37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

John 8:37- 43 (ESV)

Father identification

Yesterday the Jews claimed Abraham as their father. Jesus acknowledges they are physical descendants of Abraham but challenges them that they are not really his children, his spiritual children. He’ll “up the ante” tomorrow when he goes as far as to say their father is the devil! He starts alluding to it in v38.

The Jews question Jesus’ pedigree quite rudely in v41. They may have known Joseph was not his natural father, which is true. But they probably didn’t believe in the virgin birth.

Word reveals

Jesus identifies that they want to kill him! Is Jesus a mind-reader? Earlier they were identified as believers, but now they want to kill him? How can he know this? He knows based on how they respond to his word.

• Verse 37 says his word has no place in them. What does that mean? It’s not a situation of low priority. It’s not even “in the game”! What do we hold as important? A good measure is: Where do we spend our time and money? 
• Verse 43 goes further saying they cannot even bear to listen to his word, his teaching. “The difficulty lay in their inability to accept the truth that He spoke because of their presuppositions, prejudice, and parentage (v. 44). Listening here does not mean mere hearing and understanding but responding positively…’The meaning of this cannot is an obstinate will not.’ [Henry]” (planobiblechapel.org)

Actions reveal father

Their actions (rejection of his word) reveal who their father is just as Jesus’ actions and words reveal who his Father is. Regarding the works of Abraham, “Abraham had welcomed God’s three angel representatives who visited him with revelations from above (Gen. 18:1-22). Jesus’ hearers had not done that.” (planobiblechapel.org)

<- Reflection ->

• What place does God’s word have on your life? Has it fallen off the radar? Maybe it’s become a daily chore you check off. God wants a relationship with us. That comes through an intimate knowledge of Him through His word. Remember, Jesus is the Word become flesh. (John 1:14)