Tag Archives: Father

John 8:31-47

vs 31-38 – The Truth will set you Free

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

Discussion
  • If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples
    What does this tell us about the true meaning of being a disciple?
  • If you abide in my word … you will know the truth
    Why do we have to abide in Jesus’ word (teaching) to know the truth?
  • If you abide in my word … the truth will set you free
    How does Jesus’ word (truth) set us free? From what does it set us free?
  • We have never been slaves to anyone
    They were blind to their own true condition. Is this form of blindness common or rare?
  • everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin
    The Greek verb translated practices sin is a present participle. This denotes ongoing action. Jesus is not saying that one sinful act, one slip-up, makes you a slave. He is saying that the ongoing practice of sin – the unchecked habit or lifestyle of sin – makes one a slave.
    How does this slavery come about? Try to explain it in your own words.
  • The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
    What is Jesus saying here? What house is he talking about?
  • If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
    How does Jesus set people free from not only the guilt of sin but the power of sin? 
vs 39-47 – The father of lies

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, 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. 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.”
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.

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 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. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

  • Abraham is our father
    They were claiming a heritage but had lost sight of what that inheritance really meant.
  • You are doing the works your father did
    What is Jesus saying here? Who is their father, according to Jesus?
  • The reason why you do not hear them [the words of God] is that you are not of God
    Why is Jesus being so forthright with these people?
Personal Reflection

Are you a lover of the truth, even when it exposes your sin?

 

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John 8:12-30

vs 12 : I am the light of the world

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Discussion
vs 13-20 : Jesus and his Father

So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

  • Your testimony is not true – on what basis did they say this? See Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15.
  • I know where I come from and where I am going. See John 13:3.
  • You judge according to the flesh – what did Jesus mean by this?
  • Where is your Father – What did the Pharisees think Jesus meant by his references to his Father as his other witness?
  • You know neither me nor my Father –  what did Jesus mean by this? What did they probably think he meant?
vs 21-22 : Where I am going, you cannot come

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

  • Where I am going, you cannot come. Was Jesus afraid to die? If not, why did he sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane?
  • What is the difference between temptation and sin?
vs 23-30 : I am He

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

  • Unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins. See Exodus 3:14.
  • He who sent me is true. The Father is completely consistent within himself. So is Jesus.
  • I do nothing on my own authority. See John 5:18-19. This is a good goal for believers to emulate.
Personal Reflection
  • What stands out to you about Jesus from these verses?
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John 5:30-47

Fallout from the healing of the crippled man (vs 1-14)

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus heals a man who has been crippled for 38 years. He does this on a Sabbath day. Today we look at the conclusion of Jesus’ discourse with the Jewish leaders who found fault with him for healing on the Sabbath and calling himself God’s Son.

Jesus’ motivation (vs 30)

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

See John 12:43, Matthew 23:5-7

  • What was Jesus’ motivation?
  • Why is this important?
  • Contrast Lucifer’s motivation (Isaiah 14:12-15)
The testimony of John (vs 31-35)

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true [credible, trustworthy]. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

  • If I alone bear witness – see Deuteronomy 17:6
  • There is another who bears witness – probably a double meaning (both John the Baptist and the Father are in view)
  • He was a burning and shining lamp – John spoke the truth boldly
The Father’s testimony (vs 36-40)

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Jesus cites three forms of testimony which come from the Father

  • the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me (vs 36)
  • the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me (vs 37)
  • the Scriptures … bear witness about me (vs 39)

Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees
His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

  • When he says this, what is he implying about himself?
  • How powerful is this?
  • To make a claim like this, He would have to be either completely deceived, a barefaced liar, or the true Son of God.
Glory from people or from God (vs 41-44)

I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

He was dealing with people who preferred to receive honour from humans than from God (and preferred to give honour to humans than to God).

  • How common is this?
  • Why do people operate this way, according to Jesus? (vs 42)
Moses is their accuser (vs 45-47)

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?

Why does Jesus say that Moses will be their accuser?

Self-reflection
  • What is your motivation for doing good deeds?
  • How much do you care about the praise of people?
  • How much do you care about the approval of God?
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John 5:15-29

Fallout from the healing of the crippled man (vs 1-14)

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus heals a man who has been crippled for 38 years. He does this on a Sabbath day. After healing the man he finds him in the Temple and speaks to him of his need for repentance.  Today’s study looks at the fallout from this event.

Jesus is criticized for healing on the Sabbath (vs 15-18)

The man went away and told the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

  • The Jewish leaders objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath because it was contrary to their interpretation of the Torah.
  • Jesus replied that He was doing his Father’s work.
  • The Jewish leaders now had an additional reason to oppose Jesus. Not only did he heal on the Sabbath, he justified it by claiming unique authority as God’s Son.
The Son can do only what he sees the Father doing (vs 19-20)

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

  • Jesus’ defence basically is that he’s doing what his Father told him to do.
  • Jesus says that he can do only what he sees his Father doing.
    He says that His Father loves him and shows Jesus what He (the Father) is doing.
  • This is how Jesus went about his ministry – in complete dependence on the Father. He taught his disciples to do the same (John 10:4-5, John 10:27, John 15:15-16)
The Son has authority to give life and to judge (vs 21-24)

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

  • The Son acts on the Father’s behalf
  • Anyone who truly honors the Father must also honor the Son
The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God (vs 25-29)

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

  • The Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) is a human figure who appears in the heavenly throne room and is given special authority before God to rule and judge the nations
  • Jesus applied this title to himself (Mark 13:26) when he was on trial before the Chief Priests
  • In this discussion with the Jewish leaders, Jesus claims that he has authority from God to raise the dead, to call them to judgment or give them a free pass (resurrection to life)
To think about

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently experiencing, what difference do the following spiritual truths make, if we truly take hold of them –

  1. What difference does it make to you that Jesus really is the rightful governing authority on earth, and one day will overthrow all earthly kingdoms and reign openly on earth?
  2. What difference does it make to you that we can hear Jesus’ voice just as He heard the Father’s voice (John 10:27), that he loves us just as the Father loves the Son, and shows us His plans, just as the Father does with Him?
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