John 8:48-59
Sunday Morning Bible Study
January 28, 1996
Introduction
As Jesus was teaching in the temple, some people were coming to the point where they were starting to believe in Him, but others were arguing with Him.
To the ones who had started to believe, Jesus said that to be a disciple of His, it's more than just a one time step, but it's learning to continue in His Word:
»John 8:31-32 If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
When some of the Jews heard Jesus talking about "being free", they objected, claiming they were Abraham's offspring, and never had been in bondage to anyone.
Jesus went on to tell them that His father was not the same as their father.
His father was God.
Their father was the devil
This is not necessarily a great way to make friends.
:48-59 Jesus is the I AM
:48 thou art a Samaritan
For the Jews, this was about the worst thing they could think of to call Jesus.
As we've seen before, the Jews didn't much like the Samaritans.
The Samaritans were a race of half-Jews, formed when the Assyrians moved foreigners into the land after occupying it, and mixing the races.
Along the way, the Samaritans also developed a kind of perverted Judaism, taking many of the same truths, but changing the names and places so that they became the chosen people instead of the Jews.
This change in theology peaked when Nehemiah was rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.
In the process, Nehemiah kicked out one of the priests because he had married the daughter of Sanballat, who was a "Horonite" and not a Jew.
Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, then took his son-in-law Eliashib, and built a temple for him on Mount Gerizim, setting up the son-in-law as the high priest.
The Jews account (the one outside of the Bible) of what happened between Ezra and the Samaritans goes like this:
"they anathematized the Samaritans, by the inexplicable name of God, and by the writing on tables, and with the anathema of the house of judgment, above and below; (saying,) let not any Israelite for ever eat of the fruit, or of the least morsel of a Samaritan; hence they say, whoso eateth the flesh of a Samaritan, it is all one as if he ate swine's flesh; also let not a Samaritan be made a proselyte, nor have a part in the resurrection of the dead; as it is said, "You have nothing to do with to build an house unto our God", (Ezr 4:3), neither in this world, nor in the world to come: moreover, also let him have no part in Jerusalem; as it is said, "But you have no portion, nor, right, nor memorial in Jerusalem", (Ne 2:20)
- Pirke Eliezer, c. 38.
The Jews definitely did not like the Samaritans, and so this was about as low as a name as they could use against Jesus.
:48 and hast a devil
They might mean this in thinking that Jesus was demon-possessed.
But it probably implies a bit more than that.
To the people in those days, having a devil and being insane went hand in hand.
Today, we're a bit more sophisticated than all that. (yeah, right!)
Later on they would say of Jesus,
»John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
This was something that the people have long said of true prophets. (2Ki 9:11 Ho 9:7)
Bottom line:
They're saying that Jesus is crazy.
Lesson:
Handling slander
We've seen that these people didn't have very nice words for Jesus.
But it doesn't stop with Jesus:
»John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
If they hated Jesus, they will hate you too.
Sorry, but it's the truth. It comes with the territory.
That's just great! So what do I do when I'm slandered?
»1Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Peter gives us three things to do when we're slandered or persecuted:
1. Don't be surprised (vs.12)
It's nothing new. It's happened before, it will happen again.
Being slandered or persecuted can catch you off guard and make you ask yourself, "Why me?"
2. Rejoice (vs.13,16)
It sounds kind of strange, but it should kind of make us happy when we're persecuted for the right reasons.
We shouldn't be happy about being persecuted for being a jerk or a lawbreaker.
But when we're persecuted simply because we're following Jesus, then we're in Jesus' company!
3. Trust God with the situation (vs.19)
Be very reluctant to take things into your own hands.
Illustration:
When David was persecuted by Saul, who was jealous of David, he had a couple of opportunities to kill Saul personally.
Yet instead, he choose to put the situation into God's hands, and God took care of Saul in a manner where David was completely blameless.
Illustration:
Just in case you thought you had it bad!
J.H. Crowell went to work on a sailing vessel at the age of 16. He was the only Christian among a crew of 12. Before leaving home, he had promised his mother he would continue his devotions and pray three times a day. When the other sailors discovered his piety, they taunted him and poured buckets of water upon his head, but they could not put out the fire in his soul! As time passed the intensity of the persecution increased. One day they bound him to the mast and beat him with 39 stripes, but still he prayed. Finally they tied a rope around his waist and threw him overboard. Realizing he might drown, he asked God to forgive his tormenters, and pleaded with them to send his body home to his mother. "Tell her I was faithful and died for Jesus!" he said. When they thought he was dead, they pulled him back on deck, but to their surprise he regained consciousness. Conviction from the Holy Spirit came upon some of the sailors, and two of them were gloriously saved. Later the captain and several others were also converted.
:49 I have not a devil
Just to make things clear here.
It's interesting that Jesus doesn't even dignify the "Samaritan" thing.
The truth is, He loves the Samaritans. He would die for them too.
Note:
It's okay to answer the slander, to a point.
But Jesus doesn't spend the rest of the day trying to "repair His reputation".
This is part of what it means to trust God with the situation.
:49 ye do dishonour me
To put it lightly.
To the Jews, this whole conversation may be nothing more to them than just a trade-off of insults.
After all, Jesus has just told them that Abraham wasn't their father.
Being a son of Abraham was a point of pride to the Jews.
And to make it worse, Jesus has just told them that their father was the devil!
Lesson:
Listen carefully to criticism.
These people, rather than listening to the truth of what Jesus has told them, choose instead to reply in a tit-for-tat fashion.
If the criticism of you is actually true, then you need to be careful to respond properly to it.
»Proverbs 15:31-33 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Often our own pride gets in the way, and rather than admitting that we have a problem, or have been wrong, we get all defensive and make excuses, or worse, launch a counter attack.
I think that sometimes in order for us to grow like we ought to, we need to hear a little word of correction from time to time.
Frankly, without it, we're kind of blind to some of our weaknesses.
I think one of the best places we should receive correction in, should be in our marriages.
There should be no one safer in the world, who loves you more, who you can trust to tell you what you need to hear, than your spouse.
Yet we often cut it off before it barely gets started, by yelling matching insults back in their face.
The next time, rather than tell you what you need to hear, you won't hear it, because who wants insults in their face?
Be open to loving, gentle criticism.
:50 there is one that seeketh and judgeth
Speaking of God, His father.
The Father would be seeking to give glory and honor to the Son.
:51 If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death
Jesus has already said this several times, in several different ways:
»John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
»John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The death that Jesus is talking about is a spiritual death, a separation from God, though the Jews don't understand this.
This is the kind of death that Satan brings, and Jesus referred to it back in verse 44:
»John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him...
In contrast with the devil, instead of bringing death, those who believe in Jesus will never see death.
How can Jesus save a person from death?
The Bible says that the pricetag on our sinfulness is this very death.
»Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the pricetag of our sin for us.
»2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
If we simply accept His free payment for our sins, then we will not have to face this spiritual death ever!
:52 now we know ...
Now we're sure that you're crazy.
:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham ...
The answer is YES!
:53 whom makest thou thyself?
»NIV "Who do you think you are?"
:54 If I honour myself, my honour is nothing ...
Jesus knows that just because He says something about Himself doesn't make it true.
If He's the only one giving honor to Himself, it's kind of empty and worthless.
Lesson:
Don't toot your own horn.
It's more important that any honor that comes our way should come from outside sources, rather than our own lips.
»Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
If you're going to be praised, it better come from someone other than yourself.
Best of all, is when God's approval is evident on your life:
»2Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
God's approval on your life will be shown by the fruit in your life.
Your own life's deeds will speak for themselves.
honour - doxazo - to praise; to honour; to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour.
Isn't that just what we hear people do sometimes? (of course we never do it ourselves ...)
People like to "adorn themselves with lustre", they like to "clothe themselves with splendour".
Illustration:
I've known people who always made it a point to share how they led this person to the Lord, or helped this person on the road, etc.
They would even pray it in prayers.
It's hard to wait for God's approval on your life to be shown, but it's the best way.
Illustration:
"Get someone else to blow your horn, and the sound will carry twice as far."
-- Will Rogers
Illustration:
President Reagan used to have this sign on his desk:
"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
:55 If I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar ...
The fact is, Jesus knows the Father.
If He tries to pretend that He doesn't, He'd end up being a liar.
Just like the people before Him.
Ouch!
:56 he saw it, and was glad
Jesus is claiming that Abraham knew all about Him!
Quite a bold claim!
:57 Thou are not yet fifty years old ...
Jesus, you're not old enough to have seen Abraham.
Abraham lived about 2000 years before Jesus.
To the Jews, the age of 50 was when a man was finally fit to give advice and counsel.
This is why the Levites stopped their serving in the Temple at age 50, since it was better for them to be giving counsel than to be bearing burdens (Gill).
:58 Before Abraham was, I am
Is this a serious case of bad grammar? Are the Jews going to stone Jesus for having bad grammar?
Lesson in Theology -
The I AM
Exodus 3:1-14
God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, and God tells Moses what His name is:
»Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
What does God mean by "I AM"?
I see this as an expression of God's timelessness.
God is always in the "now".
He exists outside our time dimension.
He is presently existing in the past, the present, and the future, all at the same time.
This is why we often read of God:
»Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Usage of the Name
It's kind of important for us to realize how often this name of God is used.
This name "I AM" is most often found in the form of four Hebrew consonants, equivalent to YHWH, or we would say "Yahweh". The name itself is an Old Testament thing.
To the Jews, this name is so holy, so pure, that no person is worthy to speak it, and so when they read their Hebrew Scriptures, rather than pronounce the name "Yahweh", they say the Hebrew word for "Lord", which is "adonai". They even put the vowels for adonai on top of the consonants for Yahweh, which is where we get the word "Jehovah" (or, Yehowah).
Our English translations have followed the path set by the Jews, and rather than giving us God's name, we see LORD, in all capital letters. This tells us that the underlying Hebrew word is Yahweh, or, God's name.
How does this tie in to Abraham?
Did Abraham see Jesus' day?
One instance of several:
Genesis 18:1-22
look at esp. vs.1-6; 16-22
Look for the use of "LORD".
Note how three individuals show up at Abraham's tent.
One of them seems to be Yahweh in a human form.
The other two (angels) will eventually go off to Sodom to rescue Lot, while one (the LORD) stays behind to chat.
I believe that this is Jesus with Abraham.
Other instances to check out:
Genesis 12:1-4,7; Gen.14:18; Gen.15:1,6; Gen.17:1-8; Gen.21:1; Gen.22:1-19
Summary
What does Jesus mean then?
He is claiming to be "I AM".
He is claiming to be Yahweh.
He is the God of Israel.
He is daring not only to speak the name, but to claim it for Himself.
I think that Jesus has been saying this all along, but it's only here that it becomes clear what He's been saying.
The Greek words translated "I AM" are egw eimi
Other usages of
egw eimi in John thus far:When the disciples were rowing in the storm, and saw Jesus walking on the water,
John 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
lit. - But He said to them, "I AM, don't be afraid"
Here's a verse that shows how vitally important it is that we grasp this concept that Jesus is the Great I AM:
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The "he" is not in the Greek, that's why it's in italics.
Is it important that we understand that Jesus is the I AM or what?
Misc. verses for extra credit (John 4:26; 6:35; 8:12; 8:28)
:59 Then took they up stones
They got the message.
They realized full well what He was saying.
They're not wanting to stone Him because He offended them.
They were going to stone Him for blasphemy, for making Himself out to be God.
»John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.