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INTRODUCTION
We have been in John Chapter 8 for 5 weeks, a chapter showing the growing tension between the Jewish religious
leaders and Jesus. Starting point for message is the ending of the chapter v. 59. How did their tension
escalate to that?
Jesus exposed their heart with the woman caught in adultery. He exposed their lies about their history (deny they were ever
enslaved). He exposed their real father was the devil himself (a murderer and liar).
Now as the chapter concludes, they resorted in their arguments to insults, sarcasm, and ultimately violence. Violence is the last
resort of defeated people. When reason fails, try stones. The Jews view of Jesus began a long while back with curiosity, now it
degenerated into outright vicious unbelief.
TEXT John 8:48-59 conclusion of chapter of controversy. We will approach this text as a
“They said”/“Jesus said.” The back and forth, verbal ping/pong match with three points of debate.
1. Was Jesus Demon Possessed? Vs. 48 - 51
- They said: “You are a Samaritan and have a demon” v. 48
- Outright insult. Samaritans were half-breeds, inter-racial. They claimed Abraham also, but really considered pagan by
the Jews, an ethnic slur. On the level of the ethnic insults whites give to blacks or other races.
- To then say Jesus had a “demon” - cohort of the devil, was a charge of absolute absurdity. A
charge that Jesus was mentally deranged, possessed by a evil spirit. They knew what demon possessed people were like,
it was ridiculous. This charge was made on at least 3 other occasions in the gospels. A charge contrary to Jesus’
temperament.
- They basically were calling Jesus a crazy heathen. A cheap shot, when all else fails in a dialogue - insult your enemy
with the worse charges.
- Began it “Do we not say rightly” = we know what we are talking about, you don’t. But the
conservation has already showing how wrong they were, they didn’t know. For them this conversation not going get
better.
- Jesus said vs. 49-51
- I can’t be a demon, because I honor God, demons don’t. He who keeps My word will not see death - Jesus is
providing an opportunity to believe.
- “never see death” - never see the abyss of hell, spiritual death, separation from God. They
didn’t realize they were heading there.
- Jesus didn’t seek glory for Himself, He was at the Father’s service of providing salvation for sinners,
lost, hopeless and helpless.
QUOTE: Charles Wesley’s “And Can it Be” - He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so
infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.”
- Was Jesus demon possessed? They said He was...Was He?
- All of Jesus’ responses in gospels were sober and serious. He was unaffected by the ridicule and scorn. He was
fully conscious of His relationship with Father, and clearly in command of His words.
- The crazy ones were the Jewish leaders themselves they were murderous and liars like their father the devil.
ILLUS: Jesus gets called a lot of things by philosophers, religionists, atheists. His name gets dropped into
profane sentences without thought by countless people. It always shows who the fool really is - not Jesus.
2. Was Jesus a Deceiver? vs. 52-56
- They said: vs. 52-43. “Abraham is dead, prophets are dead, and if you think you are not
greater than they, you do have a demon. Nobody can escape death. Who do you think you are?” Insults, sarcasm.
- So Jesus said vs. 54-56. He seeks to glorify God, the God the Jews turned away from. Jesus
has to tell them the truth about God, otherwise He would be a liar like they are.
- Plus, their physical father, Abraham rejoiced to see this day - Heb. 11:10,13. Abraham understood he was the
beginning of a new nation that will bless the world, he will have children more than the stars in the sky.
- He knew he would not see the promise fulfilled in his lifetime, he trusted God to bring it all to pass. From heaven he
then saw Jesus, heir of his family line, as The Promised One.
- Sadly, the Jews of Jesus time didn’t share their forefather’s spiritual passion. The Messiah was standing
right in front of them, Abraham’s promised heir - and they completely rejected Jesus, their hope for life.
- Was Jesus a deceiver? Not at all, He spoke the truth. Satan the deceiver blinds people to the truth, the Jews
couldn’t and wouldn’t see the truth.
ILLUS: People are still blind to the truth. We need to show The Truth Project. By Focus on the Family, speaker Del
Tackett. 12 lessons in depth - how the truth of Jesus affects every area of our life - ethics, family, law,
government, science, social relationships, work, etc. Comprehensive.
- Jesus knows the truth, gives us the truth, because He IS THE TRUTH.
3. Is Jesus Deity? vs. 57-58
- They said: v. 57 “How can you know Abraham, you are not even 50.”
ILLUS: Age 50 was full maturity. Wow, those of 50 and above have fully arrived! Somehow that doesn’t give me
great joy...
- Abraham lived 2000 years earlier, he is dead now, not standing in their presence, and how could young Jesus have seen
old Abraham? - Absurd!
- Jesus said: v. 58 “Truly, truly” = “Here is absolute truth, before Abraham
was born, I am”
- “was born” - is a definite point in time 2000 years before, “I am” - definite
timelessness, not just prior birth, but always eternal existence.
- 3 times in John 8 Jesus says “I am” absolute sense vs. 24, 28, 58
- Goes back to self-revelation of Jehovah Ex. 3:14 “I AM WHO I AM”
- A triumphant proclamation. Jesus did not say “I was”, but “I am”, He is the giver of
life, the creator, the uncreated, eternal God.
- This is one of the most clearest declarations of deity in the Gospels.
- The Jews understood ultimately, Jesus’ statement was not one of priority before Abraham, but deity, that was
blasphemy, worthy of stoning.
- He came to the Jewish feast in John 7 quickly and quietly and speaks boldly and truthfully, then now leaves just as
quickly and quietly.
CONCLUSION
What claims Jesus made! He was the dividing line in the culture of His day by those claims. That is still true today. People still
wonder: Who is Jesus?
Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell: “The Trilemma: Lord, Liar, Lunatic.” These three
points are played out before us in text.
Point 1 - He is charged with being a lunatic, demon possessed, a heathen
But Jesus stands calm and firm, full presence of mind: “I honor the Father” Jesus is NOT a Lunatic!
Point 2 - He is charged with being a liar.
But Jesus declares with certainty and clarity:
“If I say I do not know Him, I would be liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word” Jesus is
NOT a Liar.
QUOTE: Historian Philip Schaff (The New Evidence, p. 160)
Point 3 - He is Lord - eternally existent
Jews dumbfounded, then their response to His answer revealed they understood His claim to deity. For Jesus said with
absolute authority:
“Before Abraham was born, I am” Jesus IS LORD!
You and I have one of two responses to His claim of Lord - accept or reject? You must decide, you have a moral obligation to
examine the claims of Jesus, and there are thus moral implications to your decision on Jesus. What will you do with Jesus?
Admit you are a Sinner
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord
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