The Gospel of John: John 8.48-59

Read and meditate on John 8.49-51.
Rather than cringe at their scurrilous, vicious slur, Jesus replied with grace and truth. Same song, next verse.

                                           ⁴⁹He
replied, “I do not have a demon. Me
you would dishonor by thus saying; I
My Father honor, ⁵⁰for I do not My
own glory seek, but His, the One Who seeks
and judges. ⁵¹Most assuredly, I speak
these words to you: whoever keeps My Word
shall never die.”

- John 8.49-51

Reflect
1.  Why do you suppose Jesus did not reply to the charge of being a Samaritan? Are some attacks against us and our faith so ludicrous on the surface that they don’t deserve a response? Explain.Complete this prayer: Lord, lead me to someone today with whom I can share the Good News of Jesus. And help me, as this person responds, to…

2.  Jesus saw the charge of having a demon as meant only to dishonor Him. In whose eyes? How? Some people today still want to dishonor You, Lord, and they do so by…

3.  Jesus was quick to say that He did not seek to honor Himself, to seek glory for Himself. What did He mean by that? Whose glory was Jesus seeking, and how? You have called me to Your Kingdom and glory, Lord (1 Thess. 2.12), and not to any glory of my own. Guard me today from…

4.  Jesus kept the conversation in a proper light. The Jews were trying to get the people to judge Jesus according to their line, as a deceiver who could not be trusted. How did Jesus reposition this entire conversation in the second part of verse 50? To whom did He point everyone as Judge of this conversation? Why is it important for us to keep this in mind, as we live as witnesses for the Lord? I know You see all things, Lord, including all my work as a witness. Help me always to remember that…

5.  Rather than back down, Jesus ratcheed up (v. 51). Explain “keeps”, “My Word”, and “never see death.” How do these ideas fit in the Gospel as you proclaim it?  Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“He provides us with an example of what we should do in such a situation when he adds, ‘I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks and judges.’ We know that it is written that ‘the Father has given all judgment to the Son,’ and yet we see that when the Son receives insulting words he does not seek his own glory. He leaves the offenses offered him for the Father’s judgment. And so he suggests to us how patient we should be when even he, the Judge, does not wish to avenge himself.” Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)

We know the Gospel is true, we know that Jesus is Savior and Lord, we know that the Spirit dwells within us in power, we know that God’s Word spoken never returns to Him without accomplishing His purpose, and we know that God the Father watches over us, whom Jesus has sent into the world as His witnesses. How should knowing this affect our witness for the Lord?

Closing Prayer
I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Psalm 145.1-12

Psalm 145.1-12 (Brother James’ Air: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want)
I will extol You, God, my King, and ever praise Your Name!
I bless You, Lord, for everything each day, and e’er the same!
Great are You, Lord, my praise I bring; unsearchable Your fame!
To ev’ry generation we Your wondrous works shall tell.
The splendor of Your majesty we contemplate full well.
We speak of all Your mighty deeds and all Your greatness tell!

Then shall we all the glorious fame of Your great goodness sing –
Your righteousness, Your gracious Name, Your mercy: praise we bring!
Your steadfast love remains the same, mercy our covering.

Your works shall thank You; all Your saints shall bless and praise You, Lord.
Your reign we bless without restraint; Your power fills our words.
Our children we shall educate in all Your splendor, Lord.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.