heed through the blatant example held out to us by the Pharisees’: our continual unwillingness to believe Truth has the potential to lead to the hardening of our heart through our spiritual blindness and lack of understanding – eventually even permanently. Initially, these Pharisees did not understand because they would not understand. Continual unbelief, therefore, unfortunately for the unbeliever stands as an ominous precursor to ever understanding. Jesus quoting the prophet Isaiah tells us in Matthew:
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' Matt 13:14-15 (NIV)
“The saddest condition a man can be in is to sit under the most living ordinances with a dead, stupid, untouched heart.” Matthew Henry
To be sure, we unwittingly bring upon ourselves our own doom by our refusal to believe Truth. Time and time again Christ had spoken so plainly to the Pharisees of God as His Father. Indeed, the word translated “understand” in verse 27 is from the Greek word “Ginosko” meaning “to come to know by experience and by trial; to inquire into, to examine the reason or cause; to be completely aware of, cognizant of or familiar or acquainted with; to know what one is or professes to be” – all denoting they had handled haphazardly the precious Truth given them by our Savior. Unlike Nicodemus who came to Jesus in search of Truth – albeit in the cloak of darkness – these Pharisees were decidedly stubborn in their unwillingness to change their staunch opinions. Jesus responds to them with a prophecy – when you have lifted me up through my crucifixion then you will know that “I Myself Am He Who Is”- the very Name God used to call Himself to Moses – “I AM” - a title the Jewish leaders were well aware claimed Deity. Jesus tells us later in John:
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. John 12:31-36 (NIV)
Jesus was constantly prefacing His Words with “I tell you the truth” certainly placing an emphasis on the validity of what He spoke and demonstrating a loving effort to grab the attention and heart of His hearers. He even forewarned His disciples so that they would remember His Words after the fact and believe. We find His Words in John:
19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." John 13:19-20 (NIV)
Lastly, in our verses for today Jesus tells His hearers that He was sent by His Father’s commission to speak just what His Father has said – Jesus did nothing by His own independent authority. The Son is neither independent nor rebellious against the Father – their relationship being one of continuous love. Everything the Son does is the express will of the Father. This Truth Jesus also attests to in the following verses:
19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19 (NIV)
30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30 (NIV)