Sermon: John 8:31-47: True Disciples Abide

Reading of God’s Holy Word

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.’ They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.’ They said to him, ‘We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.’” (John 8:31–47, ESV)

Introduction

So the pattern continues in John’s Gospel: Jesus makes some extraordinary claims concerning himself, or utters some provocative thing, which then gives way to a debate between he and the Jews. First it was his claim to be the source of living waters (7:38); next it was his claim to be the light of the world (8:12); and now it is this claim: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32, ESV)

It can be difficult for us to understand why these words of Jesus would lead to such an fiery exchange. The conflict is difficult to understand for two reasons:

One, we are told that Jesus uttered these words to those who had expressed belief in him – they said they believe that he was the Messiah, the Son of Man, as he had been claiming. Look at 8:30: “As he was saying these things, many believed in him.” And in 8:31 we read, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31–32, ESV) The reader is lead to believe that Jesus is among friends now, and that the potential for hostility has passed. How could it be that the most intense conflict of all is just around the corner if Jesus is indeed speaking to those who have believed in him?

Two, the fiery exchange is difficult for us to understand because the words of Jesus seem to us to be rather uncontroversial: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32, ESV) These words sound sweet to our ears. We cherish these words. It is difficult for us to comprehend how these words of Jesus could possibly be offensive, leading to such hostility. Read the rest of Sermon: John 8:31-47: True Disciples Abide »