NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 42
J ohn 8 : 4 1
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that I heard from God. y Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the works of
your own father.” z
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God
himself.” a
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, b for I have come
here from God. c I have not come on my own; d God sent me. e 43Why is my language not
clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father,
the devil, f and you want to carry out your father’s desires. g He was a murderer from the
beginning, not holding to the t ruth, for t here is no t ruth in him. When he lies, he s peaks
his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. h 45Yet because I tell the truth, i
you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth,
why don’t you believe me? 47Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. j The reason
you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus States He Is Eternal (129 )
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan k and
demon-possessed?” l
49“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dis
honor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; m but there is one who seeks it, and he is
the judge. 51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” n
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. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? o He died, and so did the prophets.
Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, p my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you
claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. q 55Though you do not know him, r I
know him. s If I said I did not, I w
ould be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey
his word. t 56Your father Abraham u rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it v
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, w I am!” x 59 At
this, they picked up stones to stone him, y but Jesus hid himself, z slipping away from
the temple grounds.
8:40
yver 26
8:41
zver 38,44
aIsa 63:16; 64:8
8:42
b1Jn 5:1
cJn 16:27; 17:8
dJn 7:28
eJn 3:17
8:44
f1Jn 3:8
gver 38,41
hGe 3:4
8:45
iJn 18:37
8:47
18:37; 1Jn 4:6
jJn
8:48
10:5
52; Jn 7:20
kMt
lver
8:50
mver
54; Jn 5:41
8:51
nJn 11:26
8:53
oJn 4:12
8:54
pver 50
qJn 16:14; 17:1,5
8:55
rver 19
sJn 7:28,29
tJn 15:10
8:56
37,39
13:17; Heb 11:13
uver
vMt
8:58
wJn 1:2; 17:5,24
xEx 3:14
8:59
yLev 24:16; Jn 10:31;
11:8
zJn 12:36
8:41 Jesus made a distinction between illegitimate children and true
8:56 God told Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, that through
children. The religious leaders were descendants of Abraham (the
founder of the Jewish nation) and therefore claimed to be children of
God. But their actions showed them to be children of Satan, for they
were living under Satan’s guidance. True children of Abraham (faithful
followers of God) would not act as they did. Your church membership
and family connections will not make you a true child of God. Your real
father is the one you imitate and obey.
8:43 The religious leaders were unable to understand because they
refused to listen. Satan used their stubbornness, pride, and prejudices
to keep them from believing in Jesus.
8:44-45 The attitudes and actions of these leaders clearly identified
them as followers of Satan. They may not have been conscious of this,
but their hatred of truth, their lies, and their murderous intentions indicated how much control the devil had over them. They were his tools
in carrying out his plans; they spoke his language of lies. Satan still uses
people to obstruct God’s work (Genesis 4:8; Romans 5:12; 1 John 3:12).
8:46-47 In a number of places Jesus intentionally challenged his listeners to test him. He welcomed those who wanted to question his claims
and character as long as they were willing to follow through on what
they discovered. Jesus’ challenge to the Jewish leaders here clarifies
two reasons why people often miss out on a life-changing encounter
with Jesus: (1) They never accept his challenge to challenge or test him,
or (2) they test him but are not willing to believe and respond to what
they discover. Have you made either of those mistakes?
8:51 When Jesus says that those who obey won’t die, he is talking
about spiritual death, not physical death. Even physical death, however,
will eventually be overcome. Those who follow Jesus will be raised to
live eternally with him.
him all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-7; 15:1-21). Abraham had
been able to see this through the eyes of faith. Jesus, a descendant of
Abraham, blessed all people through his death, resurrection, and offer
of salvation.
8:58 This is one of the most powerful statements uttered by Jesus.
When he said that he existed before Abraham was born, he was undeniably proclaiming his divinity. Not only did Jesus say that he existed
before Abraham, but he also applied God’s holy name to himself (“I Am”;
Exodus 3:14). This claim demands a response. It cannot be ignored. The
Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he claimed
equality with God. But Jesus is God. How have you responded to Jesus?
8:59 In accordance with the law given in Leviticus 24:16, the religious
leaders were ready to stone Jesus for claiming to be God. They well
understood what Jesus was claiming, and because they didn’t believe
he was God, they charged him with blasphemy. It is ironic that they
were really the blasphemers, cursing and attacking the very God they
claimed to serve!