John 8:42-47 - Lesson #91

The Jews were claiming to be children of Abraham and therefore secure in their position as children of God. Jesus responded by basically saying that children act like their father; "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham" (John 8:39). Jesus made it clear that being a physical descendant of Abraham did not make one a child of God. But if God was not the Father of these Jews...who was?

John 8:42-47
"Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.'"

The first indication that someone has God as their Father is their love for Jesus Christ, His Son. There is a certain Family bond among children of God, and that bond must begin with a love for the One who came from God. But these Jews did not love Jesus; in fact, they could not understand or even listen to what He was saying. Jesus introduced the concept that those who are in the Family can hear what the Family is saying; "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37).

We tend to not consider the fact that there are only two options for an eternal father. We are either a child of God or a child of the devil. Making such clear and opposite designations is not a popular way to teach today. We need to be concerned about things like self esteem; and telling someone they are a child of the devil might hurt their feelings. But perhaps Jesus was more concerned with sharing a truth which could provide a feeling of worth and esteem for all eternity.

Satan is presented as the spiritual negative of Christ. Jesus came to give life, Satan came to murder; "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus came as absolute truth; "Nor was any deceit found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). But Satan is the father of lies and has spoken lies from the very beginning: "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God'" (Genesis 3:4-5).

The lies of the devil are still with us today, but Jesus spoke the truth! And those who are children of God hear His words and believe; "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1). Who is our eternal father? Have we taken the time to listen to His words? Let's intently listen, and never stop listening, as we live each day as a true child of God.