Good Man or God-Man?
Jesus' sinlessness is a fundamental aspect of His divinity, and is essential for His role as our Savior.
Selwyn Hughes delves into the impeccable character of Jesus, challenging his listeners with the question 'Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?' He emphasizes how Jesus, unlike any other person since Adam, lived a sinless life, even in the face of various experiences and temptations. Hughes highlights that not only could Jesus' disciples find no fault in Him, but Jesus Himself had no awareness of sin in Himself, being in perfect communion with God the Father. By reflecting on Jesus' sinless nature and His sacrificial act of bearing our sins, Hughes leads his audience to acknowledge Jesus as not just a good man, but the divine God-Man.
Text
"Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (v. 46)
For reading & meditation:
John 8:31-47
Jesus publicly made the challenge: " Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" Here we are face to face with a kind of person who had not been seen since Adam in his pre-fallen condition - a man without sin. The disciples had shared every kind of experience with Him that mortals can share, had seen Him at all hours of day and night, had seen Him tired, hungry and disappointed, scorned, abused and hunted to death, had ridden with Him on a wave of popularity and hidden with Him from inquisitive miracle-mongers, yet they certainly could find no fault in Him. It is quite possible to know too much about some people. A gardener who was employed by a minister was asked why he did not come to hear him preach. Half in jest but half in earnest he replied: "I know too much about him." But none of the disciples ever said that concerning Jesus. They saw no flaw in Him. Moreover, not only were His intimates unable to discover sin in Him; He had no awareness of it in Himself. He lived intimately with God His Father, but the holiness of God did not rebuke Him. It didn't because it couldn't. He was sinless, spotless, perfect. If it be granted that Jesus was a good man, and if it be granted that a good man is ready always to tell the truth, are we not constrained by His own words to believe that He was something more than a good man? He is much much more than a good man; He is the God-Man.
O Jesus, my Savior and my God, when I think of how You, the sinless One, took on Yourself my sins and bore them all away, I feel it must be too good to be true. But yet I know it is too good not to be true. Thank You, my Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sermon Outline
- I. Jesus' Challenge to the Pharisees
- 'A. Jesus'' question: ''Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?'''
- B. The Pharisees' failure to find fault in Jesus
- II. The Sinless Nature of Jesus
- A. The disciples' inability to discover sin in Jesus
- B. Jesus' awareness of His own sinlessness
- C. The holiness of God as a reflection of Jesus' sinlessness
- III. The Implication of Jesus' Sinlessness
- A. Jesus' words as evidence of His divinity
- B. Jesus as more than a good man, but the God-Man
Key Quotes
“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” — Selwyn Hughes
“He was sinless, spotless, perfect.” — Selwyn Hughes
“He is much much more than a good man; He is the God-Man.” — Selwyn Hughes
Application Points
- We can seek to emulate Jesus' example of living a sinless life, and strive to be holy and righteous like Him.
- Jesus' sinlessness is a reminder of the high standard of holiness that we are called to as followers of Christ.
- Our faith in Jesus' sinlessness is a source of hope and comfort, as it assures us of His ability to save us from our sins.