Someone's lying here, and it's not Jesus.
The Gospel of John: John 8.48-59
Read and meditate on John 8.54, 55.
Someone’s lying here, and it’s not Jesus. He will, of course, point that out for all to see.
54Said Jesus, “If I vaunt Myself,
My honor counts for nothing. But the One
Who honors Me My Father is, the One
of Whom you say He is your God. 55Yet You
have never known Him – never. But I do,
I know Him. And if I should this deny,
and say I do not know the Father, I
would be a liar, just like you. But I
do know Him, and I keep His Word.”
– John 8.54, 55
Reflect
1. Again, Jesus deflected the argument away from Himself, but only to focus it back on Himself. He insisted He was not trying to honor Himself, for that would be mere vanity. But, He explained, His Father was honoring Him. How was God the Father honoring Jesus in those day? Should we expect similar “honors” from the Lord? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, You have sent me to be a witness, not just to go witnessing, and this means…
2. Jesus said that the religious leaders who were confronting Him “have not known” the Father Who honored Him. What did He mean? Meditate on Hosea 4.1-6. How was Jesus merely echoing what God had spoken through Hosea? Why was it important to Jesus to make this point? Lord, many people are deceived and misled about what they claim to “know.” As Your witness, I need to…
3. Jesus knew they were trying to get Him to say, “I know God the Father.” OK, so He said it, in the process, denying that His detractors did. What did He mean? Can you say this as well? Explain. Lord, I expect that, as I bear witness to You, some people will insist that I cannot know God. However, I…
4. So, who were the liars here? Jesus pointed them out plainly. Why were they liars? Paul says that all who deny God are living a lie (cf. Rom. 1.18-25; Rom. 3.3, 4). Is this true? Does this mean that people who are living the lie can’t know any truth? But is it important that they be confronted with the fact that they’re living a lie? Explain. Keep me, Lord, from following the lie in any form. Help me always to…
5. The Gospel is about truth, not about loud claims of authority and who’s right and who’s wrong, or who’s smart and who’s dumb. We need always to bear down on the truth of the Gospel, and be ready to expose the lies of our unbelieving age. Explain. Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.
Summary
“Since they were openly rebuking him for exalting himself over Abraham and the prophets and since they accuse him by saying, ‘Who do you make yourself out to be?’—he in effect responds by saying: … If I spoke about my glory and the things that belong to me, you would not believe me—and with good reason, because I would be testifying about myself. But it is my Father who revealed my glory by testifying about me, as he said above, ‘The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.’ You then say you belong to God, but you do not know him; you are not even familiar with him because you do not obey his words. ‘I do know him,’ and what I do matches perfectly with his testimony about me. Even if I say something pleasing about myself, I say nothing contrary to the previous testimony of the Father about me. This is what he means when he says, “And I keep his word. If I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you.”’” Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428 AD)
These religious leaders were looking for a fight, and Jesus was willing to give it to them, laying bear the false foundations of their worldview, openly denying them any connection with God whatsoever, and exposing them as liars. Whew! Are you prepared for that kind of witness?
Closing Prayer
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 2.10-12
Psalm 2.9-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
To Christ the Lord be given all who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes to break the prideful, sinful ones.
Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace, and worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who rest in Him!
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.
