After the feast of booths, Jesus had been acquiring more followers as he taught in the temple, and now on his way out of it he is confronted by the religious leaders. The truth he taught was catching on, until he dropped a bombshell that stepped on a sensitive nerve.
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:32 NASB
You can imagine the flustered response of the religious leaders, “Truth? Set free? From what? From who? Who said we were enslaved!” They were referring to Abraham, and the covenant that promised him a nation that would bless the world. Jesus tried to set them straight on being slaves to sin, and that the bonds of sin won’t remain forever, at least for children of the king.
He continues in today’s focus. John 8:37-59
Jesus knew full well their relationship to Abraham. In name only. Their actions proved who their true, natural father is. Their intent was full of murder and hatred. His word produces a reaction of love and acceptance from his own flock. When received by the world, his word of truth is met with hostility.
Jesus might have made his point a little clearer here. The fathers in question are spiritual. As Jews, as with many other middle eastern cultures, they all descended from Abraham. Their minds were concretely set on this worldly source, not God.
They insisted on connecting to Abraham as their source. Their father. Jesus replied, “alright, I’ll play that silly game. Since you claim Abraham as father, act as righteous as Abraham did.” The idea is to desire righteousness for God. Not self-righteousness built on the name of a man.
Their anger was boiling into murderous intent. Why? For being told truth. Anger over truth received from God was a trait that would never happen with Abraham.
Jesus has again referred to a spiritual father. If these religious leaders had one, it was the prince of the power of the air, also known as Satan. Suddenly, either being stubborn, or clueless, they now claimed God as father. In the local mindset, God is father of nations, not so much individuals. The individual might acknowledge a nation as a mother, but not making the bold statement of having God as their father.
They recognized the slap in the face, one linked to their parentage. Jesus knew his father. These folks were being presumptuous. Here’s the test he puts before them. If your father is God, and my father is God, then you would love me. Jesus didn’t want to come, but he was sent. It was time.
Frustration must have set in. Jesus answers his own question. “Why can’t you understand? You’re deaf.”
Thee gloves are off! Time to be open about what is meant by fathers and intent. Their father is Satan, the accuser. Their desire is his desire. They also have a nature of murder and lies. They only want to believe anything but truth. Truth and lies. Like oil and water. They don’t mix.
It’s almost a dare. Jesus demands his accusers to either believe him, or show evidence of wrongdoing. He indeed speaks truth, so the ball is back in their court to believe.
Godly people hear godly words and recognize them. A word to the wise. If the truth makes no sense, here’s why you can’t hear truth. God is not your father. Blunt. I know, but sometimes truth is a hard pill to swallow.
The Jews disparaged Jesus’ birth and national purity by calling him a Samaritan. By calling him demon possessed was the same as calling him crazy.
Jesus replies, “Nope, not crazy. I’m here to honor God, and I’m the one being dishonored. I’m not here to be honored, or glorified.” Then he warns them, “You might want to know. There is someone who does indeed seek out, and judge.” The unspoken warning: he’s the one you should really be afraid of.
John 8:51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
Possibly this is intended for any remaining faithful believers in the crowd. Keep his word to never see death. But it really riled up the hostile Jews. “Crazy talk! Everybody knows that everybody dies. What’s this nonsense about not dying!”
But they go on.
“Everybody dies! All the old righteous people died. Who do you think you are?” A rhetorical question, but the unspoken answer is… God?
Jesus comes back with, “I’m not claiming anything. Any glory I may have is from my father. The same father you claim is your God.” Snap! He may not have directly made the claim of being God, but the inference is clearly there for those who aren’t too blind to see it.
But Jesus continues.
“You don’t know him. I know him. To say I don’t mean I’m a liar like you. Not only do I know him, I actually keep his word.
Jesus wraps up with a claim about their earthly ancestor,” Abraham rejoiced to see my day.”
Can you hear the gears grinding in their heads? “Wait. What? Abraham lived hundreds of years ago. You’re not even an old man yet. How do you know what he lived to see, or rejoice over? Here comes the straw that broke the camels back.
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
The Abraham remark wasn’t metaphorical. Jesus said exactly what he meant. Jesus existed before Abraham.
John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
I have to ask, “Picked up stones? From where?” They were still in the temple, near the treasury. Did they keep a supply of stones just for the purpose of stoning undesirable teachers No wonder Jesus got away? They must have needed to slip outside to pick up the rocks that were dropped after the incident with the adulterous woman, so he just left in a different direction.
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Thanks to the recorded comments from J Vernon McGee. His ministry and daily bible study live on through Through the Bible Ministries (ttb.org)
Scriptures in the show notes and episode are quoted from the King James Version, except when read by Keith, NASB.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:03 — 49.5MB)
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