The Jewish leaders sincerely believed that they were the true believers and followers of God. Jesus challenged them on that.
1) Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (v. 31-32).
They denied they had ever been slaves. Really? Do they not remember their time in Egypt? Or in Babylon?
There’s more than one kind of slavery. And Jesus told them they were slaves to sin.
Jesus acknowledged that they were Abraham’s descendents by blood. Yet they. had no room in their heart for Jesus who had been sent by God.
“Abraham is our Father” they vehemently declared.
2) Jesus told them, “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did” (v. 39).
As it was, they were trying to kill Jesus. And Abraham did not go around trying to kill people. If they were truly Abraham’s descendents, they wouldn’t be doing things like this.
“We are not illegitimate children,” they exclaimed.
3) “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me”” (v. 42).
If they truly loved God, they would see Jesus. Because like his Father, Jesus was sinless. They didn’t hear Jesus because they did not belong to God.
At this, the tables turned. Now it was attack mode.
So the Jews attacked him. They said he was a Samaritan and demon-possessed.
Jesus simply answered that he glorified the Father, not himself. And to keep Jesus’ words were to keep the Father’s words and save them from death (v. 50).
This fired the Jews up. Who do you think you are?
At this Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.”
“I AM” is the name of God in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:13-14).
Jesus was telling them in a very direct way that He was God.
So they tried to kill him.
But Jesus slipped through. It wasn’t his time.
There are some important things we see from this.
1) Jesus openly declares He is God (John 8:58).
2) Jesus is the way of escape from death (v. 51)
3) Jesus does not live for his own glory, He lives and speaks and does for the Father’s glory (v. 50).
4) Loving and obeying Jesus = loving and obeying God.
5) Those who do not belong to God do not see God. They hate and kill thinking they are doing right, but that is not the way of God.
Some powerful things here. It’s easier for us who live on the other side of the cross as we have the prophets confirmed at the cross (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53), and we also live after the resurrection of Jesus. In many ways, it is easier for us to see.
Regardless, when we are slaves to sin, it hinders our ability to see God. This was the problem here. And it can be a problem for us. Before Christ and after. Sin blocks our ability to truly know God. That is sobering.
John 8:31-59
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[b] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.