Jesus gave them Insight on the Reality of,
1-The Slave to Sin, vs. 31-36
2-The Works of Abraham, vs. 37-40
3-The Direction of the True Father, vs. 41-43
4-The Deception of the Father of Lies, vs., 44-47
Introduction, (setting the scene)
We pick back up in an already heated conversation.
In part 1 they tested Jesus with a woman caught in adultery.
In part 2, They object to Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world, and questioned His authority based on Him not having a witness to verify His claims, He points out that He does have a witness, His father and they ask where is your Father? He then moves the conversation to the idea of death. Both the reality of their death at the hands of their sins, if they do not recognize who He is. And He finishes with prophesying that they will know the truth when He is lifted up that He is who He has said He is. So a lesson both from the reality of death from sin for a person and a lesson from how His death is the solution for our sin problem. I say, He prophesied His death by a cross because by definition “prophesy” is when one definitely tells the future the way it will happen before it happens. In this way, Christ showed us, He was a reliable and true prophet for us. We then finally ended this dialogue with “many believed in Him”
In part 3, today we start off with Jesus instructing those from part 2 who had believed in Him about how they can find a continued and progressive freedom from their bondage. (Sanctification not Justification)
1-The Slave to Sin, vs. 31-36
- If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples
- You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
- We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone
- How is it you say, You will become free?
- Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
- A slave does not remain in the house forever, the son remains forever
- So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed
(Romans. 6:6, 13, 17)
2-The Works of Abraham, vs. 37-40
- If you were Abraham’s children you would be doing the works Abraham did
(James 2:14-26, “Faith without works is dead”)
(1 John 2:3-6, Whoever says I know Him but does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.)
- “But you seek to kill me”,
- “a man who has told you the truth”
- “I heard from God”
- This is not what Abraham did
(1 John 2:8-11, the one who hates his brother is in darkness and the darkness has blinded his eyes)
(Matt. 5:21-22, be careful of being angry, insulting, thing your brother is a fool)
In other words, be patient with one another, show others respect, and do not consider them a fool, hear them out.
3-The Direction of the True Father, vs. 41-43
(John 4:25)
His Children build upon a foundation of Truth (Matt. 7:24-25)
- We are not born of sexual immorality
- We have one father, even God
- If you were from God you would love me
- I was sent by Him
- Why do you not understand what I say?
- It is because you cannot bear to hear my word
(1 Cor 2:6-16, These things have been revealed to us through the Spirit)(John 7;37-39)
(John 6:45, 7:16-17, 6:44, 6:65, 6:63-45)
(If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether my teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority)
4-The Deception of the Father of Lies, vs., 44-47
His Children build upon a foundation of Lies (Matt. 7:26-27)
- You are of your father the devil
- Your will is to do your father’s desires
- He was murderer from the beginning
- He is a liar and the father of lies
- I tell you the truth
- Which one of you convicts me of sin?
- Whoever is of God hears the words of God
- The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not from God
(2 Cor. 4:1-6, The God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel)
(1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world)
Conclusion
This passage starts with Jesus giving helpful instruction to those who have started to believe in Him. It navigates through a back and forth discussion from objection of the unbelieving leaders. Jesus had already dealt with their objections to the laws given by Moses and now they are appealing to father Abraham. In this passage, it navigates from Jesus showing them their error in finding hope in Abraham and in the idea that they are the chosen ones of God because of their heritage. He exposes their hearts and minds to be influence by the god of this world and not by the Father of Abraham. Not only have they misunderstood the intent of the law of Moses and failed to accurately obey it, they have also misunderstood the promise the Father of Abraham made to Him and his offspring. It was not an automatic salvation that comes from physical birth to him, but from a new birth that comes from the faith he had in God. In conclusion, they were resisting His teaching for a reason, their hearts desires were influenced by the devil, they loved the darkness more than the light and did not want to be exposed by the truth of God.
How important is the question “But who do you say that I am?” Matt. 16:15
(1 John 2:20-23)
Take Away Questions
1-What was the internal struggle for this audience? At the core of their being what was the challenges they were wrestling with holding them back from believing the truth of God?
2-What was the external struggle for this audience? What traditions of belief and outwards conditions and realities made it a challenge for them to surrender to the teaching and direction from Jesus?
3-What ultimately was the eternal consequences? If they ultimately reject and deny Jesus what will that mean for them for all of eternity?
4-How do the previous 3 questions relate and apply to the audience of today? How do the apply to you? What struggles does the text create for you? Is it an internal struggle? Is it an external struggle? And what is the eternal consequences of the outcome of your struggle?
Thank you Lord, for speaking to us through your word in a way that opens our eyes to the way to you. We thank you that you call us to Yourself and draws us to You. You are faithful and true.
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