Day 211: Jesus Asserts His Identity and Authority

*John 8:21-59

Jesus engages in a dialogue with the Jewish leaders, addressing their skepticism about his identity and authority.

  • Jesus Predicts His Departure:
    • Jesus tells the Pharisees that He is going away, and they will look for Him but die in their sin.
    • He says that where He goes, they cannot come.
    • The Jews misunderstand, thinking He might kill Himself.
  • Jesus’ Origin and Identity:
    • Jesus emphasizes that they are from below, and He is from above; they are of this world, and He is not.
    • He tells them they will die in their sins unless they believe He is who He claims to be.
    • When asked who He is, Jesus refers to Himself as “I am,” linking to the divine name.
  • Teaching on the Father:
    • Jesus speaks about His relationship with the Father:
      • He only does what the Father has taught Him.
      • The one who sent Him is with Him and has not left Him alone because He always does what pleases the Father.
    • Many believe in Him as He speaks these things.
  • Dispute Over Spiritual Freedom:
    • Jesus addresses those who believed in Him, saying if they hold to His teaching, they are truly His disciples and will know the truth, which will set them free.
    • The Jews argue they are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves, questioning how they can be set free.
    • Jesus explains that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, but the Son can set them free, granting true freedom.
  • Children of Abraham and the Devil:
    • Jesus acknowledges their physical descent from Abraham but questions their actions:
      • They seek to kill Him, showing they do not have room for His word.
      • He speaks what He has seen in the Father’s presence, while they do what they have heard from their father.
    • When they claim Abraham as their father, Jesus says if they were truly Abraham’s children, they would do what Abraham did.
    • Jesus asserts their real father is the devil, as they carry out his desires, revealing their true nature.
  • Jesus’ Divine Authority:
    • Jesus asks why they cannot understand His language, attributing it to their inability to hear what He says.
    • He contrasts Himself with the devil, who is a murderer and the father of lies.
    • Jesus declares that because He tells the truth, they do not believe Him.
  • Accusations and Rebuttals:
    • The Jews accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed.
    • Jesus denies having a demon and emphasizes His honor of the Father and their dishonor of Him.
    • He states that anyone who keeps His word will never see death.
  • Jesus and Abraham:
    • The Jews are puzzled, noting Abraham and the prophets died, yet Jesus says His followers will never taste death.
    • They question if He is greater than Abraham and the prophets.
    • Jesus replies that if He glorifies Himself, it means nothing; His Father glorifies Him.
    • Jesus claims to know the Father, unlike them, and asserts that Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing His day.
  • Declaration of Jesus’ Pre-existence:
    • The Jews question how Jesus could have seen Abraham, given His age.
    • Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was born, I am!”
    • The Jews pick up stones to stone Him, but Jesus slips away from the temple grounds, avoiding their attempt on His life.

John 8:21-59 teaches us the importance of believing in Jesus and holding onto His truth. Jesus explains that He is the way to eternal life, but many people rejected Him because they did not understand who He was. This reminds us that following Jesus requires faith and a willingness to accept His words, even when they challenge us. He also says that the truth will set us free, meaning that when we trust in Him, we find real freedom from sin and fear. We can apply this by seeking to know Jesus more, trusting His words, and living in the freedom that comes from following Him.

John 8:21-59 (WEB)

8:21 Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”
22 The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”
23 He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
25 They said therefore to him, “Who are you?”
Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.”
27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him. 31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father.”
They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
42 Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”
48 Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.