John 8:48-59 Choices: Heritage or HIM?

INTRODUCTION
Before we step into this passage, let's review our context. We are slap dab in the middle of John recounting the events that stretch from the beginning of Chapter 7 and end with the 18th verse of Chapter 10. The time is the Feast of Booths with Jesus going up to Jerusalem and declaring His identity (I AM) while encountering multitudes, woman caught in adultery (Where is the man?), believers, a blind man, Pharisees, and Jews. The next section, beginning with chapter 10, verse 22 tells of Jesus returning to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Dedication.
In the proceeding paragraph, verses 31-47, Jesus was speaking with believing Jews about their level of discipleship only to quickly defend themselves by hiding behind Abraham. In this paragraph, verses 48-59, the Jews begin to attack Jesus.

COMMENTARY
John 8:48-59
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" First of all notice the reference to those speaking to Jesus. Now, in verse 48, it is the Jews. Previously, the group was identified as 'those Jews who had believed Him' with the pronoun 'they' designating the continuation of His audience with them (verse 31-47). Now, it is 'The Jews' (verse 48) are now referred to as if to cast a broader net or to turn to a new group. Therefore, it is widely excepted that these 'Jews' are NOT the 'Jews who had believed Him." The second basis for this being a difference group is that the subject of conversation abruptly changes from heritage in Abraham to Jesus possessing a demon. 'Believers' will often struggle with their religious traditions especially when they are grounded on heritage and ancestry. Only 'perpetually abiding in the Word" will rid a heritage (tradition and ancestry) grounded believer of his erroneous convictions. Non-believers, by declaring the issues of their hearts, are compelled attribute all kinds of demonic affiliation to Jesus.
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4? They were half breeds or mixed breeds. There was no acceptable basis of Jewish heritage or ancestry religion with them. Therefore, the Jews voiced a wide basis for His condemning origin. Jesus answered , "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." Jesus addresses their being and possession charge in the following manner: dismissal, root issues, and result. They say He is a Samaritan. They say that He has a demon and He says that He doesn't. Okay, who is right? While not directly responding to the Samaritan ancestry charge, Jesus directly refutes the demon possession issue. His defense, as ours should be, is specifically related to who we honor. By bringing His Father to His defense He dispels the notion that such a relation can co-habitat with evilness. HONOR is huge. The issues underlying erroneous misconceptions and accusations of Jesus are all to do with the FATHER: His honor, His glory, His searching, and His judgment. Oh my! I hope we see the connection of His Word and Life. Keep His Word! The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.' Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; who do You make Yourself out to be?" The Jews understood His statement. They correctly grasped the weight of Jesus honoring His Father. But they did not accept their relationship. For the are further convinced that Jesus has a demon, for no one would can ascend to such a level of exclusivity. the Jews sought to understand Jesus in their owns terms. They knew all about Abraham and the prophets. They were huge in the religious, heritage and ancestry life of the Jews. Therefore, if Jesus was relating to 'the Father, then there should be no contradiction with Abraham and the prophets. It was commonly asserted that Abraham and the prophets died. All men die for the issue of death is commonly accepted, but the issue of 'not dying' ('never tasting' or 'never seeing' death) is exclusive with Jesus' claims. Some might draw attention to the 'misquote' by the Jews. They say 'taste' but Jesus said 'see'. This not the issue. This issue for us, as it was for them, is to 'keep His Word, then we will neither 'see' nor 'taste' death. Keep His Word! The charge at Jesus' door is this: Who do say you are? Take note for they are cutting to the chase. They are peeling away heritage, ancestral and religious layers to get to the core issue. "Who do You make Yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Do you see the issues brought up again: the issues of 'glorify,' 'know,' and 'keep His word?' 'Glory' which occurs in various conjugations is from the root Greek word, δόξα , meaning "opinion, praise, honor, glory." May we understand the gravity of this issue. Jesus was focused on honoring or glorifying His Father and not Himself. Are we of the same focus? The other issue brought up is the knowledge of God and its paramountcy. Really there is a limited field of options when gods are considered. There is one God, by the very definition of all encompassing God, and there are the others. The 'others' are not God. Other New Testament writers and Jesus speak of them and him as liars. This passage is consistent with that label and description. Either you are of him and in the camp of liars or you are following God and in the camp of 'not' liars, i.e. the truth. The Jews embraced God, but they did not KNOW Him. They were following Him in their ancestry and heritage but they did not know Him. You can follow but never know that which you follow. That is the crux of the matter regarding 'believing' and 'discipleship.' Knowledge of God, the one True God, transcends ancestry, traditions, and heritage. As Abraham rejoices, so will your Godly ancestors rejoice when you forsake ancestries, customs, traditions and heritages by coming into a knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. For He kept and keeps all His Father's words and so must we. The Jews therefore said to Him, :You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" They were stuck on their ancestors criteria and qualifications. Jesus said to them, "Truly; truly; I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Jesus uses their reluctance to abandon their heritage and ancestry to declare His eternal existence by declaring His name: ἐγὼ εἰμί. Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple. The straw that broke the camels back. The Jews, the non-believing ones, took direct offense to His declaring His Name. They could put up with discussions about ancestry, heritages, traditions and customs, but when Jesus declared ἐγὼ εἰμί, they lost it. Religion and all of its good intentions will lead us to be violent to the truth if they religion seeks to establish the truth instead of truth establishing religion. They tried to kill Him but He was still in control. His time had not yet come.

CONCLUSION
What is the difference between 'religion' and 'Christianity?' That was the question Steve Hammack asked me on evening. This passage is much about that difference. Religion, with all of its various manifestations, is based on man reaching his hand out and working to reach God. Christianity, with its exclusive path, is all about God reaching to man. Religion is working. Christianity is a relationship. Do you have a relationship with God through His Son. Does your relationships with Him surpass your ancestral relations? If not, then consider yourself to be like a Jew in the passage. You will someday, sooner or later, be violently opposed to Jesus, seeking to kill Him, because He IS greater than any relationship you have on this earth.

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