John 8:42-45
1. The confrontation
By definition, truth exposes or challenges lies. The light exposes what the darkness tries to hide. Notice how the dialogue moves along with a series of challenges:
1. Jesus challenges their faith (v.31-32)
2. The Jews defiantly challenge Jesus’ comment on freedom: (v.33)
3. Jesus challenges their notion of freedom (v.33-36) followed by a challenge to their claim to be Abraham’s children. (v.37)
4. The Jews challenge Jesus on that (v.41)
5. Jesus challenges them on that v.42
6. Jesus stays on the offensive, challenging why they don’t get him. (v.43)
That is so incredibly serious that Jesus then unpacks the reason why: (v.47)
7. Finally, rather than enter into serious discussion, they resort to name-calling. (v.48)
2. The significance
Why is this important?
Are there lies about God, heaven, how to be right with God?
In John 8:44 Jesus describes the world as it is;
The human experience is captivated by some big lies about man, God, and the afterlife.
We are lied to about the most important issues in life.
Jesus is saying, “The world is full of lies about spiritual reality which you are bent to embrace. For my part, I’ll tell you the truth.”
What is your part? To constantly ask the question, “What am I believing? I don’t have to believe everything I tell myself. Is what I believe about life really true? How does my understanding square with the word of God?
Here are two examples that come from the text. They are two big lies that came into the world at the fall and destroy human beings. They keep us from the light and the life. Satan lies to you about yourself and God.
1. Trust yourself (rely on yourself, live for yourself)
2. Don’t trust God (he’s the bad guy, he’s out to get you)
Trust yourself:
For heaven: (Lies about how to be accepted by God.)
For happiness: (Lies about what will make you happy.)
Don’t trust God:
Lies about what discourages you.
What does this text require of you?
That you constantly ask Christ for the grace to develop a well-disciplined thought life. Paul calls it “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor.10:5).
“Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence r anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” (Phil.4:8)
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Col.3:2)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)
