John 8:12-59 - The Truth of Following Jesus

Father.

Please speak to us through your word. We need you to penetrate our hearts with your spirit. We need you to change us into the likeness of your son Jesus. We need you. Because we can't do it on our own.

Not a pray that you would give me pleasure to be of thought and Clarity of speech.

So that we can all clearly understand the truth of your word.

I pray this in Jesus name, amen.

Has anyone ever been to a speech and debate? Been part of it Scene, It didn't experience it at all.

Welton, very structured way. To argue two different sides of a topic. Each side asserts, their opposing opinions, sort of as if their statements of the truth.

And then through a series of proofs and rebuttals to go back and forth and each side strengthening their argument and weakening their opponents argument. They do this until one side emerges as the winner, but not, because their opinion was proven to be the truth. Because they argued better than their opponent.

We have here in our passage today, sort of a debate. But it's one-sided. In John 8:12 through 59, Jesus makes three statements about those who follow him. And some of the Drew Jews, try to poke holes in his statement like a debate as if they're just Jesus's opinion. But Jesus proves that his statements are impenetrable. Because they are absolute truth. Not just his opinion. We're going to walk through each step of this debate and John 8-12 459, as Jesus asserts. And prove three ways that he changes the lives of those who follow him. Followers of Jesus live in the Truth, live in Freedom and live forever.

The first we see the followers of Jesus live in the truth in verses 12 through 30, Jesus asserts, this in verse 12.

Does again, Jesus spoke to them saying, I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. I remember Jesus was teaching at the temple, either on the last day of the Feast of booths or the day, after doesn't really matter which day, it was because it would have been the same group of people regardless. But it's striking to me, actually that the statement that Jesus makes is so similar to the one he made in 7:38.

there he says, whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow, rivers of Living Water

It's a genuine offer of the Gospel.

In 738. He used the metaphor of water and he ran a 12, he uses the metaphor of light Both metaphors are accurate descriptions of the gospel. And both of them are actually claims to fulfill different prophecies about the coming Christ. When Jesus says that he is the light of the world. He's referring to Isaiah 49-6 claiming to be the Fulfillment of that prophecy. Isaiah, 49 6 says, it is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back The Preserves of Israel. This is key. I will make you as a light for the Nations that my salvation May reach to the end of the Earth. That's what Jesus means. When he says I am the light of the world. Jesus, is that light for the Nations, the light of the world, bringing salvation to the ends of the Earth.

But when Jesus says that his followers will walk in the light, He's using it as a metaphor to depict the truth. When you have light, you can see what's truly there. But when there's no light, you can't see what's truly there and your imagination runs wild. That's why so many kids are afraid of the dark.

Jesus is the truth of God's love for us, the embodiment of all. That's true that people suppress in unrighteousness as Roman says, And when we followed Jesus, we walk in him, having believed the truth rather than believing the lies of the devil. And as we're going to see at the end of our passage that truth ultimately, grants us life. That's why he calls it the light of life. So we have this assertion of the truth and Jesus in the Jews will go on as we will do a sort of debate back and forth showing that the source of this truth claim and the results of denying this first time. So we see the source of the truth in verses 13 through 20 does. So the Pharisees said to him, your bearing witness about yourself. Your testimony is not true. Jesus answered, even if I do bear witness about myself. My testimony is true for I know where I came from and where I'm going but you do not know where I come from or where I'm going. You judge according to the flash, I judge no one yet. Even if I do judge, my judgment is true for it is not, I alone who judge, but I and the father who sent me and your law, it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I'm the one who Bears witness about myself in the father who sent me Bears witness about me. They said to him, therefore, where is your father Jesus answered, you know, neither me nor my father if you knew me you would know my father also these words he spoke in the Treasure is he taught in the temple but no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come. So, the Jews basically argue just because you say that doesn't make it true. Argument the Goodwin in any other circumstance. Any truth claim. Like what Jesus has said, ought to be confirmed by someone with authority to verify that claim. But who can verify something like that?

Who could verify that Jesus is the light of the world. Only God can verify that. And he does. But their argument also has a false assumption. They assume that for something to be true. It needed to be verified. like if a tree falls in the woods and someone has to be there to hear it, Fred to print for the sound to actually exist. The Jesus addresses that false assumption and goes on to show how he does have authority to make this truth claim. Is he the truth? Does not depend on having Witnesses. the truth is the truth, whether it's verified or not, the sound of that tree falling really exist, even if it's not heard by anyone,

That's called objective reality. Absolute truth. and Jesus has the authority to make this truth claim because he is the expert and the Jews are not And he has another witness to verify his claim. He's the expert on where he came from and where he's returning heaven. The Jews have no clue what Jesus is talking about. They want to judge him as a liar, but they are judging God's spiritual truth, claim based on their very limited knowledge in a completely different field. I need this is this is like a kindergartener grading, a college math exam with an ABC book. That's how ridiculous this is. But when Jesus says, I judge no one. He's reserving the condemning judgment for their unbelief until his second coming. Because his first coming was to save, not to judge. I just approved that he's telling the truth, he brings forth a witness to verify the truth claim. According to the stipulations of the law, God, the father is that Witness? This is the same thing. You said in chapter 5 the father Bears witness to the truth of what Jesus has said. So there two witnesses to the truth. That Jesus is the light of the world from Isaiah 49, 6. And that all who follow him will live in the truth. I'm both of these Witnesses have the expertise and authority to verify the absolute truth of that claim.

Well. this confuses the Jews a little bit because this father Jesus has brought forward as a witness is nowhere to be seen.

Are you think? This would be a perfect opportunity for Jesus to explain that. God is his father. And to show them from scripture how he really is the Christ.

But he just point out their ignorance of the truth. They don't know him. They don't know the father, so they're stuck. Stuck in their unbelief trapped in darkness and refusing to come to Jesus, who is the light of the world. Then the author John narrates for us the location and circumstances of this debate there in the temple. Treasury, a semi-public place, that would be perfect actually for the Jews to arrest Jesus. But again, It's not time for Jesus to be arrested according to God's timetable. That'll come later, but not now. So the source of this truth claim is God who made objective reality and the results of denying. The truth are severe as we'll see in verses 21 through 30. So he said to them, again, I'm going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sin where I'm going. You cannot come. So that you said really kill himself since he says, where I'm going, you cannot come. He said to them. You are from below. I am from above. You are a vicious world. I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sentence for unless you believe that I am, he that you will die in your sins. So they said to him, who are you? Jesus better than just what I've been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true and I declare to the world. That I have heard, but what I have heard from him, they did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the father. So Jesus said to them, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am. He and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak just as the father taught me and you sent me is with me. He has not left me alone. For I always do the things that are pleasing to him, as he was saying these things, many believed in him. So, Jesus condemns these Jews just like he did back in chapter 7, he's going away back to Heaven. They will seek him, but they will die in their sins to be condemned to Hell forever. Because they refused to believe that Jesus is the Christ. The son of God, And again like in chapter 7, they have no idea what he's talking about.

But this time, instead of thinking he's going into the dispersion among the Greeks, they think he means to kill himself. So explain exactly why they don't get it and what he's talking about. They don't get it because there's a significant difference between them Jesus is not of this world, but they are. They're thinking naturalistically but Jesus is speaking about supernatural things. Spiritual things. Do Jesus very pointedly explains, his previous condemnation, they will die in their sins and not follow Jesus to Heaven, because they refuse to believe in him. Then the Jews show, just how blind and darken their understanding really is. Jesus has clearly claimed to be the Christ, the son of God on many occasions. And he clearly claims that here as the Fulfillment of Isaiah, 49 6, And these Jews asked Jesus. Who are you?

Who are you?

Are you kidding me? These Jews must be completely blind to not see who Jesus is, or at least, who is claiming to be. And this is sort of Jesus's response to he's been telling them who he is from the beginning. Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, who speaks judges and proclaims the truth. That God the father has given him

I'm still the Jews. Don't get it. I still don't understand that. He speaking about God,

then Jesus tells them that one day they will understand.

They'll know that he is the Christ, the son of God who has God's Authority, God's words. God's presence. And God's will because he is God.

At this point, it doesn't come out and say that he's gone, but he will later in the passage. And they will know all of this.

Once they killed him.

Jesus says, when you have lifted up the son of man, Once they kill him, they'll know that Jesus is the Christ. They're going to think they're killing Jesus to heretic. But once they kill him, they'll realize that they actually killed Jesus. The son of God.

Now, we can be encouraged. that this debate so far is actually resulted in many people believing in Jesus, They've heard Jesus is claimed to be the light of the world. And is playing the all who follow him will live in the truth rather than living in ignorance and the lies of the world. Well then they saw the darkness of those who debated Jesus in naturalistic ignorance and influence by the lies of the world to reject Jesus. and seeing the difference between the light of Jesus and the Darkness of these Jews, they believed believed in Jesus,

So we saw Jesus, his explanation of how his followers live in the truth of God's love because he is that truth. Next will see the followers of Jesus live in Freedom. Followers of Jesus live in Freedom, verses 31 through 50, in Jesus's hurts, this, and verses 31 and 32. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

You see, freedom is the result of the truth. We just looked at living in the truth of God's love in. Jesus Leads to Freedom.

I'm at the obvious. Question is freedom from what? Being set free implies a previous bondage. So what are people in bondage to that requires being set free?

I'll just like the previous truth claim. Jesus will explain through debate with the Jews, the source of this freedom and the results of denying this freedom. Jesus explains the source of freedom in verses 33 through 38. They answered him. We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, you will become free? Jesus answered them. Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever, the sun remains forever. So if the son sets you free, you will be free. Indeed, I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet, you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you, I speak of what I've seen with my father. And you do what you have heard from your father.

So, the Jews are confused. Again. Still about what Jesus means specifically here by freedom. They insist that they're not enslaved because their offspring of Abraham.

Now they aren't talking about the history of Abraham's descendants. I mean it's super obvious from historical accounts in the Old Testament and other historical evidence that Abraham's descendants have definitely been enslaved before and I can think of three off the top of my head, Egypt, Assyria Babylon.

so they cannot mean that The Offspring of Abraham as a whole have never been enslaved to a anyone What they're talking about is the current political climate.

Although they are under Roman rule, they're not considered slaves. Because their offspring of Abraham.

Israel was considered a vassal state. Not an enslaved, people group and they took pride in that. So Jesus explains exactly what he means, and where Freedom comes from Jesus is not talking about literally cystic slavery and freedom. He's talking about Sin. Every single person is in bondage to send. Everyone practices sin. And sin is addictive.

But what is sin? Send a retard is self-love. At the expense of God or others, or God's creation. anything, you can think of that is loving yourself and either God or others or God's creation suffers because of it, It's in.

Infinite addictive because it's satisfying in the moment.

Satisfaction, doesn't last. So we seek more and more like a drug.

We are enslaved to serving ourselves at the expense of others, especially God. Budgies explains that there is a way out of this bondage.

Continuing with the slave metaphor, he says that the slave does not remain in the house forever. There's always the opportunity for the slave to be freed if the one who has the authority to do. So wants to

And the Sun. The one who remains forever in the house. He's the one who has that Authority.

Does the one who has the authority to set you free? Actually does set you free from your bondage.

Then you really are free. Even if you keep coming back to your old habits, you really are free.

When Jesus addresses, their statement about being offspring of Abraham here he shifts the metaphor of it from slavery to ancestry, to explain why these Jews deny the freedom Jesus is offering. And Jesus explains their denial of freedom in vs 39, through 50.

They answered him. Abraham is our father, Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children you would be doing the works, Abraham did? But now, you seek to kill me. A man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did you are doing The Works? Your father, did they decide to him? We are not born of sexual immorality. We have one father even God. Jesus said to them. If God were your father you would love me for I came from God and I am here, I came not of my own accord but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say it is? Because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father. The devil and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for, he is a liar and the father of Lies. But because I tell the truth, you did not believe me which one of you convinced me of sin, if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God, hears, the words of God, the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. The Jews answered him. Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered. I do not have a demon but I honor my father and you dishonor me yet. I do not seek my own Glory. There is one who seeks it and he is the judge.

So the Jews they double down on. Their claim that Abraham is their father. But Jesus says false.

Jesus, his argument is that children, emulate their parents. If Abraham were their father, they would believe God like Abraham did in Genesis 15.

But they don't believe God. They don't believe him. And that scene in the fact that they are seeking to kill Jesus, God's son. And seeking to kill Jesus, is emulating, their true father, who Jesus Will Reveal at the end of the section. so the Jews shift and claim, Freedom through God, as their father,

But Jesus refer reveals that this is actually an even more ludicrous claim. If they were to emulate, God as her father, then they would love Jesus. Because God loves Jesus and sent him to save the world. But they don't love Jesus. They don't believe he's the Christ, the son of God. They actually want Jesus to be killed.

And that's not very loving.

Then Jesus reveals that they are in bondage to emulate their true. Father, the devil Their desire to kill Jesus, and their refusal to believe the truth of who he is.

Comes from the two most prominent aspects of Satan's character. Satan is a murderer and a Deceiver.

That's what he did in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. That's what he continues to do. He murders through deception.

He deceives us into thinking that God doesn't love us. And there we need to love ourselves because God won't Because we believe that lie, we sin and our spiritual life is snuffed out. All of us. Spiritually, murdered back in the garden and murdered every day since then.

We all find ourselves in bondage to send because of the Fall that Jesus has come to free us from that bondage. He frees us. So that we are no longer bound to love ourselves.

We're free to love God, one another and God's creation like we were created to do.

And it's so satisfying. To do what we are created to do.

The satisfaction that comes from loving outside of ourselves lasts for eternity.

Well, the Jews did not like being called liars and murderers. I mean who would So they fire an insult at Jesus, that does nothing but discredit their argument. in formal terms, this is called I can't remember what it's called, never mind. We'll move on.

Ad hominem ad hominem. That's what it's called ad hominem, thank you. But they're, they're arguing, the Jesus is a liar and a blasphemer, but they've lost all my mentem with their argument so they resort to calling Jesus names. They called Jesus, a demon-possessed Samaritan. That we saw in chapter 7, what it means in that culture to be called demon-possessed. And we also saw in chapter 4, the disdain the Jews had for the Samaritans, So this insult is actually pretty straightforward, they're calling Jesus a filthy traitor, he's out of his mind.

Jesus doesn't really address. Her insult other than two very simply say that it's not true. Another insult actually, proves his point.

They do not honor God. But Jesus does and God honors him.

So we saw her followers of Jesus live in the truth of God's love in Christ and how that truth will set us free from sin to love as we were created to Finally, we'll see how followers of Jesus live forever in versus 51 to 59 Jesus asserts this in verse 51. Truly. Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

Wow. I'm keeping Jesus's word is another way of talking about believing. Jesus claimed to be the Christ or following him. So if you believe in Jesus, if you follow him then, You'll never die.

That that's an amazing claim.

And there are only two sure things in life, death and taxes, right? Jesus just said that death is not a sure thing.

In fact, it's surely not going to touch those who follow him.

And I didn't say anything here about taxes, though. Sorry

The, how would you like to avoid death?

Well. Just follow Jesus and you'll live forever. That simple. But how can this be?

Just like the previous two points. Jesus will explain the source of Eternal Light, eternal life and the results of denying eternal life. Through his ongoing debate with the Jews. Jesus explains the source of eternal life, and vs 52 through 56.

Did you said to him? Now we know that you have a demon Abraham died as did the profits yet you say, if anyone keeps my word he will never taste death. Are you greater than our Father, Abraham, who died and the prophets, who died, who do you make yourself out to be? Jesus answered. If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my father who glorifies me of whom you say, he is our God, but you have not known him. I know him if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word, your father Abraham, Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad

All the Jews, understand how amazing a claim Jesus is making here. And it's way more than they can deal with. They point out some obvious difficulties, massive hurdles to believe in the Jesus can grant eternal life to his followers. They bring up Abraham in the prophets. Is the Abraham is there go to authority figure since God's promise to the nation of Israel? First came to him We also bring up the prophets because God did some really amazing Miracles through the prophets.

And neither the ultimate Jewish human authority of Abraham nor the ultimate miracle workers, the prophets could Grant eternal life.

And neither of them lived forever. They all died.

So in their minds, Jesus is claiming greater Authority than Abraham and greater power than the prophets. And that's exactly what Jesus is claiming. But they don't want to believe it. Jesus argues that he does have greater Authority than Abraham again. He says that he's not glorifying himself but the father glorifies him that's very easy to assume that Jesus is just claiming this Authority out of nowhere. But Jesus intimately knows the father. Unlike these Jews who have a blinded and twisted understanding So he highlights the difference between the Jews lying and his own truthfulness because of the amazing claim that he's making.

Jesus shows that he is greater than Abraham, and his own eternal life, as the basis for offering eternal life to his followers. Abraham honors Jesus as greater than him by rejoicing to see his day. Abraham saw Jesus is day, implying the Jesus was alive for Abraham to see him and be glad

this is, Really, an amazing claim that Jesus his own eternal life is the source of his followers eternal life, but the Jews refuse to believe it and they deny it. In versus 57 to 59. Route 57 says so the Jews said to him you are not yet fifty years old. And have you seen Abraham?

They refuse to believe that Jesus was alive when Abraham was alive. Jesus is not even 50 years old. But Abraham lived almost two thousand years before this.

So clearly it's impossible for Jesus, Amir man to have been alive then.

But he was. He was alive then and he has been alive for all of eternity as he States and verse 58. Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you before Abraham, was I am.

Jesus claims to be the one.

Who spoke to Moses? In Exodus 3:14 from The Burning Bush. Moses said, who should I tell the people sent me and he says, tell them. I am sent you.

And the one who spoke to Moses is God. Yahweh. Any claims that he has had this identity even before Abraham existed. God is eternal since he already existed when he created time and everything is recorded in Genesis 1. Done with this simple statement. Jesus makes the clearest and most forthright claiming to be God in all of the Bible. Jesus is God.

That's how he's greater than Abraham in the prophets. That's how he's existed for all of eternity. That's how he can grant eternal life to his followers. That's how he has authority to set his followers, free from sin. That's how he is the light of the world bringing salvation to the ends of the Earth Jesus is God.

Well, the Jews knew exactly what he was claiming here.

And in their book, that deserves immediate execution.

They were confused. About a lot of what Jesus said up to this point, but here it's Crystal Clear.

So they pick up rocks to kill him but he slipped away verse 59, that is so they picked up stones to throw at him but Jesus, hid himself and went out of the Temple.

so Jesus has the authority and the power to Grant his followers eternal life because he is all-powerful, God, who is live forever, and who conquered death, when you Rose from the grave, I feel like it's important. To know, the Jesus is not talking about extending the life we have right now into eternity. That would not be a blessing.

Just like Jesus died and rose again. So all of his followers were also be raised to eternal life after this life passes away. Let me think about it. If our weaknesses and failures and struggle against in order to continue forever.

That would not be much of a blessing in fact. That's why God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden. So they wouldn't live forever in their sin and weakness and Frailty. But we look forward to being transformed through the first death to our glorious, eternal life. With Christ, where our weaknesses failures, and the Very presence of sin will be gone forever.

13 is sort of progression. Through this passage of how Jesus changed the changes, the lives of his followers. Followers of Jesus live in the truth of God's love because Jesus came as a light to the Nations to bring Salvation to the ends of the Earth. Jesus is the truth. We live in. And living in that. Truth sets his followers free from our bondage to sin, free to love, God and others more than ourselves like we were created to do. Jesus is the son who sets us free from sin. And living in the truth and being set free from sin results, in followers of Jesus living forever, just as Jesus Christ has lived forever. Jesus is the Eternal Son of God, who gives us his eternal life and all of this is possible because of Jesus's death on the cross and his resurrection three days later. This is the truth of the Gospel. The truth that God loves the world, he loves you. So much that he gave his son Jesus to take your sin and receive the just punishment for it in your place. when Jesus died, he said all of his followers free from their bondage to sin. And then he rose from the dead three days later securing eternal life for all of his followers as well.

Now, if you're not one of Jesus's followers yet, But I'm sorry to say that you are right now in darkness, bondage and death.

But you don't have to stay there.

If you will believe in, Jesus believe that he is the Christ. God's promise to deliver believe that he is God's son. Who's got himself and believe that he died on the cross for your sins? Then you'll no longer live in darkness, but you will live in the truth of God's love for you. And you will no longer live in bondage to send, but you will be free to love God and others as you were created to do. And you will live forever in a glorious existence with Jesus. Where there will be no more weakness or failure or sin after transformed through the first desk or transformed when Jesus comes back.

You can have all this if you only believe. Just believe in Jesus and confess that he is the ruler and savior of your life. and if you're already a follower of Jesus and be encouraged, That you have been abundantly blessed. But the truth of God's love. Freedom from sin and eternal life in Christ.

Father, thank you for giving us your son. Thank you for showing us the truth of your love. That you would send your son to save us from sin and death.

I pray that you would stir the hearts of those here who don't yet believe.

I pray that you would save them. I pray that you would demolish their unbelief and bring them joyfully and to your family that adopted Sons and Daughters to be free from sin and live forever with you.

And I pray that those of us who already believe would be encouraged. These amazing blessings. That we would be compelled to share this. Good news with everyone. It's too small, a thing that you would only save Israel or that you would only save us here in Benicia. You got it, the whole world. And you sent your son as a light to the whole world to bring Salvation to the whole world.

How do we get to be a part of that? so, grant us boldness, as we confront the arguments and antagonism of those, we share the gospel with

We know that we cannot save anyone with clever arguments. You alone have the power to save. And you do it through. I says we simply proclaim the truth of your love in Jesus's death and Resurrection on our behalf.

So, we ask that you would use us. Use us to Proclaim this truth. To all of Benicia, all of the Bay Area, all of the world. So that we can Rejoice to see people follow Jesus in the truth and freedom from sin and then eternal life.

We thank you and praise you in Jesus name, amen.