Who Are You_
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this class, Richard Sutton taught from John 8:21-25 and John 5:17-30, addressing Jesus's foundational question about his identity. The lesson began with the context of the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. Rather than rejoicing in this miraculous healing, the Jewish leaders focused on their legalistic interpretation of Sabbath law, criticizing the healed man for carrying his mat. When Jesus explained that "the Father is working...and I myself am working," the leaders understood the implications: Jesus was claiming equality with God. This sparked their desire to kill him. Sutton emphasized that Jesus made specific, divine claims about himself—not merely the claims of a good man or teacher. These claims included equality with God the Father, authority to give life to whom he wishes, and the power to judge all people. The tragic irony Sutton highlighted was that the Jewish leaders' hardened hearts—like seeds falling on rocky ground—prevented them from receiving Jesus's message despite the evidence of his miraculous works. When they asked, "Who are you?" Jesus responded that he had been telling them all along through his words and works. Sutton concluded that understanding Jesus's true identity requires receptive hearts that can penetrate beyond surface objections to grasp the profound reality of his divine claims and authority.
Key Scriptures
I go away and you will seek me and will die in your sins where I am going you cannot come... you are from below I am from above you are of this world I am not of this world therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins