John 8:37-47

Who is your father?

 

That’s the question Jesus is addressing as He speaks to the Jews. They claim that Abraham is their father, and later that God is their father. But Jesus disputes these claims. On what basis? On the basis of their actions and choices.

 

Abraham? Jesus acknowledged that the Jews were his descendants. But He goes on to say that Abraham is not their father, because Abraham did not try to kill men who brought him truth from God. The Jews, on the contrary, are trying to kill Jesus even though He has brought them the truth from God. If they were Abraham’s children, they would respond to God’s message the way Abraham did. Jesus says that the Jews are doing the things their father does. Who is their father?

 

God? This is the Jews’ next claim. But Jesus says that He came from God, and they would love Him if they were truly God’s children. If they were God’s children, they would comprehend Jesus’ speech because they would speak the same “language”. Jesus is speaking the truth, but they don’t accept it because they do not have the Father of truth, God Himself. So who is their father?

 

Satan? This is what Jesus says. Satan was a man-killer from the beginning, and the Jews want to carry out Satan’s desire by killing Jesus; this proves that they are not Abraham’s children because Abraham did not do such things, and that they are not God’s children because they do not love the One sent from God. Also, Satan is a liar and the father of lies. The fact that the Jews refuse to believe the truth that Jesus speaks proves that they do not speak that language of truth, but the language of lies; therefore, Satan must be their father. They want to do Satan’s will by killing Jesus, and they speak Satan’s language of lies rather than understanding God’s (and Jesus’) language of truth.

 

It’s interesting that they respond with a lie: “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed (verse 48)?” This is what they choose to believe, and provides evidence that Jesus’ testimony about them is true.

 

I remember when Christy did her internship with my parents in Guinea. Her response to having lived with them for a number of weeks was the comment, “Now I understand why you are the way you are.” For better or worse, children do live like their parents. Their thinking is influenced by their parents’ thinking. If you know a person’s father, you will very likely know what to expect from that person himself.

 

Father, thank You for adopting men and women into Your family, freeing them from the family of Satan! Father, may those of us who have been blessed to become a part of Your family learn to live like You. May we love the people and activities You love, and shun what You shun. May we speak the way You speak, offering truth in love. May we not listen to Satan’s lies, to our own lies, or the lies of others – all of them ultimately lead us away from You. And Father, may we be honest enough with ourselves to recognize when we are not following You in word or deed, and to question whether we are actually Your children or not. May we always seek a right relationship with You. Although there are other worthwhile things in this life, none of them is worthwhile apart from You. May our hearts’ desire be to have You as our Father!