Does Jesus Receive Honor From You?

Text: John 8:48-59

Introduction

Q — What is honor?

ANS — Among North Americans, honor and shame often refer to a psychological state—a person’s internal moral character or the actions that reflect that character. In the world of the Bible and in traditional Mediterranean societies, however, honor and shame are social values determinative of a person’s identity and social status. Honor is a person’s claim to self-worth and the social acknowledgment of that claim—i.e., honor is a person’s public reputation which constitutes his or her identity. Ronald A. Simkins, “Honor, Shame,” ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 603.

Illustration: When a professional athlete wears their team's jersey, they're not just representing themselves—they're carrying the reputation of the entire franchise. Every action on and off the field either honors or dishonors that name. Similarly, as Christians, we wear Christ's name. Our daily choices, conversations, and character either build His reputation in our community or tear it down.

So, showing someone honor is declaring their worth, not only on a personal level, but making that status on a social platform. It would be certain actions from your life that would build a public reputation that would solidify the identity in the hearts of people.

So, would it be fair to say, “We should dedicate to honor Jesus with our life?”

Q — When you leave here today, will “honoring” Jesus be the #1 priority as you live out where God has placed you?

I want to spend some time proving to you from the scriptures that Jesus deserves honor from your faith and lifestyle. Then I want to share with you the blessing you can receive from the One who is honored by God the Father.

1) Honoring Jesus Is Equal To Honoring God

A. A dishonoring charge toward Jesus

a) Who were these Jews who were answering Jesus?

These were the same Jews mentioned in verses 30 and 31.

They were the ones who refused to believe that they were in any kind of bondage or had ever been in bondage.

They were the ones seeking their own glory through the lineage of Abraham.

Illustration: Imagine attending a family reunion where everyone spends the entire time talking about their own accomplishments—their job promotions, their children's achievements, their new possessions. No one asks about others or celebrates anyone else's victories. It becomes exhausting and hollow. The Jews in this passage were doing the same thing—constantly pointing to their Abraham lineage while refusing to honor Jesus.

b) What were they answering?

i) Jesus had an overarching message they were answering to:

If you were already followers of God, you would love and receive me as the Son (equal to God).

You must receive me words in order to understand your spiritual position of guilt.

To believe the truth I am sharing with you is to enter into spiritual freedom.

Right before they answered, Jesus asked the question, “Why do ye not believe me?” Jesus then answers His own question by saying, “ye are not of God.”

c) What was their charge?

These Jews answered with, “Aren’t we correct to say, “You are a Samaritan and have a devil?”

Why call Him a Samaritan?

The contempt and hatred that the Jews entertained toward the Samaritans was manifested, not only in their refusal to have any dealings with them beyond what was demanded by necessity (John 4:9), but also in the fact that the Jews made the name Samaritan a synonym for everything that was vile and contemptible. James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 516.

Why say He had a devil?

demon n. — a created supernatural being rebellious and hostile to God and anyone allied with Him.

This was a stunt to discredit His claim to deity.

B. An honoring response was given

i) Notice what Jesus didn’t say in response to them. He never said, “I am no Samaritan!”

Q — Who believes that Jesus’ ministry was a move of grace to everyone, even the Samaritans?

(5:9-10) Neither did Jesus point out to the Samaritan woman that He was a Jew.

(5:21-24) Honoring/worshiping God is not granted to mere ethnic groups or social status. Honoring the Lord is a spiritual endeavor anyone can participate in. It begins with repentance and faith in Jesus as Savior.

ii) Jesus was not to glorify Himself

He was honoring the Father and they were dishonoring Him.

John 5:23 “23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

They were seeking their own glory — John 5:41–44 “41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

Quote: “Tradition-centered religion, without Christ, is often a “mutual admiration society” for people who want the praise of men. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 323.

iii) APPLICATION

Isn’t it just like us to start name calling when we don’t like what we hear concerning our mistakes?

You might be like the Jews in the passage saying, “I’ve got my own standard I live to.”

LISTEN…you don’t get to set the objective bar for truth and morality! God is the bar and one He will bring you to the bar of accountability!

Maybe you have said this before, “At least I have never went as far as that person.”

Romans 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Some of you “Christian” husbands and wives still think the problem is the other person. You’ve not made one change to improve yourself in order to salvage your marriage!

Illustration: When a company sends a representative to negotiate a deal, honoring or dishonoring that representative is the same as honoring or dishonoring the company itself. You can't claim to respect the CEO while insulting his chosen ambassador. Jesus is God's ultimate Representative.

Application: You cannot claim to honor God while ignoring, rejecting, or disobeying Jesus Christ. True faith honors both Father and Son.

2) Honoring Jesus Is Equal To Escaping Death

A. Receiving Jesus’ word removes spiritual death

a) They perceived Jesus was talking about a “physical death.”

Notice their response in verse 53 (Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Samuel, Ezekiel, etc…

Jesus had already warned them! — John 8:24 “24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

He now invites them to trust His Word!

What validation was there that Jesus had such honor….?

B. Jesus received honor from the Father

They accused Him of making Himself something He could never be.

“Who do you make Yourself out to be?” (What a question!)

Notice in verse 54 where Jesus’ honor comes from: THE FATHER!!!

“…but I know Him.” — “experientially”

He was honored at His incarnation and His baptism!

C. Jesus can remove you from spiritual death

You must receive His word! What word?…

He is the Bread of Life — John 6:35 “35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

He is the Living Water — John 4:14 “14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

He is the Light of the World — John 8:12 “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 3:18 “18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

3) Honoring Jesus Is For Every Generation

A. Abraham honored Jesus looking forward to His coming

Certainly Abraham saw the birth of the Messiah in the miraculous birth of his own son, Isaac. He certainly saw Calvary when he offered Isaac to God (Gen. 22). In the priestly ministry of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:17–24), Abraham could see the heavenly priesthood of the Lord. In the marriage of Isaac, Abraham could see a picture of the marriage of the Lamb (Gen. 24). Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 323.

B. You should honor Jesus because of Calvary

Illustration: It is like looking in a rearview mirror! I look at our children through a little child rearview mirror. It sure does motivate me to drive safely. Maybe the reason for your careless or sloppy living, is because you don’t look into the rearview mirror (hold up Bible) enough.

The Bible is all about God’s redemptive plan for YOU!

Quote: As W. Evans explains, “The atonement is the scarlet cord running through every page in the entire Bible. Cut the Bible anywhere and it bleeds; it is red with redemption truth.”

Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Philippians 2:8 “8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

C. You should honor Jesus because of His soon coming

2 Peter 3:8 “8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Listen, I have read the end of the book! Only those who receive His word will be receive by Him!

Conclusion

Believer — Ask yourself this week: "Does my behavior at work, at home, or on social media honor the name of Christ I carry?" You are a link in a “generational” honor chain.

Listen, Jesus is the Great I AM! He is the One person to give your life to and center your life on. He is worthy! He is God!

Revelation 1:8 “8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

HONOR HIM TODAY!

Unbeliever — Jesus is the honored One from the Father. He is able and willing to receive you if you would only cry out to Him with repentance, confessing a trusting faith in Jesus alone.