JOHN 8
OPENS WITH JESUS: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A TEXTUAL QUESTION ON John 7:53 through 8:11.
From manuscript current evidence, it seems unlikely that this portion (7:53-8:11) was part of the original text of John's gospel, or at least in this place.
WHY?
1. The majority of ancient Greek manuscripts omit this section
2. Many later manuscripts mark this section with asterisks
3. One group of manuscripts inserts it after Luke 21:38
4. A few have this section after John 21:24, and one has it after John 7:36
All this shows that ancient scribes were ignorant of its exact position, but were anxious to retain it in the gospel records. They knew it belonged, but they did NOT exactly know where.
DID YOU KNOW...Some ancient Christians omitted this story of the adulteress brought to Jesus for judgment, not so much because of the textual evidence, but because they thought it made Jesus appear to condone sexual immorality.
At the same time, the character of the story makes it seem obvious that it is genuine, and most scholars note that it is historical and factual.
Verses 7:53-8:6a) A woman is brought to Jesus, caught in the act of adultery.
"And everyone went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him."
Brought to Him a woman caught in adultery...
WHY?
They set a trap for Jesus. If Jesus says, "Let her go," then it seems that He breaks the Mosaic Law. If he says, "Execute her for the crime of adultery," then Jesus seems harsh and He breaks Roman law, because the Romans had taken away the RIGHT of Jews to officially execute people for religious offenses.
Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned...
Did they really execute people for adultery in Israel?
It is true that adultery was a capital offense under Jewish law, but the rules for evidence in capital cases were extremely STRICT. The actual act had to be observed by MULTIPLE witnesses who agreed EXACTLY in their testimony. So, as a practical matter, virtually FEW DOWN THROUGH BIBLICAL HISTORY were executed for adultery, since this is a private sin. And the Mosiac Law required BOTH to be killed. The man and the woman caught in adultery...NOT just the woman!
This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him...
These wretched men TRIED to use this woman as a weapon against Jesus.
Scribes and the Pharisees ALWAYS wanted to pin Jesus to the wall with some theological question that He could NOT extricate Himself from; and, therefore, discredit Himself in the face of the people.
They were ALWAYS trying to trap Him in His words. And they FELT they had really developed the ultimate trap this time. They caught a woman in an act of adultery.
In fact, I would NOT be surprised if they actually got the man to do it to her just to create the trap, because the man does NOT show up. We do NOT know who he is. He may have been part of the trap. But they ripped this woman out of an adulterous relationship, and they shove her in front of Jesus right in the middle of the temple with all the people around Him.
They cared nothing for true righteousness, for it is evident that they set her up. They claim that this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act - yet they do not bring the guilty man before Jesus. It's possible that the man was one of their own number, and was simply setting the woman up as a pawn in their conflict with Jesus. But regardless, BOTH should have been brought to Jesus...NOT just the woman.
They see clearly the sin in others, but are blind to the sin in themselves.
They are acting holier than thou furious about this sin against God. This woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
Very serious.
The law of God was very clear about that. Leviticus 20:10 says, "The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and adulteress shall be put to death."
They did NOT keep all the law, by the way.
The man was NOT there.
They just kept the part they wanted.
They had a double standard, you see.
They did NOT mind abusing a woman.
They would NOT touch a man.
So they were NOT really self-righteous.
They were just trying to trap Jesus. But, nonetheless, the law says she should die.
AND REMEMBER...They were adulterers themselves. Back in Matthew 5:28, Jesus told them they were adulterers. He said to them, "You are adulterers, because every time you look on a woman to lust after her in your heart, you've committed adultery."
And Jesus went on in Matthew 5:31 to say to these Pharisees and scribes, "And every time you divorce your wife for other than proper grounds and remarry another, you cause her to commit adultery, and you commit adultery, too. Your adultery is prolific."
And now they ARE TRYING TO ACT sanctimonious, "We caught this woman in adultery, and Moses says she has to die." If they really believed Moses, they'd have executed each other...They only wanted to trap Jesus.
Now, what is the dilemma? The dilemma is simply this. The people held up Moses. The people held up the law of God, and so had Jesus. Jesus said, "I'm not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law." The people had lined up behind Moses. They had lined up behind the law of God, and so had Jesus.
If Jesus says, "Don't stone her," and, by the way, they had the rocks poised. They were really pressuring. If Jesus says, "Don't stone her," they would've said, "Aha, He is not of God, for He defies Moses' law, and we all know that God gave Moses the law." So if He says, "Don't stone her," then He violates Moses.
On the other hand, if He says, "Stone her,"...then He's going lose His reputation as a friend of sinners. Then they're going say to Him, "How come You didn't stone all the rest of those sinners that You were eating with? How come You pick Your sinners to stone, and how come You pass Yourself off as some great humanitarian with compassion on the diseased and ill, and how come You're supposed to help the bruised and the brokenhearted and the poor? What kind of love is that?"
You can see the dilemma.
By the way, this is NOT a local issue. This is the most profound moral issue in the entire universe. They hit it right on the nose. They had Jesus in a dilemma that is the ultimate dilemma in all of theological thought.
It is this: How does God harmonize His justice with His mercy? It is the epitome of all theological dilemmas. If God is a God of righteousness and a God of justice and a God of judgment by His holy nature, she must die. If God is a God of love and of grace and of kindness and of mercy and forgiveness, she must live. But how in the world can you harmonize those two things?...That's the dilemma.
The Old Testament, Isaiah 45:21 says, "God is a just God."
Amos 3:2, God says, "I will punish you for all your iniquities."
And yet the Bible says in Micah, "He forgives...our transgressions."
That's a paradox.
How can God be a God of justice...and forgive sin?
How can He be a God of love and punish sin?
You know what the answer is?
Human wisdom has NONE.
Just to ease your heart and mind. There is NO ANSWER in human wisdom. This is the ultimate theological dilemma.
Verse 6b tells us Jesus ignores them, as if He never heard them.
"But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear."
As though He did not hear...
Why did Jesus ignore them?
Some think it was because He despised them; others say that He was embarrassed for the woman's sake. Still others say that He was horrified at what these men did to her. Most believe rightly that Jesus KNEW it was a setup...and this poor woman a pawn to be sacrificed in their holier than thou plots to trap Jesus.
Wrote on the ground with His finger...
What did Jesus write?
No one can know for certain. He may have listed their names or their sins; or simply doodled; He may have followed Roman judicial practice and wrote out His sentence before He pronounced it.
Or, He may have written out a passage like Exodus 23:1: "Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness."
Jesus simply held his peace, remained unruffled by them, because he knew their hearts and plans, and he allowed them their self-righteous lies, strutting and seemingly holier than thou righteousness because he KNEW they would hang themselves with their words and actions.
Verses 7-9 tells us Jesus passes sentence upon the woman - and her accusers.
"So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. " And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
WHY?
DID YOU KNOW...In Jewish law, witnesses to the capital offense began the stoning. When Jesus said, He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. He was really saying, "All right, let's execute her. But let's do it right. One of the witnesses to her act of adultery HAS to have a hand in her execution. So who among you is the one who witnessed this crime, but only brought to Me the woman, not the man?"
IN OTHER WORDS, Jesus makes it plain - whoever the witness is, whoever the one who has the right to cast the first stone is, he is as guilty as the woman taken in adultery, because of his hypocrisy for not bringing the adulterous man with her.
Went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last...
Many think that Jesus was writing on the ground an account of their own sins, beginning from the oldest to the youngest, and this explains the order of their departure.
Now, that isn't even the question, but that's the right answer. "First one of you without sin, go ahead, throw a stone," and you know what He did after that? He stooped down and started in the sand again and just let them stand there as their faces went red with fury & embarassment as all the crowded temple watchers looked on.
They KNEW each other, you see, and they knew what each other were like. You know what they did?
"They were convicted by their own conscience."
THINK ABOUT THIS...If you were convicted of sin by your conscience in the presence of Jesus Christ, what would you do?
Would you run to Christ for forgiveness? I would.
BUT What did The Pharisees & Scribes do?
They ran away, the very opposite thing.
That was the BIGGEST problem with the Pharisees & Scribes.
They NEVER wanted to face the reality of their OWN sin, because they believed themselves to be ABOVE SIN.
As soon as they were convicted, instead of falling down and saying, "Oh, forgive me," they went out one by one, and it says they began with the oldest.
Who stayed?
The woman.
Wouldn't you think that she'd have run away with everybody else?
No, she stayed. She WAS convicted of sin.
They were convicted of sin.
They reacted against Christ...but SHE STAYED.
Verses 10-11 tells us Jesus challenges the woman to sin no more.
"When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord. " And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
Has no one condemned you? With her accusers gone, there was no one left to condemn the woman, and Jesus Himself did not condemn her.
REMEMBER ROMANS 8:1, "In the same way, there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus."
ODDLY ENOUGH, DID YOU KNOW...Some SO CALLED BIBLE SCHOLARS debate whether or not Jesus actually forgave the woman.
WE KNOW what He knew in His heart. He knew full well that He would die on a cross for her adultery. He knew that. That was the only way. The only reason He could give her forgiveness was because He would bear in His own body her sin. It's the only way, and He knew it.
That's why I say every time Jesus healed somebody, every time Jesus forgave somebody, He experienced the bitterness of the anticipation of the cross. That woman's sin would NOT go unpunished. It would be placed on Christ, and He would die for her adultery.
That is being a friend to sinners, isn't it?
WE look at Jesus Christ, and He's willing to die for our adultery. He's willing to die for our lies. He's willing to die for our curses against His own name. He's willing to die for our inequities in life. He's willing to die for the foul thoughts and deeds and words that have come out of our mouth. He's willing to die for every sin we have EVER committed or ever will...and He says to US what He said to the woman, "I do NOT condemn you anymore."
This woman WAS redeemed that day. She stayed to seek the forgiveness of sin. They left, and Jesus gave her what the law could NEVER give her...FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION.
That's just what He says to us, isn't it? In Christ, our sin is FORGIVEN...PARDONED....PAID FOR. I don't condemn you anymore, but go and do NOT sin anymore...JESUS friend of sinners knew He'd bear her sin on the cross.
Verse 12 tells us Jesus, the light of the world.
"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
I am the light of the world...
DID YOU KNOW...Light was an important symbol in the Feast of Tabernacles. During the feast, many emblems and ceremonies THE COURT OF THE WOMEN WAS FILLED WITH CANDLELABRAS THAT SHINED DIAMOND BRIGHT AT NIGHT...TO remember the pillar of fire that gave light to Israel during the Exodus at night. And the light cloud that sheltered and kept them cool during the day. Now, Jesus takes this important symbol and simply applies it to Himself: I am the light of the world.
I WAS ISRAEL'S PILLAR OF FIRE BY NIGHT AND I WAS ISRAEL'S LIGHT CLOUD BY DAY. I AM NOW THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD...NOT JUST ISRAEL.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness...
Jesus, being the light of the world, brings light to those who follow Him. If we are not abiding in Jesus, we are NOT in the light.
The other important picture of light in the Bible relates it to God's Word...
PSALM 11:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
PSALM 43:3 says, "Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me."
Since Jesus is the Word (John 1:1), it makes perfect sense that He is also the light.
Verses 13-20 tells us The identity of Jesus, according to the testimony of two witnesses.
"The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true. " Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me. " Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. " These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come."
Jesus just proclaimed that He WAS, IS AND EVER SHALL BE the light of the world, but the Pharisees could NOT...WOULD NOT see it. When you can NOT see the light, it simply means that you are blind. A seeing man does NOT need someone to prove the light, he simply sees it.
Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true...
Jesus points out the He is qualified to give testimony about Himself.
1. Jesus can testify about Himself because He, not they, has view of eternity: I know where I came from and where I am going.
2. Jesus can testify about Himself because He, not they, judges righteously: You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
3. Jesus can testify about Himself because His testimony is fully supported by God the Father: My judgment is true; for I am not alone.
4. Jesus has more than only His testimony about Himself. He also had the testimony of God the Father in perfect agreement...
Where is Your father?
The Pharisees intended this as a deeply cutting VILE insult to Jesus. They refer to His virgin birth, and to the rumors that it was NOT a miraculous conception FROM GOD, but an illicit one...IN WORDS OF TODAY...JESUS YOU ARE A ******* BORN.
You know neither Me nor My Father...
In referring to Jesus' parentage, the Pharisees thought they had some special "intelligence" or scandal on Him. They must have thought, "Watch how He reacts when we reveal what we know about Him. "
But Jesus made it clear that they do NOT know anything about Him, or His Father at all. They believed themselves godly, biblically educated, holy, righteous, pious, the elite of elite religious that others should emulate...and Jesus reads them perfectly. They are NOT godly and do NOT know Almighty God at all.
Verses 21-24 tells us TWO destinies: Jesus will go to glory, they (unless they turn) will die in their sins.
"Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come. " So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I go you cannot come'?" And He said to them, "You are from beneath; 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 if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
This is a devastating statement. This is a characterization of the leadership of Judaism in the time of Christ. AND SADLY, IT IS THE SAME OF THE MAN-CREATED RELIGIOSITIES OF TODAY.
WE HAVE AN OCEAN OF PHARISEES IN THE PULPIT TODAY. THEY SAY I AM EQUAL TO GOD. I AM GOD...LITTLE G. JESUS COMES TO ME FOR ADVICE. JESUS NEEDS MY COUNSEL. I SAVE. I HEAL. I REDEEM. I AM GOD'S PROPHET...PROPHETESS. I AM. I UNDERSTAND GOD. I KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW OF GOD AND JESUS. I AM EQUAL TO JESUS.
JESUS SAYS...They did not know God at all. Still true of those who reject the Savior. So that was the answer, devastating answer. They are hell bound.
I am going away … Where I go you cannot come...
Jesus knew He was going to heaven. Because of their hatred against Him, Jesus could say that His accusers were not going to heaven they were hell bound. Where He was going, they could not follow. No one...absolutely NO ONE who rejects Jesus Christ will enter heaven, they are hell bound.
Your ignorance is confirmed. It’s willful, and it’s the product of your unbelief in the face of the revelation.” We know how extreme their rejection of Jesus was because they attributed what He did to Satan.
If we follow Jesus on earth, we will follow Him to heaven.
If we express NO DESIRE AND NO INTEREST to follow Him on earth, what would make us think we will follow Him to heaven?
THIS IS THE THEME FROM DEUTERONOMY WITH MOSES TO REVELATION WITH JOHN.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO CHOICES...MANKIND HAS TWO CHOICES.
ACCEPT JESUS OR REJECT HIM. HEAVEN OR HELL. ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH. No neutral ground, no purgatory, no waiting place.
DEUTERONOMY 30..."I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose...CHOOSE.
JOSHUA 24:15..."Choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
JOHN 3:18..."He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already."
REVELATION 22:17..."And the spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let him that heareth say, 'Come.' And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Will He kill Himself?
This is another FILTHY insult against Jesus.
WHY?
In Jewish teaching, NOT BIBLICAL TEACHING, the lowest and blackest levels of Hades were for those who committed suicide. Now, the Pharisees try to twist Jesus' words to imply that He will commit suicide and therefore be damned eternally to hell himself.
Because he said where I go you can't come,'" and they're laughing. This is humor to them. This is funny. "Oh, he's going to commit suicide." They believed since he is going to kill himself He is going to hell and we are going to Heaven.
Jesus QUICKLY CORRECTS THEIR ERROR...YOU ARE FROM BELOW...I AM FROM ABOVE. YOU ARE HELL BOUND...I AM HEAVEN BOUND.
If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins...
JESUS GIVES US 4 ELEMENTS THAT WILL GUARANTEE THOSE WHO WILL DIE IN THEIR SIN.
1. SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS...The first way to guarantee that you'll die in your sin and not go to the Father's house, not go to Heaven, not be where Jesus is the first thing is to just be convinced that you do NOT NEED to be saved. Just be convinced that you ARE all right. You have NO NEED of a savior. You are a good, moral person.
2. TO BE EARTH-BOUND...Buy into the world systems. Satan-origin religiosities, all things of this earth opposed to Jesus. Choose the world over Jesus.
3. UNBELIEVING...Choosing to reject Jesus and His word. Reject The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. WILLFUL IGNORANCE...Hearing, reading, studying and knowing the evidence the truth of The Gospel of who Jesus Christ is and what by love and grace HE did for mankind...then dismiss it as fairy tales.
People are born in sin (Psalm 51:5), Since all sin must be dealt with, those who die in their sins will have to pay for their sins beginning in the waiting prison of hell and then eternally in the Lake of Fire.
But if we have our sins dealt with now, on this side of death, by trusting in whom Jesus is and what He did to save us, we can avoid dying in our sins.
If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins...
ALMIGHTY GOD AND JESUS CHRIST DO NOT SEND ANYONE TO THE WAITING PRISON OF HELL AND AN ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE...MAN CHOOSES IT.
Verses 25-30 tells us Jesus proclaims His dependence on and obedience to the Father.
"Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him. " They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. " As He spoke these words, many believed in Him."
Who are You?
This question of the Pharisees comes from a combination of willful contempt. Though Jesus has told them over and over who He is, they will continue to ask until they get an answer they can use to condemn Him.
I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him...
So, if the Pharisees have a hard time with Jesus, they really have a hard time with God the Father.
When you lift up the Son of Man...
The "lifting up" Jesus describes has nothing to do with "exalting" Jesus in any way; it has to do with "lifting up" Jesus off the ground on a cross. When Jesus is crucified, they will see the perfect obedience of the Son to the Father. AND THEY WILL KNOW HE IS I AM, THE MESSIAH, ALMIGHTY GOD IN HUMAN FLESH.
The Father has not left Me alone...I always do the things that please Him...
Jesus is bold enough to say these words to His adversaries - essentially challenging His enemies to find something He does which does NOT please God the Father. And His enemies are silent! This is a remarkable testimony to the sinlessness of Jesus.
The Pharisees and Scribes could not find ONE MISSTEP, ONE LIE, ONE SIN in all of Jesus life and ministry. They lied and said he blasphemied God because Jesus said He and Father were one.
I always do those things that please Him...
It is easy to say, "I always do the will of the Father" when you are only debating theological points. It is another thing entirely to "always do the will of the Father" when it means going to the cross. The cross will prove the obedience of Jesus.
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him...
Jesus' message of His unity with the Father was so well received by some because His life was consistent with the message. Unlike the Pharisees, one could see that Jesus was close to God. The Pharisees cultivated an OUTWARD PIOUS image of intimacy with God, but it was evident they were not. They twisted God's word to the people. They lied about God's word and His warnings and His promises. They ignored Old Testament prophecy of Jesus. They taught that they were the righteousness of God, but their lies, greed, self-centeredness, lack of love, care, and compassion proved over and over and over again...that they did NOT know God or Jesus and His word at all.
Verses 31-32 tells us Jesus offers discipleship and freedom to those believing in Him.
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed...
Jesus was not content to win a debate with these questioners. He wanted to bring them to salvation - and the only way that could happen is if they would abide in His word.
There is NO other way. To be a follower of Jesus - the Word made flesh - is to abide (to live in, to dwell in, to make your home in) His word.
When we abide in His word, and are His disciples, then we shall know the truth, and the truth make you free. The freedom Jesus talks about does NOT come from just an academic pursuit of "truth" in general; but from BELIEVING, FEEDING ON, AND ABIDING in His word and being His disciple.
There is nothing like the freedom we can have in Jesus.
No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no works can earn it, and nothing can match it. And tragically, how few Christians really walk in it! It can never be found except by abiding in God's word and being Jesus' disciple.
Verses 33-36 tells us Jesus answers their protest that they are already free.
"They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
We … have never been in bondage to anyone?
TALK ABOUT ARROGANCE AND BLIND IGNORANCE. NEVER BEEN IN BONDAGE...REALLY? Free and always have been? What about Israel's bondage under Egypt, under Persia, under Syria, and now under Rome?
Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin...
Sin in this passage is in a verb tense indicating a habitual, continual action. The person in habitual sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever...
Slavery to sin is the worst kind of slavery, because there is no escape from ourselves. A Son must set us free, and the Son of God sets us free and brings us into the household of God.
If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed...
Freedom does NOT consist in the word "freedom," or in words, but in relationship to Jesus Christ, through abiding in His Word, and being His disciple.
Verses 37-41a tells us They prove themselves to be unlike their father Abraham.
"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. " They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father. " Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father."
Jesus will admit that they are Abraham's descendants - but Abraham is NOT their father in a spiritual sense. After all, when messengers from heaven came to Abraham, he RECEIVED them (Genesis 18). But these men reject the one sent from heaven.
What, specifically, proves them to be unlike Abraham? My word has no place in you. Again, the emphasis is made on abiding in the word of Jesus, and doing so because we understand His unity with the Father.
I speak what I have seen with My Father...
Jesus reminds them that what He does is consistent with His Father, and what they do is consistent with their father (you do what you have seen with your father). But who is their father? Jesus will shortly explain.
Abraham is our father...
Jesus disagrees. He WILL agree they are DESCENDENTS of Abraham, but NOT CHILDREN of Abraham because they seek to kill Jesus, when Abraham embraced Him. They are doing the deeds of your father...SATAN.
Our spiritual parentage is what determines our nature and our destiny. If we are born again, and have God as our Father, it will show in our nature and destiny. But if our father is Satan or Adam, it will also show in our nature and destiny - just as it shows in these adversaries of Jesus.
Verses 41b-47 tells us Jesus reveals the identity of their true father.
"Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father; God. " Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."
We were not born of fornication...
Again, they try to VILEY insult the parentage of Jesus. The implication is, "We were not born of fornication, but we do NOT know about You, Jesus. "
The issue comes back to spiritual parentage...
You are of your father the devil. Because they are the spiritual children of the devil, they do the things he does - lie and murder.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources...
Jesus gives us some insight into the character of Satan. The lie is inherit to the devil's character, and he is the deceiver most dangerous of all - the deceiver that is deceived himself.
Which of you convicts Me of sin? Again, Jesus gives His enemies - who hate Him so badly they want to kill Him - an opportunity to declare some sin in Him - and they cannot! This is another remarkable testimony to the sinlessness of Jesus Christ.
You do not hear, because you are not of God...
Jesus presses home the point of spiritual parentage, which is evident by the way that people act, and will determine people's destiny.
Verses 48-50 tells Jesus answers the charge that He is demon possessed.
"Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges."
Do we not say rightly...
The enemies of Jesus are frustrated, and exasperated. They have been unable to make Jesus look bad, and even more have believed on Him (John 8:30). So they launch their last volley: You are a Samaritan (one of the most despised races, the half-breed Jews) and have a demon (is demon possessed).
I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father...
Jesus' desire to honor God and His personal humility disprove any charge of demonic possession. Since those who have Satan as their spiritual parent will have some of the characteristics of Satan, they will have an evident pride and self-seeking - things that are ABSENT in Jesus.
Verses 51-59 tells us Jesus' unity with God the Father and Abraham's witness of it.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. " Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death. ' Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. " Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am. " Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
If anyone keeps My word he shall never see death...
This is another remarkable claim that only makes sense if Jesus is God, and is one with God the Father. Jesus promises eternal life to those who keep His word.
Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead...
This claim delights the Pharisees opposing Jesus; they believe they finally have Him! How can Jesus promise such life - shall never see death - when Abraham himself could never make such a promise! Does Jesus claim to be greater than Abraham was? Whom do You make Yourself out to be?
It is My Father who honors Me...
Jesus does claim to be greater than Abraham - but it is not an honor He takes to Himself. Yet they do not recognize this honor, because they have not know Him.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad...
Not only is Jesus greater than Abraham, but Abraham himself acknowledged this! Jesus declaration of this brings back the accusation "How could you know Abraham rejoiced in You? Were You there?" To which Jesus replies, "Yes!"
Before Abraham was, I Am...
This is the THIRD TIME in this chapter Jesus uses the phrase I Am (John 8:24, 8:28), and here in John 8:58.
I Am...
In using the phrase I Am (John 8:24, 8:58, 13:19) Jesus used a clear divine title belonging to Yahweh alone (Exodus 3:13-14, Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 43:10) and was interpreted as such by Jesus' listeners (John 8:58-59).
The best proof what Jesus meant by claiming to be the I Am is found by seeing the response of His listeners...
They took up stones to throw at Him. They wanted to stone Him for blasphemy, for claiming to be God.
The remarkable theme through this whole chapter is expressed strongly at the end...
Jesus is in perfect unity with God the Father, because He Himself is God. Those who reject Jesus reject Him because their "spiritual parentage" is not of God.
Our spiritual parentage is of the utmost importance - and it is revealed by our response to Jesus. Who is your spiritual father? You prove it by your actions as well as claiming it by your words.