Who’s the Father?

Text: John 8:13-57

Theme: Knowing who one’s father is makes all the difference.

Key verses: “You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me” (vv. 15-16). “‘I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.’ ‘Who is your father?’ they asked. Jesus answered, ‘Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father'” (vv. 18-19). “‘Who are you?’ they demanded. Jesus replied, ‘The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.’ But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me. He has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.’ Then many who heard him say those things believed in him” (vv. 25-30). “Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.’ ‘Our father is Abraham!’ they declared. ‘No,’ Jesus replied, for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your father.’ They replied, ‘We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our Father.’ Jesus told them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (vv. 37-44). “Jesus answered, ‘If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, “He is our God,” but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad'” (vv. 54-56).

What I believe God said to me:
Dwayne, welcome back. I’ve missed our meetings together in my Word as you journal our conversations. I placed you in Warsaw these days for a purpose. It was no accident or oversight. The connections you have made you should continue to nurture. There is more to come and more to see from what might look to some like being stranded in a foreign land. You are not alone. I am with you. My presence goes before you. And as you travel tomorrow to Pakistan and to other Asian nations on your training tour, never forget that I will never leave you or forsake you. I am going to meet the shortfall of finances that NLW finds itself in now. I’ve got this. I’ve got you. I am your Father. Speaking of fathers, I want you to notice how confused the Pharisees were over who their father was. Notice the progression during this exchange in John 8 between Jesus and those religious leaders. When Jesus made reference to his Father who sent Him, the Pharisees asked, “Who is your father?” To which Jesus basically told them if you know you know and if you don’t you don’t. Surprisingly, that didn’t get Jesus arrested. But Jesus wasn’t done confronting them. Later, presumably in the same temple, he said to them that they were “from below,” from “this world,” and that they would “die” in their sins unless they believed in Him. Needless to say, this got their attention. They couldn’t allow some punk to stroll in from the street and talk to them with such derogatory language. So they took the bait and engaged Him again. Jesus brought up the topic of His Father again and how He only said and did what pleased His Father. This caused many to believe in Jesus as their Savior. But clearly not everyone turned to Him that day. A few moments later, when Jesus said the truth would set them free, some of those same Pharisees touted, “We are descendants of Abraham. We’ve never been enslaved.” Jesus didn’t flinch. He acknowledged that they as Jews were blood descendants of Abraham. But their real father was someone else, for if they were really Abraham’s children, they would follow his example and not try to kill Jesus. This really set them off. I mean, nobody likes to be called a sinner, a would-be murderer, and an illegitimate child. Their response was to invoke God’s name as their true father. Sounded spiritual, and no doubt to the laymen standing around watching this heated exchange, what they said sounded plausible. They were, after all, revered priests of the Temple. At this point Jesus lowers the boom and makes Himself extremely clear about who they really are. He calls them children of the devil “for you love to do the evil things he does.” He asks them logically who can accuse Him of sinning. There was dead silence for a moment at that question. No one dared answer. No one knew how. The only thing they could finally think to say was the far-fetched notion that Jesus was possessed. But nothing they said could deter Him or distract Him from His goal with them. He was determined to expose their lies and facade. He wanted those listening to know who the real Father is and who truly belonged to Me. Jesus seemed to switch tactics. Rather than saying again that their father was the devil, he said instead that Abraham was their father. But he used this acknowledgment against them. Their father Abraham “rejoiced” to see Jesus coming to earth. The insinuation here is that if Abraham knows who Jesus is, they should too. Jesus is eternal. Abraham is mortal. But those people refused to admit or even consider such a notion. Here is what I want you to take away from this reading today more than anything: Why did you think Jesus kept pushing the Father agenda with them? Because knowing who the Father is is a really big deal that has eternally gigantic consequences. The saying, “Who’s your daddy?” is far more important than those who use that saying might realize. Having the right Father figure is incredibly significant, life-shaping, and eternity-determining. Having the correct view of who the real Father is can affect everything about your life and destiny. Jesus wanted there to be no confusion or question about whose children they were and whose Father they needed to be. Today, stop and thank Me for being both your Father and friend.

What I said to God: I’m blown away by this revelation, Lord. Thank You for reminding me in no uncertain terms of how important my role model of a Father is. You have shaped me, formed me, guided me, provided for me, corrected me, chided me, and loved me with an everlasting, unconditional love. There is no God like You. There is no Father like my Father. Thank You for sending Your one and only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and take my place. Thank You that as a result of His suffering and death I can be set free. I get to live forever with my Father and God. I worship You today. I praise Jesus the Christ for dying and rising again with victory over death, hell, and the grave. And I intercede for the millions whose father is the devil. Deliver them. Have mercy on them.