JESUS, THE ETERNAL GOD (JOHN 8: 48-59) Jesus is God series-part 2 We want to continue studying the doctrines concerning the person and identity of Jesus Christ by looking at some of the great texts of the Bible revealing who He truly is. This way we want to build up our faith on the foundation of the Scriptures avoid being shaken when the opinions and concepts of this world attack the foundation of our faith. This section of John s gospel that we will look at today declares the climax of Jesus claims to be eternal deity. Jesus already has made numerous absolute claims: For example: He is the Word of God, the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Light of Life, and the True Light. He comes from the Father and not only speaks His truth, He is the truth. His fellow country men s were refusing His claims. John 8:53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?" The opponents of Jesus remain totally unconvinced by His words so they accused Him as we read in the context today: John 8: 48-59 John 8:48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" These accusations show: 1) ethnic prejudice (Samaritan, Nazareth, Galilee, (SAMARITAN- had compromised the purity of their faith and race) and 2) religious pride (prophet from Galilee, demon) The accusation that Jesus has a demon declared that he was (mentally sick, religious psychotic). It also suggested more that - He was controlled by Satan. o How ironic that after He said their father was the devil (8:44) It was a common accusation against Jesus (7:20; 8:52:10:20; Mt. 9:34; 11:18; 12:24ff; Mk. 3:22ff). o Jesus does not even take the time to refute it. In verse 49 Jesus defends the power of God working through Him. John 8:49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Jesus continual practice was to honor His Father with the power God had given Him. The charge of demon-possession was serious (also John 7:20; 8:52; 10:20). Rather than seeing God s work in Jesus, His opponents point to Satan as being behind Jesus. o This charge appears in the Synoptic Gospels as well, Jesus considers that the inability to see God s hand is one thing, to call God s work the work of the devil is unpardonable (unforgivable) (Mt. 9:34; 11:18; 12:24ff; Mk. 3:22ff). In Matt 12, Jesus cast an evil spirit and a blind and mute speaks. They accused him of doing that by the power of Satan. V. 33, 34 Judge the tree by its fruit How can you speak good, being evil? Lighthouse Ministries 4F, 405-406, Leader Commercial Building 54-56 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2721 0107 l www.ligthouseministries.hk
In verse 50, Jesus replies that he doesn t seek his own glory as they accused him John 8:50 I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and he is the Judge. ISV John 8:50 I don't want honor for myself. But there is one who wants me to be honored, and he is also the one who judges. CEV The words that He has just spoken are the perfect revelation of the Word of the Father. And His mission is the one God has entrusted him with. God was the One seeking honor for Jesus. They were judging Him as arrogant, but Jesus entrusted His actions and words to God. Jesus sought not His glory but the Father s. God s judgment will prevail, not theirs. In that Jesus found strength, assurance & contentment. APPLICATION- (This is where we should found our assurance also)- Key for contentement In verse 51 Jesus makes a definitive claim about life and death. John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keeps My Word, he shall never see death. With the formula of truly, truly Jesus emphasizes that His words give life, but it is not magical. If someone is to enter into life, Jesus says that he/she must keep His word. [Keep means to observe, pay attention to, or to fulfill. ] John Calvin states concerning this verse, "Christ promises eternal life to His disciples but demands disciples who will not merely nod their assent like donkeys, or profess with the tongue that they approve His teaching, but who keep [His word] as a precious treasure." [Morris, NIC John, 468] This is so far the greatest claim that Jesus made: Whoever obeys my teachings will never die. Who else in the OT has ever claimed that? The claim of Jesus in which he promises eternal life to those who obey him, sets Him apart from every top name in Judaism, Abraham included. In verse 52 To the Jews, Jesus statement confirms that He is demon possessed. John 8:52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' The Jews misinterpreted Jesus words literally. (Even Abraham and the prophets have died and are still buried. Is Jesus promising that He and His followers will not see death? ) Though they didn t understand His true meaning ( verse 53) indicates they understood the greatness of his claim. John 8:53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?" (Who do you think you are?) They were becomig more & more antagonistic and aggressive with their words. TO THE QUESTION: ARE YOU GREATER THAN? The truth is that definitely Jesus is as far greater than Abraham and the prophets as the light of the Sun is to that of the moon. In verse 54, Jesus gives His defense. John 8:54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. He had not come to proclaim His greatness, BUT HE IS THE GREATEST - it is through Him alone, that eternal life is found. Jesus said that He is not glorifying Himself, but He REALLY EMPHASIZES His relationship with His Father. Jesus eternal God - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 2 of 5
In verse 55 Jesus again attempts to reveal their true condition: John 8:55 You don't know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and keep his word. Though they claim to know God, He is not really their God. This is what the prophets had been telling them down through history. They had proven that they did not relationally know God. They were speaking with One who did know God the Father [INTIMATELY], One who was equal with Him. They wanted Jesus to deny His equality with the Father, but He said that if He did this, He would be a liar. Jesus knows (oida, "to know, understand (by nature and essence, instinct)") the Father, but they did not know (ginsko, "to come to know by experience or observation") Him. Jesus shows that He truly knows God by obeying His Father s words. o APPLICATION [ all who know Him will share in that life. ] THE I AM, 56-59. Jesus will go a step further Since Judaism always refers to their ancestry in Abraham, Jesus in verse 56 refers to Abraham as well, John 8: 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." TNIV When Jesus used the expression Abraham rejoiced to see my day (at the thought of seeing my day) and he saw it and he was glad, he referred to the messianic era that Abraham saw by faith (the fulfillment was Christ) Even Abraham s "rejoicing" at the birth of his son Isaac (Gen. 17:17; 21:6) (Melchisedek, Jehovah, Intercession for Sodomah, the rejection of Ismael and the covenant with Isaac, The Ram provided when Abraham was willing to offer his son ) All these were a foreshadow of the blessing that would come to the world through his lineage. GRACE Many believed that Abraham saw the future history of his descendants in the vision of Gen_15., This joy of Abraham is referred to in Heb_11:13 (saluting, aspasamenoi, the promises from afar). Heb 11:13 These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off (SALUTED). And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (looked for with hope and anticipation) Jesus said that He did look for and welcome the Messianic time, my day He saw it, and was glad JOY FROM BELIEVING (FAITH) In his walking by faith, Abraham was glad of what he saw of God's favour to himself, and glad of what he foresaw of the mercy God for the world. No joy like the joy of faith; There is no better way to experience JOY than knowing Christ as my eternal God, and that His words, His plans will stand, tasting of his grace, etc The Jews USED Jesus words so that they could justify their disbelief in Him. Verse 57, John 8:57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can You say You have seen Abraham? " How can Jesus and Abraham know each other since Jesus is not even fifty years old? the Jews misquote Jesus. He said Abraham saw His day. They said He saw Abraham. o They were going to make Jesus seem wrong no matter what He said. In fact, Jesus, being eternal God, has seen Abraham, in the same way as he sees you today! WOW! Jesus eternal God - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 3 of 5
The climax of the entire chapter arrives in verse 58. John 8:58 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!" The seriousness of this statement is confirmed by: "Truly, truly (20 times in NT) Jesus then affirmed His superiority over the prophets and Abraham. Abraham came into being; but when he was born, Jesus was already existing. APPLICATION - What a comforting thought for all of us! My future is secure, my ministry has a lasting (continuing) impact. Jesus continues to be ETERNAL GOD in the life of my children, next generation I AM is a title of Deity (Ex. 3:14; Isa. 41:4; 43:11-13; John 8:28) declaring pre-existence "I AM" [possesses no object (as in "I am the bread of life," 6:35) and so] stands alone, no doubt echoing the Greek translation of God s divine name given in Exodus 3:14. To exist before the birth of Abraham and yet to stand here today is the boldest claim Jesus has yet made. His existence has been continuous since His life is completely drawn from God s eternal life. [The Bible Knowledge Commentary.] Jesus, because of His equality with God (5:18; 20:28; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9), existed from all eternity (John 1:1). It recalls John 1:1-3 that the Word existed even at the beginning of time. In verse 59, we see how the crowd interpreted His words, John 8:59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple. They interpreted his words as a divine claim; this is clearly seen by their reaction. It is not the first time that the Jews react to Jesus claim understanding that He is saying that He is One with the Father (God) and they trying to kill Jesus (making Himself equal with God) John 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. (Bethesda) 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. CONCLUSION Jesus clear affirmation of His deity should cause a crisis. (leading to believe Him and receive eternal life or reject Him and remain under condemnation) The confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees in John7-8 was fierce and intense. The words of his accusers grew harsher with each exchange. Our Lord was bold straightforward. He spoke the truth fearlessly even if that made his opponents furious. He offered them eternal life, they engineered his execution. Throughout the heated arguments Jesus was laying out the truths, of who He was and what He came to do, and what His relation was to the Father. He set forth the central idea of His ministry: "If a man keeps My word, he shall never see death." He was, showing them & us what how to receive the gift of eternal life. Then rejoice in His offer of eternal life to all who will accept the gift. John 10:30 I and My Father are one." I have authority to speak in the Name of the Father; I have the mandate to act in His Name; If anyone rejects me, he rejects the Father Jesus eternal God - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 4 of 5
We have learned about His eternal nature. He is superior to any great figure of the OT (greater than Moses, Abraham, Melchisedek, even the angels, etrc ) He has life in Himself He has the power to raise the dead. He is the One who will judge all people He forgives Sin- an attribute that only God has He returned to his former glory, the glory he had before anything created existed He sent another comforter of the same kind (nature & essence) Omnipotent I have all power and all authority Omniscience - Joh 16:30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God." Omnipresent - Behold, I am with you always even to the end of the age Immutable JC is the same yesterday, today and forever My response I can build my life upon his teaching (Because of who He is _ I know Him. I can entrust my future into his hands (My children) He is available, accessible and willing- I can have a relationship with Him today I can trust Him for what concerns my eternal future (after I die, what?) If He is the eternal God who gives life (mission) He deserves my allegiance, my obedience, my adoration He deserves it- He alone is worthy Jesus eternal God - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 5 of 5