John 8:42 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 what I’m saying? Because you can’t hear my word.”
Jesus tells the Pharisees that if God really was their father, instead of insulting him and plotting to kill him, they would love him because [he] came out and [has] come from the father…he sent me.
Jesus then asks a rhetorical question, “Why don’t you understand what I’m saying?” Not waiting for an answer, Jesus explains,
John 8:44 You belong to 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.”
Their physical lineage is of Abraham but because they want to reject and silence Jesus their spiritual lineage is of the devil. Going back to the Garden of Eden the Bible teaches that the devil is the father of lies. He lied to Eve deceiving her, introducing sin and death into God’s perfect creation. And just like the devil tried to foil God’s plan of redemption of mankind by having Herod murder the infant Jesus, the Pharisees are trying to murder their Redeemer sent from God.
John 8:48 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.”
Christ just made an amazing offer to the Pharisees. If they would take the time to examine his teachings, finding out that he was speaking the truth of God, finding out that he was the Messiah foretold by all of the prophets, they [would] never see death.
If someone offered you the assurance of eternal life and validated those claims with amazing, impossible to explain away miracles, don’t you think that you would want to at least examine his claims?
Rather than consider Jesus’ words, the Pharisees again attack his character by trying to insult him. Twice, they had previously called him a bastard child of unknown parentage, but those insults had not affected Jesus at all. Now they upped their game by calling him a dirty, half-breed, demon-possessed, Samaritan.
Jesus was giving the teachers clear evidence backing up his claims. When they were unable to refute his claims they started accusing Jesus of being demon possessed. “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?
It is sad but true that many times in a discussion or debate, when the folks you are talking to can’t answer your questions or counter your challenges, they frequently resort to personal attacks, accusing you of the very things that they themselves are doing. Projecting their own guilt onto their adversaries is a common tactic.
What did Jesus say about the Jewish leaders that reject the Messiah?
They don’t really belong to God, instead they do the will of their true father. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.”
John 8:52 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?”
The Pharisees are confused. Their greatest ancestors, Abraham and all of the prophets, died, and yet Jesus is insinuating that he is greater than Abraham. To clarify they ask him the most significant and important question that anyone can ask of Jesus:
Who do you make yourself out to be?
If someone were to ask you who Jesus is, are you prepared to give an answer?
In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
John 8:54 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. Exodus 3:14”
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
What does Jesus say about the Jewish leaders that reject the Messiah?
The Jewish leaders claimed to know God and to speak for God. However, Jesus confronts them with a devastating statement, “You have not known [God].” If they had understood the Scriptures, they would have known God and rejoiced with their ancestor Abraham and welcomed the Messiah, the long-promised Savior of the world.
In answering their question, “Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus could have easily said, “Before Abraham came into existence I …” already existed.” But instead, he made a point of calling himself God, saying “I Am” the very words God used when identifying himself to Moses. Exodus 3:14 Hearing such blasphemy – Jesus claiming to be one with God the Father – the Pharisees could take it no more. They picked up stones to kill him, the penalty for blasphemy. Leviticus 24:10-23
Again, although this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees took place two thousand years ago, it is the same discussion that Christians frequently find themselves in today. Have you ever been in a discussion where you are, like the Apostle John, building a logical, airtight argument for Christ being God incarnate, the one and only way to God, and rather than speaking to your points, the other person begins to personally attack you? Ad Hominem, or personal attacks and even acts of violence, are often used as a last, desperate defense.
The Pharisees, the keepers of God’s Word should have understood Jesus, but they could not answer Jesus claims, so they resorted to attacking his parentage, calling him an unclean Samaritan, accusing him of being demon possessed, and finally picking up stones to kill him. Jesus was correct in telling them that they hated God and the truth of God. They preferred to follow the lies of their spiritual father, the devil.
Similarly, when you are, without apology, speaking the truth about Christ, those who follow the lies of the devil, the lies of other gods, and the lies of other religions, will become very angry. Today we are lectured by those bowing down to the false god of tolerance. They insist that we must accept the fact that there are many names for god and many ways to god. There are many paths to the top of the mountain.
A saffron-robed Hare Krishna once engaged me in conversation in a restaurant. Uninvited, he sat at my table and explained that if I wanted true peace and enlightenment, I should follow him. He would guide me in worshiping Krishna. As I explained to him that I had found peace, enlightenment, and eternal life by following the True Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, his pleasant and inviting demeanor radically changed. He stood up and began belittling and yelling at me. As he prepared to storm off, I calmly explained that to him that when Krishna failed him, as surely all false gods must do, I hoped that he would remember what I had told him about Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
To tell a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or even an atheist that Jesus is the only way to God the Father, is to invite the same types of attacks that Jesus experienced. And certainly to boldly speak the truth that “[Jesus] is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Jesus]”, John 14:6, could earn you death threats and violence from those who are unable to rationally defend their false claims; the same penalty that Jesus faced for speaking the truth.