JOHN LESSON 26
We will begin this lesson in John 8:45.
V-45, "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."
In the last lesson, Jesus had told them that they were of their
father, the devil. Jesus is really speaking to the religious people of
that day. They were very similar to our day; because they had a form
of godliness, claiming to be following Jesus, but in fact, following
the lust of the flesh. These Hebrews were proud of the fact that they
were descendents of Abraham. They really were not spiritual
descendents of Abraham, because Abraham is the father of those who
believe. Galatians 3:29, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise." Jesus is the Truth. To have
the truth, we must believe in Him.
V-46, "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth,
why do ye not believe me?"
Who, in all of your scholars, has accused me of sin and can prove
that I have done anything contrary to God's teaching, is the question
Jesus asked them. They cannot accuse Him of evil, because He does only
good. Again, Jesus says, you know I am telling the truth, why do ye
not believe me? I really believe the reason they didn't believe Him is
because He was housed in flesh. They were just like so many people
today, who cannot look beyond the flesh and see the Spirit. This
sinless, perfect one they could not comprehend. You see, if Jesus was
just flesh, they would have been right; because all flesh has come
short of the glory of God. Jesus was, and is, God the Son. God the Son
was housed in flesh when He was on the earth, so He could be tempted
in the flesh, as we are. His flesh will actually feel pain on
the cross. His Spirit is in total control at all times. The Spirit of
God came and dwelled in the flesh of man and overcame the flesh and
death.
V-47, "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear
[them] not, because ye are not of God.
There is only one explanation for this, they really do not know
the Father God.
V-48, "Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well
that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?"
These Hebrew's strong enemy was the Samaritan. This was one of
the worst things they could call Jesus in their sight, a Samaritan.
Just as an after-thought, they added that He had a devil. As we said
before, anything they did not understand they called a devil. What
they forgot is the devil does evil, and Jesus was doing only good.
V-49, "Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my
Father, and ye do dishonour me."
Jesus has offered them life, and yet they rejected Him. This flat
statement that He has not a devil is emphatic. It leaves no room for
question. This is the reply a true Christian should give, as well. A
person who is totally sold out to Jesus is full of His Light, and
that Light does away with all darkness. You cannot be filled with
Light and darkness at the same time. A demon can attack a Christian
from without but cannot enter into a Christian full of Light. Jesus
says one more time that He is of the Father. He is God's
representative to man. If we reject Him, we reject God.
V-50, "And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh
and judgeth."
Truly Jesus did not come to glorify Himself. He suffered the
shame of the cross at Calvary to spare us. Jesus was here to suffer
for our sins. At the end of the age, He will be the Judge of all the
earth.
V-51, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying,
he shall never see death."
V-52 "Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a
devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man
keep my saying, he shall never taste of death."
Verily, verily means that there is no room for doubt. When we
partake of Jesus who is Life, we have life, not death. Whether we go
the way of the grave, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he
shall never see death." This group has no idea who they are speaking
to. Every person is a spirit who lives in a body. Our body will go
back to dust. Our spirit inside a celestial body will go on to be
judged of Jesus. Those who follow Jesus will go on to eternal life
with Him. These Christians truly shall never taste of death.
V-53, "Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is
dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?"
This is a sarcastic remark spoken to Jesus. Abraham was created
by Jesus. In fact, He was Abraham's God. They are saying to Jesus, who
are you trying to tell us that you are, God? Again, I say they did not
recognize Him as God the Son.
V-54, "Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is no
thing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is
your God:"
They really have no excuse, because He told thee his saying."
The Jews were a very proud people. Their pride stemmed from God giving
them His law. You can know the law, however, and not love or know the
Law giver. To know the letter of the law, does not give life. The
Lawgiver brings Life.
V-56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it,
and was glad."
I will not get into this in depth here. Abraham is the father of
the believers. He believed in the Saviour. Our spiritual father must
believe the same way we do. Take another look at Melchesidec whom
Abraham paid tithes to and who served communion to Abraham.
Melchesidec, King of peace, had no earthly parents, had no beginning
of days or end of life. The only person He appeared to was the father
of believers, Abraham. He appeared to Abraham approximately 2,000
years after Adam's birth, Jesus appeared 2,000 years after that as a
baby, and our King of kings and Lord of lords will appear in the
eastern sky approximately 2,000 years after that. Think on this.
V-57, "Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years
old, and hast thou seen Abraham?"
Their view of Jesus was strictly physical. They had not
understood what He had been telling them at all; that He was eternal
God the Son.
V-58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am."
Jesus is speaking here of His eternity. He is the First and Last,
the Alpha and Omega. Read again St. John chapter 1, if you have any
doubt.
V-59, "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid
himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them,
and so passed by."
You see, they could not see Jesus if He did not want them to,
even if He were standing in front of them. He walked right in front of
them, hidden to their view. If nothing else had convinced them, this
should have; because He hid Himself to them while they were
beholding Him.
Notes
John 26 Questions
1. In verse 45, why did they not believe Him?
2. Who had Jesus said was their father?
3. Compare what they were doing to nominal Christians now.
4. In Galatians 3:29, who is Abraham father of?
5. What question, in verse 46, did they ask Jesus?
6. Explain what that means.
7. Why does the author believe they did not believe Him?
8. Why was Jesus housed in a fleshly body when He came as our
Saviour?
9. What was the worst name they could think to call Jesus?
10. What answer did Jesus emphatically give them in verse 49?
11. A person who is totally sold out to Jesus is full of what?
12. Why can that person not have a devil living inside them?
13. What can the devil do to Christians?
14. In verse 51, Jesus says, "...If a man keep my saying, he shall
never see _______________."
15. Who is Life?
16. Who did these Jews say was their father?
17. Jesus said, "...If a man keep my saying, he shall never
___________ _______________.
18. Who did they compare Jesus unfavorably with?
19. Who did they say was their God?
20. Jesus said, if they knew God, why didn't they recognize
_____________?
21. Jesus said, if He said He knew not the Father, He would be what?
22. How many years after Adam's birth, did Melchesidec appear?
23. How many years after Melchesidec's appearance, did the Saviour
appear?
24. How many years after Jesus, approximately, will it be that our
King and Lord appear?
25. How old did they say Jesus was?
26. Jesus said, "...Before Abraham was, _______________
_______________."
27. What did Jesus do, when they started to stone Him?
Notes
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