JOHN - Chapter 8: 49-59 - The Seed of Abraham - continued
THE SEED OF ABRAHAM – Continued
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
April 25, 2017, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Last week in Chapter 8, we learned that Jesus Christ, the Heir of all things, is the Seed of Abraham. The one “whose right it is” holds the title deed to this planet. All born-again Christians are the seed of Abraham.
Everything said about Jesus Christ with regard to His being the Seed of Abraham can be applied to the Church (Ro. 4: 13-16). Jesus is the true Vine and we are the branches (Jn. 15:1-5). We are His off spring. 1 Jn. 4:17: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world.
The word Hebrew is a man-given term, and it refers to one who is a descendant of Eber (Gen. 10:21-25; 14:13). The word Jew is a man-given term, and it pertains to one who is a descendant of Judah. But the word Israel is a God-given word, and relates to any person in any age who has met God face-to-face, overcoming himself by experiencing a change of name or nature---an Israelite indeed (Jn. 1:47)
In this section, is the second great self-disclosure of the Lord which is brought to a climax by His announcing that He is the light of the Word. The division of the Jews is due to blindness. The eternal Word has come in flesh to found a new community. The chosen people are now made up of Christ’s followers, and the prerogatives of Abraham’s seed have passed to them.
The battle is on as Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the truth of the stumbling stone and rock of offence of the New Covenant.
Rom. 9:33: …Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence; and whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.
Jesus loved the natural descendants of Abraham enough to tell them the truth---
We begin today in John 8:40-43: Now you seek to kill Me, a man that had told you the truth, which I have heard of God. Abraham would not have tried to kill me. He would not have done such a thing. You do the deeds of your father. Then they said to Him, we were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus answered, If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Even because you cannot hear My Word.
The Seed of Abraham is spiritual, a people begotten by the Word and Spirit of God. The first Adam is no longer our father. We are spirit beings of whom God Almighty is the Father.
God is a spirit---that which is born of God is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. If the Pharisees knew God, they would know Jesus in whom the Father lives. If the Pharisees had the faith of Abraham, they would know Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
The devil’s purpose is to abort the seed of God. The prince of this world wants to detain men in darkness and ignorance. He is content to have the things of the Spirit hid or veiled from men’s understanding lest they perceive the gospel of God’s glory and power.
2 Cor. 4: 3-4: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
8:44: You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The devil is a liar. His hellish intent is abortion and assassination. He wants to destroy the Seed. Jesus Christ is the Seed of Abraham and the Seed of David. The purpose of the devil is to blind people’s minds so they cannot grasp the gospel of glory.
That the devil was a murderer from the beginning, means from his origin. That Satan’s abode was not in the truth from the beginning; this is from the Greek word mone which means “a staying, residence.”
The devil slandered God to men, saying to Eve, “God barred you from the tree because He was jealous of you.” Satan also slandered men to God saying about Job, Does Job freely worship the Lord (Job. 1:9)? Whenever the evil one speaks falsehood, he speaks from what is his own; when men use falsehood, they use what belongs to another. The devil is the originator of falsehood, and himself the chief liar. Thus he is the father of falsehood. For he said to Eve, In whatever day you shall eat of it…you shall be as gods (Gen. 3:6). The actual result of Adam and Eve tasting the fruit was they became subject to death.
8:45: Because I tell you the truth you do not believe me.
They are not merely resisting truth, but the Person of God. It is the Person who offends them, for He offers Himself. His Words kindle their diabolic nature. One day antichrist will come saying things they want to hear and they will receive him, thus identifying their true parentage.
Jesus was the house (mone=abode of truth) that the Father lives in---all the fullness of the Godhead in a body (Col. 1:19l;2:9). John introduces us to the Holy Spirit of Truth who now dwells in the Church.
John 14:17: The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 15:26: When the helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
8:46-47: Which of you convinces Me of sin? If I say the truth, why do you not believe Me? He that is of God hears God’s words; you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.
Jehovah laid the “axe” of truth to the root of Israel’s tree, and planted a new Vine in the earth---His Son! The branches of that planting are men and women from “every nation” (Acts 10:34-35).
Men have tried to sew up the veil that He rent, but the middle wall of partition has been abolished. Now that Jesus has come, there is neither Jew nor Greek (Gal. 3:28).
Phil. 3:3: AMP We are the true circumcision, who worship God in Spirit and by the Spirit of God, and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence (on what we are) in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.
8:48-50: Then answered the Jews, and said to Him, You are a Samaritan, and have a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. I seek not Mine own glory; there is One that seeks and judges.
Earlier they accused Him of casting out demons by the prince of demons, saying that He was possessed by Beelzebub (Mt. 12:24). To them a Samaritan was the exact opposite of a Jew. Remember he went to Samaria and there did his first miracles. The whole town welcomed him and they were all saved. In Luke 10:33, he identifies with the Good Samaritan.
Jesus says “there is One that seeks my glory; the One who has power to judge and condemn those who affront me.”
8:51-52: Verily, verily, I say to you, if a man keeps My sayings he shall never see death. Then said the Jews to Him, now we know that You have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death.
At the Cross, Jesus Christ defeated the last enemy death. Christian your Spirit will be taken from your body before the last breath of life and you will never taste the final pangs of death.
He who keeps my Word shall never taste death. This is a condition followed by a promise. God is speaking in these last days and the masses are incapable of hearing; but there are those who love His Word and are sealed by that Word.
This glorious inheritance is in the saints. We have been made worthy and fit to partake of this glorious estate (Col. 1: 9-13). Our covenantal inheritance is in Light, the Word of God. It is in the heavenlies---the realm of the Sprit. The divine endowment is His nature (life) made available through (keeping) His Word.
Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets, men like Noah, Abraham, Samuel, David, Elijah and Elisha. In these New Testament days, God has spoken to us through His Son. Jesus was and is the Word, the Logos, the sum of all the parts.
God ruled the earth through prophets, not kings, until the Prophet came “whose right it is” (Gal. 3:19).
The Heir of all things, the incorruptible Seed, was planted in death and came forth in the increase of resurrection (Jn. 12:24).
8:52-59 – paraphrased:
The Pharisees responded, “now we know you are demon-possessed. Only a demented man would say that. Abraham died so did the prophets. Are you now saying that you are greater than our father Abraham who died, and the prophets who died also? What are you making yourself out to be? Who do you think you are anyway?” Jesus answered, “It would be pointless for Me to defend myself to you. Self-glory is worthless. It is My Father Who exalts Me, the One you claim as your God; although you are unable to recognize Him. I know Him intimately and if I were to say I didn’t, I would be as much of a liar as you! The truth is, I have direct, personal acquaintance with Him, and even this minute carrying out His Word. As for your father, Abraham, the delight of his life was to see My day, and to his great joy he did see it.” “You are not yet fifty,” replied the Jews, and you mean to say that you have actually seen Abraham? “In all truth,” said Jesus, I tell you that before Abraham was, I AM.” Upon hearing that, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus slipped out of sight and made His way from the temple.
No one can mistake this claim to Deity. No one of grammar or theology can confuse this sublime truth. Before Abraham came into being, Jesus already existed. His statement declares His eternal existence. He gives them no choice, either these are the words of an amazing blasphemer or He is the Son of God.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. unless otherwise noted. I entered into the labors of Blessed Theophylact, Gospel of John; Whose Right It Is by Kelly Varner; C. S. Lewis’ Lights on John. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.