The Gospel of John: John 8.31-47

Read and meditate on John 8.41-43.
These “believers” were hearing Jesus speak – and they liked some of what they heard – but they clearly were not understanding His words. They were not able to understand, because they were paying more attention to a voice other than that of Jesus.

                                         ⁴¹They said to Him,
“We are not born of fornication! We
have but one Father – God!” ⁴²To them then He
replied, “If God your Father were, then you
would love Me, for I came from Him to do
His work. I came not of Myself; but He
has sent Me to you. ⁴³How then can it be
that you do not yet understand My word?
You listen to Me, but you have not heard
Me.”

- John 8.41-43

Reflect
1.  Now the “believers” get snotty: “We were not born of fornication…” What were they implying? What does this reveal about the true nature of their “belief”? Complete this prayer: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief, so that today…

2.  Jesus does not respond in kind – like you or I might. Rather, He presses His point, because He knows that only the truth will set these people free from their slavery to their real father. It’s clear to Jesus that these people did not love Him (v. 42). How was that clear? I love You, Lord, so let me show You by…

3.  Should we connect loving Jesus (v. 42) with abiding in His Word (v. 31)? Explain. I love Your Word, Lord, because…

4.  Again, Jesus explains that He is a Man on a mission from God the Father. This, He insisted, should be reason enough to love Him. Instead, they’re arguing with Him and resisting His Word. Why? Are these people really believers? Explain. Help me to hear Your Word, Father, every day, and to see Jesus there, and to…

5.  Listen, hear, understand, abide, love: Put those four words into a single sentence to define faith. Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“The sending of Christ is his incarnation. But the proceeding forth of the Word from God is an eternal procession.… From him, then the Son proceeded forth as God, the equal, the only Son, the Word of the Father. And he came to us, for the Word was made flesh that he might dwell among us. His coming indicates his humanity. His staying indicates his divinity. It is his Godhead toward which we make progress, and it is by his humanity that we are able to make that progress.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

Being a disciple and a true follower of Jesus involves much more than merely professing to believe in Him. And this is an ongoing commitment, rather than a one-time event. How would you explain to an unbeliever what it means to believe in Jesus?

Closing Prayer
And they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”
Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious;
So a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also came up against Israel,
Because they did not believe in God,
And did not trust in His salvation.

Psalm 78.18-22

Psalm 78.8-37 (Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Our fathers were stubborn; they would not obey;
When faced with their foes, they in fear turned away.
God’s work of redemption they wholly despised,
Forgetting the pow’r He had shown to their eyes.

Cast back to the desert, they sinned ever more,
And tested the Lord by their greed o’er and o’er.
And though He provided them manna and meat,
His anger flared up, and His wrath was complete.

When troubled, they turned to the Lord’s loving face,
He met them and showed them His marvelous grace.
They spoke of their love for Him, yet in their heart
Of His holy cov’nant they wanted no part.
           
T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.