Today's passage: John 8:48-59
Helpful thoughts:
- Please read verse 47 for context. What the Jews said to Jesus was in response to what He had said of them.
- Jesus' version = “You are not of God.”
- Jews' response = “You are a Samaritan and have a demon.”
- What the Jews said to Jesus was incredibly offensive (That's an understatement). He did not respond in kind (1 Peter 2:23).
- In saying, “Before Abraham was, I am” Jesus was making a clear declaration of His deity. He was claiming to be God.
- The Jews absolutely understood this. There was a clear reason why they picked up stones to execute Him.
Questions to consider:
- Why was the response of the Jews in verse 48 so egregious? What might have been the equivalent hateful statement in our culture today? How did the response of the Jews reveal the nature of their hearts and the lack of actual content for their argument?
- How was Jesus' response and the conversation that followed so instructive? What did He respond with? Did He act in kind (Was He nasty back to them)? Did He stop speaking the truth? (1 Peter 3:15)
- Who is Jesus (Exodus 3:14)? What then is the only right response in light of this truth (John 3:18)?