John 8:48-59, (Part 4)

 Hey guys, hope you all have had a great week. Let us know if you have any urgent prayer request or any long term request you would like us to just keep you in mind as we pray for the body of Christ.

This weekend we will finish John 8. We will pick back up in verse 48. There will be 4 parts to our unpacking of the text.

Part 1, John 8:48-50,

Keyword (honor or glory)”I do not seek my own glory”

We start here with an audience that literally can not relate to the message of Jesus because His instructions are so foreign to them. They are beyond the framework that they can conceive as right. Since, they see themselves as right with God in their own eyes, they can only naturally conclude that Jesus is a demon. That is what any of us would do if someone or something challenge our belief of truth and the identity of God and His purposes. Jesus is stating here that He is just doing what He was directed to do and the intent of glory for Him is not from His own desires but from God Himself. 

Part 2, John 8:51-53,

Keyword (death) “If anyone keeps my word He will never see death” Their main objection was Abraham died and the prophets died, who do you make yourself out to be? Here again, we see the challenge of Jesus’ audience logically reacting to His words in a objecting way because of their perspective of reality. From Jesus perspective of reality, Abraham did not die in the way this world defines it. When He says one will never see death He is speaking to a heavenly reality of death not an earthy perspective of it. 

Part 3, John 8:54-55, 

Keyword (know), “Truly Knowing Who God Is”

Who do you say that I am? Matt. 16:15

Here we see Jesus picking back up where He left off in Part 1 with (honor and glory) and He transitions into true and real knowledge about the Father. “Of whom you say, He is our God”. Here Jesus unites the two ideas of God has sent Him with a message of truth that is for those who love Him and the reality of those who confess by mouth, but not by deeds that come from a heart for God as being a lie. He also confirms His actions in “I keep His word” to be consistent with His instruction to those who believe in Him in vs. 31, “If you abide in my word”

Part 4, John 8:56-59,

Key idea (time), “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? This logic could have went the other way and they could have said Abraham has been dead 2000 years, how could he have seen you? This would have been a better question, but their arrogance pushed them to ask their question in a way that was more about refuting Christ than like Nicodemus in John 3 actually wanting to learn the answer. The answer is God is not bound by time like we are. It would have been a great benefit to them to listen more than talking and pondering if this is true then what? Pride and arrogance keeps us from serious asking and considering the key questions of the text.

Hope to see you all this weekend. Let me know if you need anything. Praying for you guys.