Not many people commenting on these … anyone reading? As stubborn as I am, I forge ahead with a longer one …
John chapter 8 has an interesting exchange between Jesus and the Jews who “believed in Him.”
After Jesus extends compassion to the woman caught in adultery and about to get stoned, He teaches that He is the “light of the world”, then later that “if you don’t believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
v.30: “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”
This the setup for the discussion. John clearly indicates that these are Jews who believe He is the Messiah come to be the Light of the World. This is what we’re hoping for right? Pay attention to what happens next.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”
Pretty simple. Keep learning and following His teaching and example and ultimately be intimate with (know) the truth. Then you’ll be free. From what? Sin.
But these “believers” decide to argue with Jesus, the one they believe in. Not necessarily a good start to “abiding in My word.”
They say, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. We don’t need to be set free.”
This is a ridiculous statement. Not only were they daily reminded of their current subjugation to the Romans, but they had also been slaves to Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Syria. Many were currently slaves in the Roman culture.
Their hears are exposed here, which is what the truth does. They took pride in their flesh. The argument is based purely on their physical ancestor. Jesus’ argument was based on His spiritual source, which He spoke of earlier (when they said they believed) and we’ll see again in a moment.
Jesus answers them first that they are a slave of sin. He’s talking about the spiritual. They don’t get it. If you “commit a sin” He says, you are a slave to sin. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you are free indeed.”
Then Jesus says something really interesting. First is a “duh” statement. “I know you’re Abraham’s descendants” – then – “but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you.” Which He’s just proven by trying to tell them something they can’t understand and have to argue with.
Remember, though, He is saying this to people who “believe in Him.”
Then Jesus says, “I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” Uh-oh. He’s going somewhere with this …
The Jews still don’t get it. They keep arguing, “Abraham is our father.” Again with the pride in the flesh.
Jesus’ reply: “If Abraham were your father, you would do the works of Abraham. But you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the works of your father.” Why isn’t He just telling them who their father is? He wants them to argue themselves in a corner.
They keep making it worse. It’s like a train wreck. “We have one father – God.”
Now – scripturally – this isn’t such a bad argument. You can easily back up this statement from the Old Testament. Israel means “prince of God” and God refers to Israel as His son and daughter throughout the prophets.
But Jesus again turns their eyes to the spiritual and the connection to what they are doing. “If God were your Father, you would love me … why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”
No argument can convince someone who hasn’t been given the ears to hear.
Then Jesus really exposes them by saying, “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 the truth is not in him.”
It kinda goes downhill from there.
Now, relating this to what was said in James from what I shared last week, it is interesting that James compares people who just believe to demons and now Jesus actually tells Jews who “believe in Him” but are not doing the works of faith that their father is the devil.
This, of course, would be hate speech in our modern culture. Very insensitive.
It is love, though. The first step is admitting you’re an addict.
This passage is important on so many levels, but for this discussion, these were people who believed He was the Messiah and the Light of the World, at some point and to some degree, but were not willing to be “disciples indeed.” They were not willing to commit themselves to Him at any cost. They were not willing to give up their focus and pride in the flesh and focus on who their spiritual father was: the devil.
And the mental acknowledgment of His truth earlier didn’t profit them in the least. Jesus was correct that they were murderers and wanted to do the devil’s work. By the end they pick up stones to kill Him.
And they had “believed.”
Peace.
I’m reading and appreciating. It’s a good series and I’m grateful to be made aware of Scriptures aside from James. I’d never noticed Jesus was talking to “believers” here.
I’m appreciating this, too, I just don’t have much to add. It’s the best explanation I’ve heard for the “demons believe and tremble” passage. It also reminds me of The Cost of Discipleship where Bonhoeffer mentions people who asked Jesus theological questions to avoid obedience. Too much of our faith gets confined to the frontal lobe.
All that to say, thanks for sharing this.
Britt, I’ve been loving these posts. Keep it coming!
Thanks for posting these; I’ve been reading them!
Very sobering. Challenges me to work out my salvation daily–with fear and trembling, lest I believe and not do what He says.
I really appreciate these posts. I somehow strangely enjoy the severity of God and putting James and Jesus’ conversations with these believers together sure makes a severe point. Brilliant, as always.