January 3, 2010
Evening Service

St.Jn. 8:33-59

 

Review:

1.       This morning we saw that Jesus is the light of the world.  Those who choose to follow Him, and keep His words will walk in a pleasing manner to God, and will be called His disciples.

2.      On the opposite side of that coin, if one chooses not to follow Christ, he will follow the ways of the world, and walk in darkness.  Either way we make a choice.

3.      Jesus also told us this morning that if we abide in His word we are His disciples indeed.

4.      And again, we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.

 

Let’s continue our study as we look at the remainder of this chapter.

 

Joh 8:33-59  They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  (34)  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  (35)  And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever.  (36)  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

• I was thinking this morning as Leota sang that song;  Paul and Silas in prison.

 

Now we see a very harsh discourse.

(37)  I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.  (38)  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.  (39)  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  (40)  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 

• Hopefully we can see the importance of our actions.  We are not to judge people, but we are to be fruit inspectors. 
• People who seek to hurt other people are not of God.  They are of the spirit of satan.
• Jesus is saying if Abraham was here he would accept what I am saying.  So would his children.  For example:  those 3000 that were baptized on the day of Pentecost, they were the children of Abraham.  All those who received Him were of Abraham.

 

Then Jesus tells them:

(41)  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.  (42)  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  (43)  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  (44)  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

• Now a fit description of satan:

He was a murderer from the beginning, ( the spirit that was in Cain ) and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

• Murderer:  1Jo 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

 

• Jesus taught us of other ways to murder, or kill someone:  Mat 5:21-22  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  (22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
• And abode not in the truth:  WE SPEAK THE WORDS OF TRUTH HERE, SO THIS APPLIES TO SOME THAT HAVE LEFT US.

1Jo 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

• What was it that caused people to leave our fellowship? 
• They are allowing satan to take them captive at his will. 

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

• They may use many different excuses, but it boils down to allowing satan to deceive them, and lead them astray.
• About being a liar:  Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

 

Notice what Jesus says concerning hearing His words:

(45)  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.  (46)  Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?  (47)  He that is of God heareth God's words:

• You see all those Jews that have accepted Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, are of God.  The others are not.

ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 

• There it is.

(48)  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 

• You no doubt have often wondered what it means to blaspheme the Holy Ghost, well this is it.  They are basically saying that all His good works come from the devil, and they truly come from the Holy Ghost.
• Listen to Matthew:  Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Mat 12:25-32  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:  (26)  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  (27)  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.  (28)  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.  (29)  Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house.  (30)  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.  (31)  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  (32)  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

 

So then Jesus answers them;

(49)  Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me.  (50)  And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.  (51)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.  (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.  (53)  Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

·         They are about to find out.  If only they would quit fighting it, and just receive it.

 

(54)  Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me;

·         By the works, and His very manner of life.

of whom ye say, that he is your God:  (55)  Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.  (56)  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 

This is what Jesus meant:

He saw it - See Heb_11:13; “These all died in faith, not having received (obtained the fulfillment of) the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,” etc. Though Abraham was not permitted to live to see the times of the Messiah, yet he was permitted to have a prophetic view of him, and also of the design of his coming; for,

If they would have only listened Jesus would have explained to them;

That Abraham was permitted to have a view of the death of the Messiah as a sacrifice for sin, represented by the command to offer Isaac, Gen_22:1-13. Compare Heb_11:19. The death of the Messiah as a sacrifice for the sins of men was that which characterized his work - which distinguished his times and his advent, and this was represented to Abraham clearly by the command to offer his son.

(57)  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  (58)  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.  (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.

 

REMEMBER WHAT HE TOLD MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH?  TELL THEM THAT I AM THAT I AM, HAS SENT ME.

 

THAT LITTLE BABY IN THE MANGER WAS THE GREAT IAM.  HE HAS SO MANY WONDERFUL NAMES OF POWER, AND AUTHORITY, BUT WE KNOW HIM MAINLY AS JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.