Elevator Pitch

Sometimes, we need to blow our own horns.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." - John 8:12-19

It is always good to have someone testify on your behalf. 

In our modern world, we do that in a variety of ways, from letters of recommendation to introductions in person. But sometimes, we have to give our "elevator pitch" telling a perfect stranger who we are and what we can do or have done.

We are testifying about ourselves and that is valid, but the way John tells us Jesus did the same thing makes me think Jesus was not out to win over the Pharisees with his words.

It would be as if I was going on a job interview and said, "If you knew me, you would know I am right for this job. Those who know me know I am perfect for this, but you don't even know those people."

Do you think I would get the job?

I don't think so, either. 

Sure, the Pharisees really did not want to understand Jesus. They wanted to destroy him. So, this is not a job interview or a "get to know you" situation. This is something quite different.

Still, I would have liked it if once Jesus would have sat them down and explained who he was.

Maybe he did, and John decided not to use that in his Gospel.

More to come...