Notes on John 8: 31 – 38 & 48 – 59

This is another lectionary choice where the compilers have left a large gap in the middle of the chosen passage. This left out section, , talks about the devil being the father of the Jews whom Jesus is arguing with. We did briefly discuss this section from verse 39 – 47 and you can read below what we thought. Our initial read through produced at once a difference in translation which made a considerable alteration to the meaning. In one edition a word in verse 33 is translated servants while in others the same word is translated slaves. Servants have a choice and are paid for their work, while slaves have no choice and are not paid. In verse 34 Jesus links this service or slavery to sin. Our first discussion then looked at the distinction between sin as a matter of choice or whether it is like an addiction and not a matter of choice! Linking sin to paid contractual service gives an impression of sinners selling their soul to the devil, but the idea of sin as a type of slavery gives the impression of “It’s not our fault, we can’t help it”. In a sense both propositions can be correct; as some people deliberately do wrong, while others don’t appear to have a choice due to family circumstances or social pressures.

In Verse 30 we are told that, due to Jesus’ teaching in the Temple, many believed in Him; and at verse 31 Jesus turns to these believers and tells them that if they continue “in His word” they will be true disciples. But by the time we reach verse 38 they are arguing; and by verse 48 the Jews have resorted to insults, as they call Jesus a Samaritan and suggest that He is demon-possessed. We were struck by the change in this dialogue between Jesus and some Jews who “had believed in Him”, and were interested to find out what produces this massive swing from belief to insult. The use of the past tense at verse 31 may indicate that these believers were already sceptical (in them the seed has fallen on stony ground). There is obviously a large group of people listening to Jesus at this point, and it may be that Jesus’ words at verse 31 are directed towards a different group of people.

However, it is Jesus’ words in verses 31 and 32 which produce the argument that ensues. In these verses Jesus tells them that belief alone is not enough - they must also “continue in His word”. In simple terms they must believe, apply and experience if they wish to be true disciples. Their reply that, as descendants of Abraham, they had never been “slaves” makes it clear that they thought they did not need to do anything. Simply being born Jews was enough as this alone made them children of God. This deliberate confabulation of their own history (they knew very well that they were once slaves in Egypt) shows how far they were from even wanting to understand Jesus. Sometimes people use scripture to back up what they are saying or doing, but here this group of Jews deliberately ignore their history and scripture.

In verse 38 Jesus tells this group of Jews that they should obey God - “you should do what you have heard from the Father”. They reply (verse 39) that Abraham is their father. This is another indication that they think, because they are children of Abraham that, they naturally qualify as children of God and do not need to do anything else. Being Abraham’s children is their reassurance. But Jesus pulls the rug from under them and declares that they are not Abraham’s children in what they are trying to do. Jesus insists that, because they are trying to kill him, they cannot be children of Abraham because Abraham would have realised that Jesus was from God and would have listened to him (verse40). An argument ensues which leads Jesus to declare that the devil is their father (verse 44); the devil is the father of lies. Jesus tells the truth which they fail to believe. Jesus then uses a question (verse 46) which reminds one of verses 7 & 10. Chapter 8 began with the story of the woman taken in adultery. When no-one can condemn her because of their own sin Jesus forgives her and she goes away. Here Jesus asks which of His questioners can condemn Him of sin. There is no answer!

This passage 39 – 47 (left out of the lectionary) deals with the devil and the nature of Satan. We have seen before in our studies that the lectionary often leaves out passages that deal with the devil and the nature of Satan. We felt that this was a reflection of how the church had changed its tack over the years from the threat of hell fire and damnation to concentrating on the love of God. In the past in some places there has been a too prurient interest in the devil and his nature, so we felt that the lectionary compilers had decided that it was best to concentrate peoples’ minds on the love of God. God’s love supersedes all things, and it was a wise decision to concentrate on it and not accord the devil status by mentioning him. However, by leaving this out, the previous passage loses something of it message. Jesus has told these Jews that they are slaves or servants to sin. By calling them children of the devil he is linking His previous argument uniting slavery or servitude to sin. As children of the devil they naturally become slaves or servants to sin, as they cannot help themselves.

By including this passage (verses 39 - 47) we can more easily understand why the Jews suddenly descend to calling Jesus a “Samaritan” and “demon-possessed” at verse 48. Without the inclusion of verses 39 – 47 this insult does appear to come out of nowhere. Ignoring the insult about being a Samaritan, Jesus answers their query about demon possession. At the end of this passage Jesus refers to Himself in terms of God - “I am” (verse 58). The chapter finishes much as it began by the Jews attempting to stone Jesus in the same way they had attempted to stone the woman taken in adultery. They have travelled far from their original belief at verse 30.