TEACHING NOTES Introduction John 8 continues the conversation between the Jews and Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles. In the previous section, Jesus has clearly stated that those who reject Him as Messiah will die in their sins (John 8:24). Many of the Jewish leaders are still rejecting Jesus, but John tells us that many Jews are beginning to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (John 8:30). However, Jesus is going to continue to challenge the ideas and identity of these believing Jews. ‌ Theme from Genesis: ‌ Genesis 3:15 ESV 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” ‌ Between your offspring and her offspring = After the fall, God tells the serpent that there will be enmity (hostility, war) between the offspring (lit. seed) of the serpent and the offspring of Eve. This theme continues throughout the Bible. Those who follow the serpent become the offspring of the serpent. ‌ Theme from John’s Prologue: ‌ John 1:10–13 ESV 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ‌ His own people did not receive him = The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus. ‌ Born of God—not of blood, flesh, man = Being in God’s family is not about ethnicity or national identity. This is the issue Jesus will challenge in John 8. ‌ John 8:31–33 ESV 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” ‌ If you abide in my word = The Greek word for “abide” is meno—which means to remain, stay, or reside. This word is used repeatedly in John’s Gospel. Notice that this is a conditional statement. IF we abide in the teachings of Jesus, we are truly His disciples. These Jews are believing what Jesus is claiming, but Jesus wants them to understand that this is not a one-time faith. We must stay with Jesus and continue in His word. Jesus knows that these Jews believe right now, but may not remain or abide in His word. ‌ You will know the truth = Following Jesus and His teachings leads us to know what is absolutely true. Also, the Truth is a person (John 14:6) and as we study Him and follow Him, we will know Him more. ‌ The truth will set you free = In today’s culture, truth is seen as something that holds us back or is enslaving. But truth actually sets us free by showing us that is good and what is destructive. Without truth, we are stumbling in the dark toward the edge of a cliff. ‌ We are offspring of Abraham = The Jews believed that they were God’s chosen people because they descended from Abraham. And that’s true, but being chosen does not equal salvation. Israel was chosen, but still required to remain faithful. Election refers to the way of salvation, not to individuals. ‌ We have never been enslaved = This seems like the most clueless statement made so far by the Jews. Israel (the descendants of Abraham) was enslaved, or at least ruled by Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. However, they might have been referring to the fact that they have specifically never been slaves. ‌ Why is slavery on their minds? Remember, this conversation occured on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a celebration and remembrance of Israel’s wilderness journey after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. This is why they understood Jesus’ language about being set free as slavery language. ‌ John 8:34–36 ESV 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ‌ Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin = The Greek word for “practices” here is poieo—which is in present tense and active voice. While the Jews here think that they are no longer slaves to anyone, Jesus declares that they are still slaves—but not to a nation. They are slaves to sin. ‌ The slave does not remain = Slaves were considered a part of the household, but not permanently. Slaves could be freed or sold to another household. The Torah commanded that on the Year of Jubilee that all slaves in Israel were to be set free. Therefore, it was against God’s law to keep a slave longer than 49 years. ‌ The son remains forever = The sons of the household remain part of the family forever. True sons and daughters of God remain faithful to Him and remain in the family of God. ‌ If the Son sets you free = Not only were sons free, but they could also set slaves free. Jesus, as the Son of God, has the authority to set us free from the slavery of sin. ‌ John 8:37–38 ESV 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” ‌ My word finds no place in you = This could also be translated, “my word takes no hold on you” or “my word makes no progress in you” or “you have no room for my word in you.” Earlier in John 8:31 we were told that these Jews believed Jesus. Therefore, it is biblically possible to believe something in your mind and still be lost. Salvation is more than mere belief in a set of facts. ‌ You do what you’ve heard from your father = Jesus is challenging their belief that Abraham is their father. Because they wanted to murder Jesus, they clearly have a different father. ‌ John 8:39–40 ESV 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ‌ Abraham is our father = Again, they assume that they are saved because they are descendants of Abraham. They even believed that Abraham would rescue all Israel from Gehenna. In their minds, their connection to Abraham automatically made them right with God. Jesus is clear that this assumption is wrong both here and in Matt. 3:9 “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” Those who believe and obey, like Abraham did, are the true children of God. ‌ What did Abraham do? = Abraham believed God (Gen. 15:6), but he also did what God said to do. Abraham believed and he left his homeland and went where God told him to go. Abraham’s actions proved his faith (see James 2:18-24). If Abraham had believed God but never obeyed God, he would not have been declared righteous. ‌ John 8:41–42 ESV 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ‌ We were not born of sexual immorality = This may a reference to the story of Ishmael, who was the offspring of Abraham and Hagar. Jews viewed Ishmael as a kind of illegitimate offspring of Abraham. ‌ We have one Father—even God = The Jews connected their physical descent from Abraham to a spiritual descent. Because they descend from Abraham, they believe that are also children of God. This makes sense in view of God calling Israel “my firstborn son” in Ex. 4:22, 23. ‌ John 8:43–44 ESV 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ‌ You cannot bear to hear my word = Why do these Jews not understand? Because they can’t handle the truth. If truth disagrees with their ideas, they cannot stand to listen to the truth. ‌ Your father is the devil = Apparently, Abraham is not their daddy. They are actually the offspring (seed) of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). ‌ He was a murderer from the beginning = Jesus is referring back to Gen. 3, where the serpent lead Adam and Eve to do something that would lead to the death. Then in Gen. 4, the serpent (called “sin”) leads Cain to murder Abel. In that sense, the serpent is a murderer. ‌ The father of lies = How did the serpent convince Adam and Eve to choose death? The serpent lied to them by telling them that they would not die. This was the first lie mentioned in the Bible. That makes the serpent the father of lies. ‌ John 8:45–47 ESV 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” ‌ Whoever is of God hears the words of God = People who belong to God love His Word. People who do not belong to God do not love His Word, but seek to suppress or even rewrite His Word. ‌ You are not of God = This could also be translated, “you are not from God” which is another way of saying that God is not their daddy. ‌ John 8:48–50 ESV 48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. ‌ You are a Samaritan and have a demon = When faced with truth, angry hypocrites will resort to defamation and character assassination. Jesus is telling the truth and they respond with cultural superiority and spiritual defamation. ‌ The Father is the judge = Jesus has already claimed that all judgment has been given to Him, but here He is saying that the Father is the judge. This is not a contradiction because the Father is the ultimate judge and He has the authority to give judgment over to His Son. Or Jesus could be saying, “the Father is the judge of me and whether I am telling the truth.” ‌ John 8:51–53 ESV 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” ‌ If anyone keep my word, he will never see death = Jesus is claiming that those who follow Him will have eternal life. Notice again that “if” indicates a conditional statement. It’s not “believing” but “keeping His word” that leads to life. ‌ Abraham died = The Jews are confused because they’re obsessed with their connection with Abraham. They don’t understand that Jesus is talking about eternal life and they don’t understand Jesus’ definition of eternal life. In their minds, everyone dies and goes to Hades (including Abraham), but Jesus is saying that His followers will not die. Why? Because Jesus’ resurrection saves us from Hades to delivers us to the Father in heaven. In that sense, we never die. ‌ Who do you make yourself out to be? = If Jesus is able to give people the ability to avoid the common destination of all people (Hades), then He is obviously a unique being. In their minds, only God can cause people to bypass Hades and join Him in heaven. And they would be right, because Jesus is God in the flesh. ‌ John 8:54–55 ESV 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ‌ The Father glorifies me = Jesus is making it clear that He is not making up His identity, but that the Father is the source of His identity. This is said repeatedly in John’s Gospel—that the Father is the One who declares that Jesus is His Son. ‌ You have not known him = Again, Jesus claims that the leaders of the religion of Israel do not know God. They claim that Yahweh is their God, but Jesus says they do not know their God. ‌ John 8:56–57 ESV 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ‌ Abraham saw my day = There are many theories about this. When did Abraham see Jesus? Jesus could be referring to the times when God appeared to Abraham in human form (Gen. 18). Also, the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) of Gen. 15:1 says “the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.” If Jesus is “the Word” of God, then Jesus appeared to Abraham. ‌ John 8:58–59 ESV 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. ‌ Before Abraham was, I AM = Jesus claims to be the one who appeared to Abraham and existed before Abraham. Jesus claims to be Yahweh in human form. ‌ They picked up stones = The Jews know exactly what Jesus is claiming. They know that Jesus is claiming to be God in the flesh. In their minds, that is blasphemy and deserves the death penalty. ‌ Jesus hid himself = Grk. krypto - This is the literary frame for this entire section. This section began in John 7:4 mentioning Jesus working in “secret” (Grk. krypto), then Jesus teaches openly in Jerusalem, and it ends with Jesus “hiding” again. ‌ Conclusion ‌- Those who believe and abide in the Word are true disciples. ‌- Only the Truth can set us free from the slavery of sin. ‌- Rejecting, changing, or compromising the Word of God is satanic. ‌ Homework: Read John 9.