The Gospel of John: John 8.31-47

Read and meditate on John 8.44.
As if Jesus hasn’t irritated these people enough! He has challenged their claim to believe in Him, insisted they are not Abraham’s children, and denied that they have heard His message or love Him. Now He explains why all these things are so. Can you hear their teeth gnashing?

        ⁴⁴For your father is the devil, and
you do what he desires. He does not stand
in truth, but is a murderer, and has
been from the start, because in him there was
no truth. He speaks, and when he does, he lies.
He is a liar. Liars all despise
the truth, and he is father of all lies.

- John 8.44

Reflect
1.  In what sense was the devil the “father” of these “believers”? How could Jesus tell who their father was? Complete the following prayer: Lord, let not my words or deeds betray You; instead…

2.  Meditate on Romans 1.18-25. If Jesus and His words are the truth, what is the lie? Is the lie still operative in our world today? Explain. Keep me, Lord, from desiring the ways of the lie. Let me always…

3.  Do those who are trapped in the lie readily recognize this, or agree that it is so? Does that change the fact? Explain. People desire to do the works of the lie, Father. You have sent me to them with the truth, so help me to…

4.  Jesus said that whenever the devil – or one of his children – speaks, it is a lie. Does this mean that unbelievers can never speak some truth? Or get something right? How do they manage that (cf. Matt. 5.45)? Thank You, Lord, that You show grace even to those who don’t know You or deny You. Help me to love them, too, by…

5.  Jesus shows us that the devil is real, that his power is real, that his power works against the truth and against people hearing, understanding, believing, and abiding in the Word of Jesus. How can we defend ourselves against such power? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“If we do the works of God and wish to do his desires, we are children of God. But if we do the works of the devil and wish to do what he desires, we are of our father the devil. Let us pay attention, then, not only to what we do but also to what we desire. For even to wish to do the desires of the devil is sufficient to be his child. Perhaps this is why the words “You wish to do the desires of your father” are added after the statement ‘You do the works of your father,’ so that we may learn that even if we merely wish to do what the devil desires, we will still be called the children of the devil.” Origen (fl. 200-254 AD)

If we will not hear, understand, believe, and abide in Jesus’ Word, we will attend to the lies of the devil. What are the implications of this for your daily walk with and work for the Lord?

Closing Prayer
Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
And they say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

Psalm 73.1-15

Psalm 73.1-15 (Ellacombe: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna)
To us our God is only good, to all the pure in heart!
But as for me, I nearly stood in sin from Him apart.
I nearly stumbled, nearly slipped as I the proud observed,
How they with ease and riches dripped, while I, impoverished, served.

The wicked know in death no pain; with fat their bodies surge.
The plagues and trials of other men their ease do not disturb.
In fury, wrath, and pride they dwell; their minds run where they will.
Their tongues of sin and mocking tell; with earth their mouths they fill.

They never change but fill their soul with earth’s abundant charms,
And laugh to think that God might know or do them any harm.
For thus do they themselves appease with riches and good health;
The wicked ever dwell in ease, in pleasure and in wealth.

“Surely in vain have I kept pure my heart, or cleansed my hands!
What troubles daily I endure while thus with God I stand!”
But had I spoken thus I would Your children have betrayed.
When this at last I understood, my troubled soul obeyed.

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.