John 8:14

Jesus responds by declaring, “I do not need anything more than my own claims to make what I claim true. I know where I call home as well as the when and where of my final destination. You, on the other hand, have no idea where I come from or where I am headed.” John 8:14 EFP 

This is another bold statement by Jesus on the heels of the previous verse. Try to consider how you would react to someone who made such a claim. “It is so because I say it is so!” No further evidence needed. “I have all the evidence you need, but it is not necessary. My word is sufficient.” There is no room to maneuver. There is no wiggle room. Is it any wonder the religious leaders of his time were so flabbergasted by this man?

Things haven’t changed much nowadays. In a world full of relativistic concepts and fluidity of thought; in a culture that is chagrined by absolute claims and put off by rigid claims regarding truth and authority, Jesus comes and makes absolute and all-encompassing claims regarding himself—his origin and his reason for being. We are either clueless or we accept his claims at face value. There is no middle ground. I am left with a choice, stark and scandalous. What do I do with Jesus? It’s all in or all out. It’s scary. It’s crazy from a purely human point of view. Lord, help me connect my claims to believe in you with my often faithless behavior.