In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 8:42-51[HCSB])

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

48 The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan and have a demon? ”

49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. 50 I do not seek My glory; the One who seeks it also judges. 51 I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death ever! ”

Never see death

Jesus knows the hearts of men … and secretly understands that the one thing men fear the most is the end of life, especially an end where there is no hope for a new beginning. I do not believe that Jesus would dwell on this subject if it were not an issue of eternal consequence.

For the believers listening, there would not be an end; that is to say they would never taste a permanent death or disconnect from the Spirit of God. Adding gravity, Jesus appears to equate the hearts of Jewish leaders with the heart of Cain who was guided by the Devil to kill his own brother. This killing of Able was seen as a foretelling of religious authorities killing Jesus, who as a Jew Himself was their own “brother.”

Verses 43 & 47 seem to sum up the core of the problem: that the religious leadership were unable, and indeed unwilling, to “have the eyes that see and the ears that hear.”

This constant reminder of the wrong path that the religious authorities were on did nothing to endear Him to any of His opponents or detractors. And it is a fine line between conviction and judgment. It seemed that Jesus, at times, may have confused the two. He did not! He can we know where the line is drawn?

Speaking the truth is no gain for us, and all gain for the glory of God. That is the truth!