John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Galilee – the common people
Jewry – the religious leaders
Again, we have an indication of chronological flow in the narrative. Jesus traveled around the Galilee and avoided going back to Judea because some of the Jewish leaders there were ready to kill Him.
McGee: “It seems that the events of chapter 6 transpired about one year before the cross in April; the events in chapter 7 occur about six months later, in October. Matthew 15-18 and Mark 7-9 and Luke 9 relate incidents which transpired during this period.”
John 7:2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
John 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
John 7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
The time for the Feast of Tabernacles was drawing near. (This feast is in the autumn, around October, 5 days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.) His brothers urged Him to go to Judea and perform miracles for His followers.
They were using their own logic. If a man can do these kinds of things, he should show the world and capitalize on it; he shouldn’t hide himself. Then we are told that Jesus’ own brothers didn’t believe in Him. I wonder where they thought His power came from if they didn’t believe He was the Son of God. It seems like they just wanted to be a part of the spotlight of His reflected glory from the miracles He performed.
John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
John 7:9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
John 7:10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
John 7:11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
John 7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
John 7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
Jesus told His brothers that the timing was not yet right. Too many people hated Him because He was exposing their evil hearts and deeds with His testimony. His life was in possible jeopardy, and it was not yet the foreordained time for Him to lose His life.
“your time is always ready” – I think He is saying that they are not saying and doing things that affect their coming and going. They are not the ones pointing out sin in peoples’ lives—He is.
So Jesus sent His brothers to the feast without Him. After His brothers left, He went to the feast also—in secret. The Jews were looking for Him and asking people where He was. Many people were talking about Him and many were defending Him as a “good man.” Others felt He was a deceiver. No one spoke out about Him publicly for fear of the Jewish leaders.
John 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
John 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
John 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
About halfway through the feast Jesus went to the temple courts and began to teach. The Jews were amazed at His knowledge, especially since they knew He had not been educated in their schools. Jesus then told them that He was teaching what He had been taught by the One who had sent Him. Those who choose to obey God will find out if He is telling the truth or just speaking as a man. A man who speaks on his own behalf does it to gain honor for himself. One who speaks and works for the honor of the one who sends him has no reason to lie; he has no selfish motive. Then Jesus pointed out that Moses gave them the law, and not one of them had kept the law. So He wanted to know why they were trying to kill Him for the things He did that they thought broke the law. The Jews, the spiritual leaders, basically said, “You’re crazy; no one’s trying to kill you.”
I just noticed that they didn’t deny that they did not keep the law. Instead of focusing on that truth, they chose to defend their intentions by slandering the One who declared that truth. That type of response is still employed today. Those who declare the truth of God’s word are often slandered by those who refuse to accept that truth.
John 7:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
John 7:22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
John 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Jesus then hit the issue that had caused Him to leave Jerusalem the first time—the healing of the man on the Sabbath. According to the law of Moses, every male was to be circumcised on the 8th day, even if it fell on the Sabbath. If it is OK to circumcise a child, what is wrong with His healing a man on the Sabbath. Then He told them—Stop making judgments by appearances; make judgments that are based on what is righteous. See with your heart, not with your eyes. See with God’s eyes, not your own.
I have a really bad habit of trying to put myself in stories of the Bible and thinking I would surely have been much smarter in my actions and reactions. It’s beyond my comprehension to think that someone would get angry at the healing of any person. Then I stop and think of some of my own reactions in life. (Being behind the wheel of a car brings out some of the worst.) I often react to what “appears” to be happening without taking time to realize that I don’t know what is happening in the life of the person to whom I’m reacting. People deserve more of our love and understanding, especially if we claim the name of Christ.
John 7:25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
John 7:27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
Some of the people started realizing that this was the man that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill. They saw that He was speaking in public and no harm was coming to Him. They began to conclude that the authorities must have decided that He was the Christ. They couldn’t accept this as truth since they knew where Jesus was from. They had learned that when the Christ came, no one would know where He came from. (I thought they expected Him to come from Bethlehem. Cf verse 42.) Again, their response is based on their expectations.
John 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
Jesus was still teaching in the temple courts. He called out in answer to their thoughts and murmurings. “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from (Nazareth).” He also told them that He was not here on His own, but because of the One who sent Him—someone they obviously didn’t know. Whether they recognized who sent Him or not, He knew who had sent Him. Not only that, He was “from” him. The Greek for the word “from” is para which means “from beside or by the side of.” Again, I think they recognized that He was claiming to be the Son of God. Because of that claim, the Jewish leaders tried to seize Him; but no one actually laid a hand on Him because it was not yet the right time. The many references to it not being the right time emphasize that God is in control of every detail regarding His plan of redemption for man.
This is also a beautiful example of how the Lord will intercede supernaturally if necessary to ensure that His purposes are carried out. No child of God needs fear harm from any man. The Lord will only allow what is meant for good in the life of a believer, one who loves and trusts Him.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
John 7:31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
Many of the people in the crowd believed in Him because they didn’t see how anyone could do more miraculous signs than this man—so He must be the Christ!
You can’t really fault their logic. It is our nature to make decisions on the facts as we see them. We base our faith on a written record and the testimony of those who knew Him along with the enlightening of the Holy Spirit—which I think gives us an edge. They didn’t yet have the Spirit to help them. They were looking at a man that many of them had known as a child; they knew His family. Even with all the prophecy from the Old Testament, maybe many people had a hard time making the connection with the facts that would reveal Jesus as the Messiah. We tend to get preconceived ideas about how we think things should happen, which might make it harder to recognize the real thing when it does happen. I guess that is one of the things that makes me a little nervous when I think about the second coming. I know how I expect things to happen, but I also know that a lot of learned men differ; so it might be a bit different than I expect. You can’t really worry because you know God will protect His children, but the verses that talk about Satan “deceiving the very elect if it were possible” can give one pause. I guess I’m just saying that it must have been hard for the Lord to present Himself with continual love and patience, and it must have been hard to believe that a man they knew could be the Messiah they had expected for hundreds of years—even if He could do miracles—because many of the prophets of the past had done miracles through God’s enablement. It’s like, I feel the time is really imminent for Christ’s return; but it is hard to believe that it will really happen in my lifetime, even though the signs seem clear and unmistakable.
John 7:32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
The Pharisees heard what the people were saying to one another, so the chief priests and Pharisees sent the temple guards to arrest Him. This man was jeopardizing their position of power.
John 7:33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
John 7:34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
John 7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
John 7:36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
Jesus continued speaking. He told them that He would be with them for just a short time before returning to “Him that sent me.” Even though they might look for Him, they would not be able to find Him because where He was going they could not go. The Jewish leaders didn’t understand Him. They figured He must mean He was going somewhere far away—like to the Jewish people who were living outside Israel and to teach the Gentiles. They just weren’t sure what else He could mean by saying they wouldn’t be able to find Him and wouldn’t be able to follow Him.
I just realized that they weren’t that far off in one regard. Jesus was soon going to begin a ministry to the Gentiles through His disciples.
John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
On the last day of the feast Jesus boldly gave the invitation for anyone who was thirsty to come to Him to get his thirst quenched. Everyone, each individual, who believed in Him would be blessed to have “rivers of living water” flow from within Him. John then makes sure that we understand that Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed Him would receive. This would happen after Jesus had received His glorified body and returned to heaven to take His place at the right hand of the Father. Jesus also emphasized that this would be a fulfillment of the scriptures.
Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
This description of “living water” directly connects to the message Jesus told the Samaritan woman (4:13-14).
“if any man…” – This is the second time the Lord has used that phrase in this chapter. The Lord never excluded anyone from benefitting from His message. It’s a phrase that also implies choice. As J. Vernon McGee explains it, “If you are thirsty, you are welcome; if you’re not thirsty, you’re free to reject the offer of provision.”
John 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
John 7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
The people knew enough to realize that He must either be a great prophet or the Christ. But they knew the Christ would come from King David’s family and from Bethlehem; and they knew that Jesus was from Galilee. (Cf verse 27) So the people were divided into different groups because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize Him, but no one touched Him.
John 7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
John 7:47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
John 7:48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
John 7:49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
When the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees without Jesus, they were asked why they had not brought Him in. The guards admitted that they had never heard anyone speak like Jesus. The Pharisees were arrogant. Had they really chosen to believe Jesus—they who did not know the law as well as the Pharisees—when the Pharisees did not believe Him? Then they basically stated their contempt for the officers who were ignorant of the law. This is often the response of those who choose to reject Jesus—arrogance and disdain towards those who choose to believe Him.
John 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
John 7:51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
John 7:52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
John 7:53 And every man went unto his own house.
Nicodemus, who had met with Jesus in secret, was part of this group. He posed a question. “Does our law judge a man before hearing him testify about his actions.” They chided him in answer. Was he from Galilee too? Didn’t he know that a prophet would never come from Galilee? Then everyone went home.
Pastor Bob: Jonah came from Galilee. 2Kings 14:25 “He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.” Gathhepher was a town of lower Galilee about 5 miles from Nazareth.
We all get blinded by our preconceived ideas of how or what we think things should be. Christians especially need to guard against making judgments based on appearance or on how things “have always been.” For many years I let the term “charismatic” scare me into not even wanting to expose myself to the possibility that there might be good teaching and spiritual truth from anyone or any group that was tagged with that label. We should constantly determine to use the scripture as our measuring stick of what is good and bad—truth or lie—and remember to use the whole Bible and not just isolated portions of it as the basis of all our judgments. We are so conditioned in our society to look at the outward appearance instead of looking at the true beauty of the inner person. You can never know that truth until you are willing to get past the outward appearance and really get to know people for who they are.
John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn He went back to the temple court. A lot of people gathered around Him, and He started to teach them.
John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
John 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Those who copied the scriptures and taught the law brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in front of the group. Then they challenged Jesus. In the law, Moses commanded that a woman caught in adultery was to be stoned. They wanted to know what Jesus would do to this woman. (Leviticus 20:10 indicates that both the adulterer and adulteress were to be put to death. Where was the man? If she was “taken…in the act,” the man had to have been there also.)
McGee: “When one turns the light, all the rats, the bats, and the bedbugs crawl away. Light exposes sin, which is the reason the scribes and the Pharisees had to leave.”
John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with His finger. They continued to question Him, so He stood up and said, “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He stooped to write on the ground again. One by one, the people began to leave; their consciences were convicting them. Probably first and foremost from not bringing the man she was with. (I’ve often heard it surmised that Jesus was writing the names and sins of those who accused her. I think McGee is probably right; He was probably writing the Ten Commandments.) The older people left first. Soon it was just Jesus and the woman left. Jesus stood up and asked the woman if anyone had condemned her; she said no. Jesus told her He didn’t condemn her either; He also told her to go and leave her life of sin.
Frankly, I’m surprised that these Pharisees didn’t act on the law for which they prided themselves on being the experts. Jesus really threw them off guard by turning the focus onto action based on an assessment of their own lives rather than acting simply on the letter of the law. Since God was the originator of the law, you would think Jesus’ first priority would be enforcing it. He was more concerned with focusing on the intent of the law. My understanding is that the law was established to provide a basis for right and wrong and to help man see his inability to be a “good” person without God’s provision. It also provided guidelines for safety as well as motivation to live righteously by establishing consequences for wrongdoing. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He wanted to speak to the hearts of the people. Sin is sin. By examining their own lives, He knew that they would realize they were no better than the adulterous woman. I would sure like to know the untold story of how this experience affected the accused woman.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The next time Jesus spoke, He claimed to be the “light of the world” and that anyone who followed Him would never walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Jesus is not referring to day and night here, but to the light of His presence in one’s life or being without Him in darkness; whichever your choice, it is for eternity.
Thought-provoking from George Salstrand:
Some light rays have penetrating power—i.e., x-rays.
Light purifies—i.e., hanging clothes in the sun.
Light dispels darkness.
Light heals.
McGee: “The Lord Jesus came to this earth not only to redeem man but also to reveal God to man. Jesus greatly expands our understanding by using the commonplace things like bread, light, and water to symbolize Himself. He uses the ordinary to speak of the extraordinary, the physical to speak of the spiritual, the temporal to speak of the eternal, the here-and-now to speak of the hereafter, the earthly to speak of the heavenly, the limited to speak of the unlimited, and the finite to speak of the infinite.”
John 8:13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
John 8:14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
John 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
John 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
The Pharisees didn’t seem to question Him on the meaning of His words, but the validity of His words. Depending on only His own testimony concerning who He is and what He provides would not be valid in court. (cf John 5:31-38) Jesus basically said His testimony was valid because it was based on His knowledge of His origin and His purpose—something of which they had no knowledge. His knowledge was unlimited; theirs was limited.
The judgment of the Pharisees was purely from an earthly perspective, as men. Jesus was not condemning any man at this time—but if He chose to, His judgment would be what was right. His judgment would have the confirmation of His Father who had sent Him. Even the law of the Pharisees required only the testimony of two men for validity. Jesus declared He had two witnesses—Himself and the Father who sent Him.
John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
So the Pharisees wanted to know where His Father was. Jesus answered that because they did not believe Him, they could not really know Him or His Father. Then John tells us that all this was taking place in an area of the temple where the offerings were made. Still, no one seized Jesus because the time was not yet right.
Several times we read this phrase that His hour or time was not yet come or not right. I think there is an important principle here. Until the child of God has fulfilled the purpose for which God created him/her, nothing can happen to that person that will prevent that purpose from being fulfilled.
John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
Then Jesus told them that He would be going away to a place that they could not follow. They would physically look for Him in vain, and they would physically and spiritually die in their sins. This made the Jews think He was going to take His own life when He said that they could not follow Him. They assumed they could follow Him anywhere He went except to the grave.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Jesus went on to say that He was from above (heaven) and that they were from below (earth). Although He chose to become a man, a little lower than the angels, Jesus, as God, just IS—no beginning and no end. He existed long before He created the world.
He told them that they would die in their sins if they did not believe in Him as the Messiah.
John 8:25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
John 8:27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
Then they pointedly asked Him who He was. He basically said—If you had been listening, you would know. I am who I have claimed to be all along. He would have much to say in judgment of the Jews (and humanity) when He comes as the Judge. The One who sent Him was true and dependable, and He was only telling the world what the One who sent Him, the Father, wanted Him to speak at this time. They didn’t understand that He was talking about God the Father (which means they must have not been listening all along because He has identified the Father as the One who sent Him many times).
John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Then Jesus said that when they lifted up (crucified) the Son of Man (Him), they would realize that He was just who He claimed to be and that He was doing the things and teaching them the things that the Father had taught Him. His Father sent Him and “is” (present tense, continually) with Him. How? Through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus always does what pleases the Father. Then John tells us that many put their faith in Him at that time.
It stood out to me as I read this chapter through again that Jesus declared Himself to be the “I AM” in verses 24 and 28. (The he is in italics and has been added for clarification.) This immediately connects with God’s declaration to Moses at the burning bush.
Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
I’m sure they did not realize that He was talking about His crucifixion when He talked about being lifted up. I know we are not being told anywhere near everything the Lord taught. As an ordinary human being, I know it would have been hard for me to pick up all that He was saying at specific times as related in the scripture. Jesus lived among these people and knew how to talk to them based on their culture, their religious training and their language. One of the toughest ideas to ponder is that Jesus is part of a triune God yet a distinct person. When He came to earth as a baby, He came to be the perfect sacrifice for man’s sin; this required Him to live a “life without blemish.” (Only what was perfect was accepted for sacrifice.) That life of perfection would mean nothing if lived through divine power. My simple logic tells me that He lived His human life in the “power of the Spirit,” just as we have the ability to do now. It is just that He knew how to utilize that power to the max. I think an excerpt from my journal on Philippians applies here.
Philippians 2:7-8 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: nd being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
“made himself of no reputation” and “He humbled Himself” – These phrases emphasize that Jesus came willingly in obedience to the Father to provide the sacrifice needed to redeem man. He affirmed that truth to His disciples during His time of ministry as told us by the Apostle John in one of my favorite chapters in scripture.
John 10:17-18 “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
The Greek for no reputation emphasizes the truth that He emptied Himself; He lived in the flesh as a man; He lived in dependence upon the Spirit—just as we are supposed to. He didn’t cease being God; He just chose to live with the limitations of a man, albeit a sinless man indwelt by the Spirit—just as Adam was created and intended to live. (I know I am repeating myself, but I think this truth is very important.) I think this truth is the basis for Paul’s statement in chapter 15 of 1Corinthians.
1Corinthians 15:20-22 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
[end excerpt]
Jesus wasn’t hindered by a sin nature; He had never experienced broken fellowship with His Father. When it came time for His earthly “ministry,” He was blessed with the power of miracles as part of the “proof” that He was who He claimed to be (as were the prophets of old). I also think He came by choice to provide the sacrifice necessary to offer me eternal life, but He could also have chosen at any point to not complete that action. (But again, as the Son of God, we know He would never have chosen to disobey His Father.) It is just beyond my real comprehension to understand an entity that is wholly human and wholly Divine.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus continued talking to the Jews who believed in Him. He told them that if they practiced what He taught, it would prove they were really His disciples. In reading this section again I thought of the proof text in 1John that declares continuance in the faith is evidence of true salvation and departure from the faith is evidence of profession but not possession.
1 John 2:18–19 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 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.”
In verse 32 I think He is referring to Himself as the truth that sets one free from sin. In their understanding, being set free implied that they were now slaves; and they told Him that as Abraham’s descendants, they had never been slaves. So, how could they be set free? Paul discusses this subject at length in his letter to the Romans. (See journal on Romans 6-7.)
Notes from George Salstrand re verse 32:
“know” = ginosko – knowledge gained from experience
“truth” = alaitheos – revealed reality
“free” = eleutheros – absence from restraint
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Again the use of “verily, verily.” Then Jesus explained that everyone who sins (as a way of life) is a slave to sin. A slave’s position in a family is not permanent, but a son’s is. The son is in the position of heir; this gives the Son the ability to grant freedom—in context, freedom from the chains of sin. Through Christ we can be victorious over the flesh and the sin nature. He will always give us a way of escape.
1Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Jesus knew they were Abraham’s physical descendants. He also knew that many wanted to kill Him because of His message. Then He confirmed again that He was only telling them what He had seen in the Father’s presence (a place from which He had seen everything). I think He probably used that term because as humans we tend to “believe what we see.” Then He explained that they were doing what they saw their fathers do; children imitate their parents. What an important truth for all fathers and parents to realize.
Though His audience probably made connection with reference to their human father, Jesus was referencing Satan as used in verse 44 below.
McGee: “Jesus did not teach the universal Fatherhood of God because He was saying to these religious rulers that they were children of the Devil….My friend, if you are going to stand for the truth today, then you will denounce the evil just as our Lord did."
John 8:39 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.
John 8:40 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.
The people really resented this statement. They felt He was saying that Abraham was not their true father. Jesus explained that if they were really Abraham’s children, they would do the works of Abraham (who obeyed God in faith). Instead, they were responding with violent intent to the truth that He, the man Jesus, had heard directly from God and spoken to them; they were seeking to kill Him. Abraham did not respond to God this way. Verse 40 gives a clear declaration of Jesus as “a man.”
Pastor Doug, “Just because you say God is your Father doesn’t mean it’s true.
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
John 8:42 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.
Jesus continued to emphasize that their deeds were what they had learned from their father (implying again that it was not Abraham). So the people responded that they were not illegitimate sons, they had the same Father as Abraham--God. Jesus patiently continues to explain that if God were their father, they would love Him (Jesus) since He came from God because He was being obedient to His Father.
Jesus makes this statement several times. We tend to concentrate on the fact that Jesus came willingly and obediently to provide our salvation. The fact that He didn’t originate the idea, the Father did, makes one think. There goes that limited understanding again. This “three in one” is really difficult. Still it would be normal for the Father (in human terms) to make the hardest, wisest decisions. It is also normal for the child/son to need guidance—especially when the son knows that obedience is going to bring pain and hurt—and separation from the Father He loves, if even for a short time on the grand scale. Jesus at all times is clear on His distinct person in comparison to the Father. I don’t think we will ever get a grasp on this truth until we get to heaven.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, 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.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Jesus’ patience appears to be tried. He wants to know why they don’t understand Him. Then He answers His own question; it is because they don’t really hear Him. The reason they are not really hearing Him is because they are the devil’s children. The devil hasn’t changed since the beginning of this world. He was a murderer and a liar then, and he has not changed; he is the “father of lies,” the first liar. There is no truth in him. Jesus was telling them the truth, but they didn’t believe Him.
Satan is the master deceiver, and our sin nature is so strong that the truth has a hard time getting through our thick skulls and hard hearts.
John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Then Jesus challenges them. “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If not, why won’t you believe me?” Again He answers His own question. The reason they don’t believe Him is because they don’t belong to God. One who belongs to God hears Him. (A child will listen to and believe his father.)
John 8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
So the Jews came back at Him and called Him a demon-possessed Samaritan. (The Jews hated the Samaritans.)
John 8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Jesus, of course, explained that He was not demon-possessed. He was obeying and honoring His Father. He was seeking glory for His Father and not for Himself. Again Jesus emphasizes the truth of His answer with “verily, verily.” Then He tells them that anyone who keeps His word (follows Him in belief and obedience) will never see death (spiritual death).
John 8:52 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.
John 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
The Jews were very agitated in response to Jesus. They just knew He was demon-possessed after a statement like that. Abraham and the prophets had died; did He think He was greater than Abraham? Who did He think He was? They could not distinguish between physical death and spiritual death.
It seems quite obvious that they hadn’t heard Him yet; He had identified Himself as the Son of God numerous times. I guess we should not wonder at their stupidity too much. Think how many times we keep on making the same mistakes, the same wrong choices, etc.
John 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
John 8:55 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.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus told them again—“It is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that He is your God.” You can’t get much clearer than that. God is the one glorifying Him, and God is His Father—the God that you call your God. If Jesus denied His Father, it would make Him a liar—just like the Jews. He was not going to lie; He was going to obey His Father. Abraham rejoiced in the thought of seeing the Messiah come. The next phrase seems to indicate that Abraham was aware that He had come and was glad. (This implied that He had seen Abraham if He knew of His response to His coming.)
Then the Jews, again with natural human logic, think they’ve got Him. They point out that He is not yet 50 years old, and yet He claims to have seen Abraham.
Jesus affirms His teaching that Abraham is not “dead” spiritually in the book of Mark.
Mark 12:26-27 “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:59 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.
Again the emphasis on the truth of what He is about to say, “verily, verily.” Jesus promptly replies that before Abraham was, I AM. This was very recognizable as the name of Jehovah God. The Jews had had enough. They picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself and slipped away from the temple grounds, walking right through the crowd.
I think this speaks again to the danger of allowing ourselves to get hardened to the revelation of new truth from scripture or even the clarification or expansion of knowledge regarding biblical truth. They were so ingrained first of all with a perception of the Messiah coming as King that it blinded them to seeing all the other facts that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah that would suffer for their sins. It made it very difficult to believe Him.
Maybe they didn’t think of the Messiah as “God in flesh.” (cf note at 6:41-43) That would have blinded them regarding His statements claiming deity. I don’t know what they believed about the Trinity; I just know it is hard enough for me with all the scripture for reference. Just think—this was a man on earth claiming to be the Son of God and equal with God. I’m convinced the best blessings are reserved for those who are open to continual revelation from the Lord through His word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. No person on earth can KNOW it all. There are some things God won’t completely reveal until the time is right. The more we stay in His word, the more times we will find ourselves saying—“I never saw that before” or “Now I understand what that means.”