“Choices”John 8:48-59

John 8 is the most confrontational… Jesus literally antagonized them with the truth of GodBlinded by their religious tradition so

much that they could not and chose not to see the SaviorIn reality, every single human being has one’s own faith in something or someoneEveryone comes to the point where he

or she must, without an exception, decide whom he or she will follow and worship

Age makes no difference eitherI’ve seen very young folks with cold, stoney, hard hearts towards God

At the same time some elderly people who were set in their way for ages receive Jesus into their hearts, some even on their death beds

God extends His mercy and grace to the last moment of each person because He loves them very much and He doesn’t want them to perish in Hell

Honor and Dishonor…Every person will have to choose, just like the Parisees

The take-home for today is the choice

To honor God, or

To dishonor Him

Choose Life Everlasting

Or choose Death Eternal

Honor and Dishonor…One last time, He gives these Religious leaders the chance to know Him

If you’ve been here through this study, we are getting a complete portrait of Jesus

Patterns of His life, claims, testimony, the reactions of those who followed or fought Him…

48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’

53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 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’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham [q]was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus [r]hid Himself and went out of the temple.

John 8:48-59, NASB

I Honor My Father and You Dishonor Me…Vv 48-50, Israel held all their “Spiritual Security” in two things

They knew God– had all His Law, thought they obeyed by following Religious Tradition

They were the Children of Abraham

I guarantee this intellectual ex-change didn’t remain civil long…

I Honor My Father and You Dishonor Me…That’s when it breaks down to emotional level

People get emotionally involved

Cheeks get red, voices rise

Now they’re thinking, “not only do I disagree, I DON’T LIKE THIS JERK EITHER!

I Honor My Father and You Dishonor Me…Things can even go down hill form there to the physical

They couldn’t handle Jesus dismantling their false piety any longer, so they go to what’ left– name calling

Actually they had another option--they could’ve accepted Him

I told you last week I thought the Samaritan comment was a slam at His virgin birth

The demon possession even more insulting

Keep My word and you shall never taste death…

Even the blatant insults didn’t phase Jesus, Vv 51-55

Merciless name-calling, but He shows Mercy

Great example for Us– especially driving!

Tremendous statement– if you are born again, you are experiencing everlasting life now!

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

Vv 56-59, If there was any doubt in your mind whether or not Jesus claimed to be God….

Jesus is letting Father God and Abraham defend Him here

How did Abraham see Jesus?

2 ways I believeHebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

2 ways I believeHebrews 11:8-10.”

Secondly, when Jesus rescued Him from Hades (but that hasn’t happened yet)

God did not give Abraham some special vision of our Lord Jesus’ life and ministry, but He did give Abraham the spiritual perception to “see” these future events.

Certainly Abraham saw the birth of the Messiah in the miraculous birth of his own son, Isaac

He certainly saw Calvary when he offered Isaac to God in Genesis 22

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

JW bibles change “ego eimi” to “have been” to fit with their heresy, as if Jesus were only an angelThe Pharisees were so angry at His statement, they tried to stone Him

There was no misunderstanding who He sais He was

Claiming to be God was blasphemy to them because of…

Leviticus 24:16 “And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death”

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

The most difficult people to win to the Savior are those who do not realize that they have a need

They are under the condemnation of God, yet they trust their religion and their traditions to save them

Walking in darkness, not following the “Light of the World”

They are sharing a “living death” because of their bondage to sin; and, in spite of their religious deeds, they are dishonoring the Father and the Son

Take- Home If God is your Father through Jesus, then heaven is your home

If He is not your Father through Jesus, then Hell is your destiny

True Christian love can only be seen through what we do to others, not by what we say

There is no middle ground or gray area in following and serving the Lord – either you are for Him or against Him

Take- Home

Love somebody this week in word or deed

Spend 15 minutes this week, determining what side of this line you live on

Tell me about it next week!!!