The Gospel of John Lesson 30 (4-13-2013) John 8:44-59

The Gospel of John Lesson 30 (4-13-2013)

Lesson 30 – John 8:44-59

In pondering v. 44 briefly as we continue our study from last week some interesting truths should be stated as we begin our study this week. This is a powerful section of Scripture when one stops to ponder the implications found here. First this passage, v.44, in conjunction with other passages concerning Satan reminds us that all of the trouble found in God’s creation began with Satan. To be clear about this this would include all strife such as lying, deception, wars, killings and murders, greed, rebellion and so forth also including the big one all ‘death’. If you were to think about it that would mean that prior to Satan’s existence there were none of these things…including death.

Let’s stop to think about that for a moment. Prior to Satan’s existence all was right with God’s creation whatever that was at that time. There was nothing wrong with it at all, not even in the least. Perfection, harmony, and peace did exist in God’s creation at a prior time, but all that changed when Satan appeared on the scene and chose to rebel against God. The Apostle John gives us further revelation concerning this in I John chapter 3 v. 8 where he says ‘the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil’. I bring this up in preparation to Jesus’ statement that we will see in v. 51.

In v. 45 and 46 Jesus reminds them to make a comparison between their actions and His and Who He represents. Again, He was not trying to win a verbal contest here. He said what He said hoping to get a response. The problem was that He did get a response, but it wasn’t the response that He had hoped for. Although we find Jesus’ response to these religious leaders often direct and to the point we also find His response not only controlled, but also appropriate, attempting to encourage them to make steps in the right direction seeking forgiveness.

But, their response to Jesus’ statements was not the same as Jesus’ response to them. They were not looking for the truth in their discussion as Jesus was. In v. 48 we see them respond out of total frustration and jealousy, in essence loosing it, hurling insults in essence attempting to defame Him publically. Remember, they were not looking for the truth they were just looking for a way to do away with Him. But again, we see Jesus’ response and answer to their action in v. 48 being straightforward only restating and proclaiming the truth.

Jesus was never shy or timid about standing up for or rephrasing what was said making it clear as to what the Truth was. Again, this was a public venue. He had come to proclaim the truth and the way to God to those who were looking for the truth and would listen. He was not justifying or proving Himself here. He did not need to prove himself to anyone including man. Jn. 5:34

What the Pharisees were saying was full of deception and deceit. Those listening would end up confused losing their way if Jesus did not straighten them out on the details. In restating the truth in this fashion in the form of a rebuttal Jesus teaches us a lot of foundational truths and doctrinal realities concerning the Kingdom, truths that might not be so easy to convey if He had used another format to teach them to us.

In v. 51 as this debate progresses He brings up another perspective and principle of His Kingdom. He brings this principle up seemingly out of nowhere from a human perspective at first appearing to be totally unrelated to the conversation at hand.

He makes a very bold statement here. He tells them that if they follow His teaching and keep His sayings that they will never die. In saying this we see Him retag with His original statement to them concerning being His disciple at the beginning of this conversation found in v. 31. In doing so He resumes His teaching extolling the benefits of following and practicing His teachings and seeking out His Kingdom. All too often we forget that in His offer to us He was not only offering forgiveness of one’s sins, but with this forgiveness came a prize…life,…life that never ended, Eternal life, in other words, restoring His creation to what it was like before Satan entered the picture.

It was/is like a two sided coin. On the one side was the forgiveness of the pain and penalty of sin. On the other side was the gift of life, life containing no death. Life that does not have any death associated with it is life eternal having no end. Even if we finally understand Jesus’ offer of forgiveness of sin all too often we do not fully understand and receive the benefit that goes with this transaction embracing the full meaning of the word ‘life’ that only He can offer.

In this world connected to and implied with the word life is a component that is not fully life at all. For in the meaning of the word life that we use is wrapped up in it also the implication of it being temporary or not fully or completely alive. In essence the life that we are familiar with shows the signs of life, but in actuality this life that we know gives way to something which appears to be even more powerful than this life ending up in death. So all of life here in our world other than eternal life has associated with it and wrapped up in it the element of death, death being stronger than life and eventually winning out. All life other than eternal life is slowly dying, but dying none the less.

He makes a bold statement here in v. 51 to all who were there that to them is ‘unbelievable’ and does not make sense. Initially we might agree with their logic and lines of reasoning, but Jesus seeing the whole picture views reality from another perspective.

In the next few verses we will see them state their perspective from their limited point of view. There viewpoint is a common one, probably the most common view held by mankind that there is. To them death is the end of this temporary life and it is universal without exception. These here were religious leaders and in reality should have understood this concept concerning life eternal which continues after the grave with God. Eternal life is an inseparable part of God and His creation. But, again there is more to this topic than meets the eye and Jesus knew and understood a few more details that must be included on this subject before one could become an authority on it which is what they claimed to be.

In considering what is discussed here it is imperative that we mention that we do not have a full picture of all that there is concerning ‘reality’. We actually do not know much concerning reality if we were to be real honest with ourselves. Life and death is one of those for us unsolved mysteries that we find when approached with human logic has no definite answer and at best all we can do is to offer an opinion on it not having any real firsthand experience.

What we see of what is really reality is not much and there is a lot that goes on that affects final outcomes and consequences that happens behind the scenes that is virtually imperceptible to us. All too often there is a larger mystery at work that can only be perceived by us by exercising faith in God and His Promises and His ways. In other words, the mystery of death can only be fully understood by believing God.

Jesus makes a promise here in v. 51 that is hard for them to receive and to understand. In the next few verses they will share their puzzlement again from their limited point of view and understanding. Most of us will be able to identify with them.

In John chapter 5:24 we see Jesus make an important statement concerning the topic of life, death and how it relates to us. Again, here in this verse as in others He states the result of believing in Him offering forgiveness and not being condemned, but here associated with this statement He uses a term that is intriguing. He says that those who have been forgiven have passed or crossed over from death to life inferring real life, life that is not bundled up with eventual death.

God never intended death to be any part of life. To God life was just that ‘Life’ and no part of it contained death in any fashion. This goes back to what the Apostle John said at the beginning of his Gospel in chapter 1:4 where he says concerning Jesus ‘In Him was Life and that Life was the Light of men’. His revelation to us in 1:4 does not contain the element of death at all. Not a bit.

This concept was so foreign to those leaders there that day that what Jesus said in v. 51 made no sense at all to them telling Him that what He said is proof positive from their point of view He was not connected with reality actually accusing Him of being possessed. What opinion would we have formed if we had been there on that day? Was it the reality of those there that suffered perspective? What about us? If we were present would we have sided with them and their perspective or Jesus?

My perception is if we were real honest with ourselves we in all likelihood would have at least wondered if Jesus was not going a bit too far with His claim concerning not dying. This death thing is a hard topic to deal with comparing what we see as reality and these spiritual truths concerning God’s reality concerning eternal life.

Jesus will soon show us what He meant in making this statement in v. 51 when we get to John chapter 11 when He calls forth the righteous man Lazarus in chapter 11 from the grave. We will see that from Jesus’ perspective of reality that the cleansing and complete removal of sin can only result in one reality, that is life eternal. A concept that is totally foreign to our sense of reality.

In v. 52 they bring up this thing again about being connected as descendants to Abraham. They say this as if they were super committed followers of Abraham and his teachings when in reality all that they viewed or revered Abraham for was some dead facts of history using their connection to him for their own selfish benefit.

They viewed Abraham as being dead and gone. They even say just that in v. 52 and 53 saying that Abraham died a long time ago and seemingly actually infer that in their reality Abraham is not connected with the present other than his ancestry and some saved historical facts. In v. 53 they go one step further also including the prophets as being dead and gone in essence denying their existence and influence past the grave.

What an awful perspective of religious leaders that were suppose to be preparing the people for life eternal with God. No wonder Jesus was so upset with them. They really did close off heaven to those that He had come to redeem. This was serious.

In v. 56 Jesus takes this eternal life reality to a whole new level telling them essentially that Abraham is not only not dead, but actually was present and saw Jesus arrive on earth rejoicing and participating in the celebration. This was just too much for them. Their logic and His reality in no way connected saying so in v. 57.

In v. 58 He pushes them over the top. He makes the claim that He existed even before Abraham. This was too much. They respond essentially in rage attempting to carry out their original intention of putting Him to death. This was an action that they were unable to carry out death not being in their realm of control.