The Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 8:30-59   by Samuel E. Ward   Introduction:  Review   I.  The "The Fisherman's Story" Contains the Unveiling of  the Redemptive Promise of God, John1:19-4:54. II.  The "The Fisherman's Story" Contains a Record of the Rising Controversy Over Jesus' Claims and Demonstration of His Divine Nature and Power, John 5:1-47. III.  The "The Fisherman's Story" Contains a Record of the Growing Conflict Between Jesus and the Jews Over His Identity Claims, John 6:1-8:11.    The story continues by taking note that . . .   IV. The "Fisherman's Story" Contains a Record of the Intensification of the Controversy Between Jesus and the Unbelieving Jews, John 8:12-59   This section of John 8:12-59 finds Jesus' teaching in the temple area.  We have so far touched up two main topics of this teaching:   A. He Taught, "I am the Light of the World, 8:12-20.   (John 8:12-20 NIV)  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." {13} The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." {14} Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. {15} You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. {16} But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. {17} In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. {18} I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me." {19} Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." {20} He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.   B. He Taught Concerning His Impending Death and Its Significance, John 8:21-30.   (John 8:21-30 NIV)  Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come." {22} This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?" {23} But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. {24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." {25} "Who are you?" they asked. "Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. {26} "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world." {27} They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. {28} So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. {29} The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." {30} Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.   Jesus' teaching in the temple area continues with remarks to a specified group.  We observe . . .   C. The discussion with professed believers (8:31-47)   1.  Jesus lays out the requirement and promise of true discipleship, John 8:31-32   (John 8:31-32 NIV)  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."   a.  The requirement:   Live the truth Jesus teaches. b.  The promise:  The truth will set you free.   Verse 34 will identify the slave master from which they will gain their freedom.   2.  The Jews reject the notion that they are enslaved, John 8:33.   (John 8:33 NIV)  They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"   3.  Jesus explains the nature of their slavery, John 8:34-49.   a. They are enslaved to sin, John 8:34   (John 8:34 NIV)  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.   b. They are slaves with no permanent standing, unlike sons with eternal standing, John 8:35.   (John 8:35 NIV)  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.   c. They can be set free on the authority of Son, John 8:36   (John 8:36 NIV)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.   4. Jesus exposes the misplacement of the Jews confidence, John 8:37-.   a. Their attitude betrays their disconnect with their spiritual heritage with Abraham, John 8:37   (John 8:37 NIV)  I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.   b. Their actions reveal their true father, John 8:38.   (John 8:38 NIV)  I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."   c.  They insistently claim Abraham as their father, John 8:39a.   (John 8:39a NIV)  "Abraham is our father," they answered.   d.  Jesus' offers proof of their error, John 8:39b-41a.   (John 8b:39-41a NIV)  "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. {40} As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. {41} You are doing the things your own father does."   e.  They protest of Jesus' assertions, John 8:41b   (John 8:41b NIV) "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."   f.  Jesus characterizes the attitude of the true child of God toward Himself, John 8:42.   (John 8:42 NIV)  Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.   g.  Jesus reveals their true father, John 8:43-44.   1) They betray their true father by their inability to grasp Jesus' teaching concerning Himself, John 8:43.   (John 8:43 NIV)  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.   2) They betray their true father (the devil) by their refusal to accept the truth and rather  believe his lies. They even contemplate murder, John 8:44-45.   (John 8:44-45 NIV)  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. {45} Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!   h. Jesus challenges them to find any fault in Him or His message, John 8:46-47.   (John 8:46-47 NIV)  Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? {47} He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."   D. The offense taken by the unbelievers, 8:48-59   1. The unbelievers' offensive question, John 8:48     (John 8:48 NIV)  The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"   2. Jesus' gracious answer, John 8:49-51   (John 8:49-51 NIV)  "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. {50} I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. {51} I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."   3. The unbelievers' contemptuous response, John 8:52-53   (John 8:52-53 NIV)  At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. {53} Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"   4.  Jesus' unwavering claim, John 8:54-56   (John 8:54-56 NIV)  Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. {55} Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. {56} Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."   5. The unbelievers' sarcastic retort, John 8:57   (John 8:57 NIV)  "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"   6.  Jesus' unmistakable claim to deity, John 8:58   (John 8:58 NIV)  "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"   7.  The unbelievers' attempt to execute Jesus for blasphemy, John 8:59   (John 8:59 NIV)  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.   Application   1. Before we can be set free from sin, we must be convinced that we are indeed enslaved by it.  Also, we must be made aware that the consequences of remaining enslaved to sin is eternal judgment while repenting and turning to God leads to eternal life.   (Rom 6:20-23 NIV)  When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. {21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! {22} But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. {23} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   2. Whether we are Christian or not is not dependent upon our mere professing to be one, but living like one.    (1 John 3:6-9 NIV)  No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. {7} Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. {8} He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. {9} No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.   3.  We must come to Christ so that we will be among those who are caught up to be with Christ, both dead and alive, when He returns for His church.   (1 Th 4:16-17 NIV)  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.   4.  Daniel speaks of an alternative destiny to the resurrection of those to everlasting life.  It is resurrection to everlasting judgment for those who do not believe.   (Dan 12:1-3 NIV)  "At that time [the end of the age just before the final judgment] Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.  {2} Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. {3} Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.   My Choice Is to   Rise and Shine