John 8:31-59 The discourse to professed Jews: Children of Abraham? Children of the Devil? (Jn.8:31-47) The response of the unbelievers & Claims of Jesus about Himself (Jn.8:48-59)

“Children of Abraham”: v To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."

“Children of Abraham”: v "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would 40 do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

Children of the Devil: v Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. 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. 45Yet because I tell the truth, 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? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

“..hold to my teaching..” v.31 Defining true disciples/believers It’s necessary to understand the conditions of discipleship Previously, many left Jesus(Jn.6:67) because of his teaching was “hard” for those who did not want to receive life as the way Jesus taught

“..the truth will set you free.” v Defining Freedom: Jesus spoke of a spiritual freedom from sin and its effects (cf.v34,Rm6:15- 23) Misunderstood Freedom: Jews were thinking of political freedom, since they spoke of being enslaved by persons (human master) NIV: Those Jews in this passage forgot about the slavery of Egypt, in Judges, Exile in Babylon, and current Roman rule at their time

Romans 6: Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

“hold to my teaching” “you are really my disciples” “know the truth” “truth will set you free” “wholeheartedly obeyed” “become slaves to righteousness” “the form of teaching to which you were entrusted” “You have been set free from sin” John 8:31-32Romans 6:16-18

“..everyone who sins is a slave to sin” v Sinner cannot break free from sin by his own strength A slave cannot free himself without others to redeem/buy him out But the Son can partake in the privileges as an heir to the holdings. He has the privilege to redeem or release the enslaved “..the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin” Gal 3:22

“..if the Son sets you free, you will be free..” v Jews are confident in their Hebrew ancestry/heritage (sons of Abraham) True freedom lies not in the faith of being the biological seed of Abraham but in the action of Christ When Christ redeemed us, “ you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” Gal4:5-7

“..You are doing the things your own father does.." v The Jews claimed repeatedly in this passage that they are children of Abraham implied that they regarded their relationship to God as secure because of their lineal descent from the man with whom God had confirmed his covenant (Gal 3:16- 29) In contrast to the attitude of Abraham, his biological “descendants” would not receive God’s truth Also, the Jews are “determined to kill (Jesus)” v.40, and Abraham did no such thing

“..You are doing the things your own father does.." v & 42,44-47 Who is Jesus referring to (as being those Jew’s “father”)? If they really were Abraham’s seed, and if they truly loved God, then they would have shown love to his Son. Love for God involves loving all whom the Father has sent Also, those who belong to God hear what God says. (v.47) They are unable to hear (v.44) because they do not belong to God (v.47)

“You belong to your father, the devil..” v Zondervan: The Jews’ relationship to Satan was now stated explicitly. “murderer”: Jews were to carry out their father’s desire and crucify Jesus Jesus has demonstrated they were not the children of God but of Satan

The Claims of Jesus About Himself 48The 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. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 52At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

The Claims of Jesus About Himself 54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though 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 keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." 57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" 58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John’s Testimony to Jesus: The 7 Great “I Am’” of Jesus 1. “I am the bread of life.” (6:35,48, cf.v51) 2. “I am the light of the world.” (8:12;9:5) 3. “I am the gate for the sheep” (10:7,9) 4. “I am the good shepherd.” (10:11,14) 5. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (11:25) 6. “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (14:6) 7. “I am the true vine.” (15:1,5)

John’s Testimony to Jesus: The 7 “Greater Than’s” of Jesus 1.Jesus is greater than the angels (1:51) 2.Jesus is greater than Abraham (8:56-58) 3.Jesus is greater than Jacob (4:11-14) 4.Jesus is greater than Moses (6:49-51) 5.Jesus is greater than the law (1:17;cf.8:1- 11) 6.Jesus is greater than the Sabbath (7:21- 23;cf.5:8-15;9:14-33) 7.Jesus is greater than the temple (2:18- 21)

John’s Testimony to Jesus: The 7 Miracles of Jesus 1. Turning water into wine at Cana (2:1-11) 2. Healing the official’s son at Capernaum (4:46-51) 3. Healing the sick man at the pool of Bethesda (5:1-9) 4. Feeding the five thousand in Galilee (6:5-13) 5. Walking on the stormy Sea of Galilee (6:19-21) 6. Healing the man born blind in Jerusalem (9:1-7) 7. Raising Lazarus from the dead in Bethany (11:1-44)

“..a Samaritan and demon- possessed?..” v Samaritans were classed as heretic by the Jews because of their lax in the interpretation and attitude towards religious matters- They are claiming that Jesus,“You are no better than a Samaritan. “ Demon possession were attributed to Jesus on 3 occasions (7:20;8:52;10:20) “..if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death..” v51: We have victory over sin and death through Jesus (1Cor15:55-56 )

“..never see death..” v.51 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die..” Jn.11:25b-26a Death will never triumph over a believer, and final/spiritual death is impossible for him because we have the life from Christ and eternal Spirit from God

“..greater than our father Abraham..” v Jews were doubtful that Jesus were greater than all the OT ancestors and prophets, such as Moses or Abraham, and all of those great people died. They are asking, “You are not greater than our father Abraham, are you?” Jesus countered to say that Abraham had a preview of his ministry/redemptive work and had rejoiced in it. (Heb11:17-19)

“..he saw it and was glad..”v.56 Heb.11:17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.“ 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

“..he saw it and was glad..”v.56 Through faith, Abraham understood God’s redemptive work by his son-Ram caught by his horns (Ge22) Through faith, Abraham realized the resurrection from the dead through the release of his son (Heb11:17-19) Through faith, Abraham saw the miraculous birth of Isaac, his unquestioning trust in his father, his willingness to become the sacrifice to fulfill the command of God, and his deliverance from death all symbolizes Christ’s incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus

“…I am!“ v GK1609&1639; implies continuous existence “I AM” was recognized by Jews as a title of deity- thus the attempted stoning of Jesus The rejoinder of Jesus, “Before Abraham was born, I am” could only mean a claim to deity