SF047 - REAL FREEDOM (John 8 33-59)
Real Freedom
John 8:33-59
Introduction
John 8:31-32 provide the background of this section.
John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
In this passage we see the application of the Light, as He exposes the Pharisees and reveals Himself, and by doing so reveals the secret to real freedom.
1A. Jesus Exposes the Sinfulness of the Pharisees (8:33-45)
1B. Their boast (8:33)
The Pharisees falsely boast of their freedom; however, nothing could be further from the truth. Bondage had filled the history of the Jewish people, beginning with the bondage in Egypt (Exodus 2). Seven times in Judges we read of God delivering them into the hands of the Canaanites. Then there was the Northern Kingdom’s captivity by the Assyrians and Judah’s 70 years in Babylon. The Greeks, the Syrians, and now the Romans had all ruled over the Jews. It could be argued that they had known nothing but bondage.
2B. Their bondage (8:34-36)
“Commits sin,” refers to the regular practice, the habitual course of a man’s life.
What does it mean to be a slave to sin? (8:34-35)
Pink in his commentary on this text outlines what it means to be a slave to sin; those who are still slaves to sin have the following characteristics.
Ø First, that they are destitute of righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) and goodness (Romans 7:18), and therefore “unclean” (Isaiah 64:6) and “vile” (Job 40:4).
Ø Second, that they are destitute of wisdom from John 3:11 and therefore full of “vanity” (Psalm 39:5) and “foolishness” (Proverbs 22:15).
Ø Third, that they are destitute of “strength” from verse 6 and “power” (Isaiah 40:29), and therefore unable to do anything good of or from themselves (John 15:5).
Ø Fourth, that they are destitute of freedom (Isaiah 61:1), and therefore in a state of bondage (2 Peter 2:19).[1]
What is it that the Son makes us free from? (8:36)
Ø First, deliverance from the condemnation of sin, the penalty of the law, the wrath of God — Isaiah 42:7; 60:1; Romans 8:1.
Ø Second, deliverance from the power of Satan — Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 2:14, 15.
Ø Third, from the bondage of sin — Romans 6:14, 18.
Ø Fourth, from the authority of man — Galatians 4:8, 9; 5:1; Colossians 2:20-22. [2]
3B. Their blindness (8:37-41a)
2 Corinthians 4:4 … the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
They are blind to Lord’s word (8:37-38)
Ø Though they were physical descendants of Abraham, they knew nothing of Abraham’s faith.
Ø The Lord’s word found no place in them because only a heart of faith can and will receive His word.
They were blind to their own depravity (8:39-41a)
Ø Their evil deeds betray their hearts; they were not behaving like Abraham. Abraham’s works were the works of faith, obedience, and submission to God’s word.
Ø Jesus implies that they are children of the devil.
4B. Their blasphemy (8:41b-43)
They imply that there is something questionable about Jesus’ birth.
They also declare their own Jewish purity. They considered themselves to be true children of Abraham and God and they were very proud of it.
Jesus confronts them with their spiritual deadness and deafness.
“The word ‘hear’ (an Hebrew idiom) signifies to receive and believe (compare John 9:27; 10:3; 12:47; Acts 3:22, 23, etc). And why was it that these Jews ‘could not hear’ His Word? It was because they were children in whom was no faith (Deuteronomy 32:20). It was because they had no ear for God, no heart for His Word, no desire to learn His will. Proof positive was this that they were dead in trespasses and sins, and therefore not children of God.”[3]
5B. Their birthmark (8:44-45)
They bear the traits of their father the devil. (8:44)
Ø Their hearts are filled with violence and hatred.
Ø They are masters of deception.
Ø What a clear description this is of each of us when left in our sin.
They deny the truth of the Father. 8:45)
Ø Unregenerate men, without exception, will deny the truth and believe a lie (Psalm 62:4; 58:3; Isaiah 28:15; 2 Timothy 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:7).
2A. Jesus Reveals Himself (8:46-59)
1B. He reveals His sinless life (8:46-50)
Demonstrated in His walk and His words (8:46-47)
Ø Jesus declares his sinlessness and their sinfulness.
Ø They do not hear him because they do not have ears to hear, they are not of God.
Doubted by His enemies (8:48)
Ø They state what they had earlier implied, that Jesus is a half-breed Samaritan and demon possessed.
Defended by His response (8:49-50)
Ø He honors the Father and trusts God to glorify Him.
2B. His eternal sonship (8:51-59)
Jesus confronts the Pharisees (8:51-55)
Ø He claims victory over death for Himself and all who “keep” His word. (8:51)
“To ‘keep’ the Word is to hide it in the heart (Psalm 119:11). It is to retain it in the memory (1 Corinthians 15:3). It is to be governed by it in our daily lives (Revelation 3:8). ‘He shall never see (know, experience) death’ refers to penal death, the wages of sin, eternal separation from God in the torments of Hell. For the believer physical dissolution is not death (separation), but to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).”[4]
Ø The Pharisees reveal their spiritual ignorance by their continued disbelief. (8:52-53)
1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Ø Jesus confirms the fact that they are not children of God. (8:54-55)
Jesus clearly declares His deity (8:56-59)
Ø Abraham saw His “day” and rejoiced.
Abraham saw His day by faith (Hebrews 11:13) and by type in the offering of Isaac.
Ø Jesus proclaimed His deity by His name, “I am” and by His eternal nature.
“I am” (Jehovah) is the covenant name for God. In making this statement Jesus identifies Himself as God.
Application
“Terribly significant then is the final word of our chapter: the Savior ‘hid himself’ from them, and went out of the temple. It is so still. From the self-righteous and self-sufficient but blinded religious formalists, Christ still hides Himself; those who deny that they need to be made free from the slavery of sin He still leaves to themselves. But thank God it is written, ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit’ (Isaiah 57:15).”[5]
Preparing for Next Week
1. Please read John 9:1-7.
2. What is the great doctrinal teaching of this passage?
3. What typical picture does it contain?
4. Why does it open with the word “And” in verse 1?
5. To what was Christ referring in verse 4?
6. Why did Christ again say “I am the Light of the world” verse 5.
7. What was the symbolical meaning of verses 6 and 7?
8. What force has “therefore” in verse 7?
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[1] Pink, Arthur W., Exposition of the Gospel of John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), 449.
[2] Pink, 453.
[3] Pink, 457-58.
[4] Pink, 461-62.
[5] Pink, 465-66.