21: Abraham’s children and the Devil’s children (John 8:31 – 59)

Jesus clearly pinpointed the reason for their unbelief. “You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.” (44)

👉 Read John 8:31 - 59


Q1. “If you continue to (          ) my teaching, you are really my disciples, and you (        ) know the (       ), and the truth will set you (        ) from the slavery of (        ).” This is how the (       ) sets us free (36). However, they didn’t want his teaching and tried to (        ) Jesus.

If you continue to ( follow ) my teaching, you are really my disciples and, you ( will ) know the ( truth ), and the truth will set you ( free ) from the slavery of ( sin ).” This is how the ( son ) sets us free. However, they didn’t want this teaching and tried to ( kill ) Jesus.


As you walk with the Lord day by day, you will get to know more about the truth. Yes, it takes time. And the truthful knowledge of God will free you from sin. The fellowship with God gives you the power to stop sinning. 

Note that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. The more you sin, the more you will become a slave of sin.


Q2. Though they were Abraham’s descendants, their deeds showed the devil’s practices. What are the two deeds that showed they were from the devil? (40-41, 44-46)

They tried to kill Jesus

There is no truth in them. They lie.

Hypocrisy and hatred are two characteristics of the devil and the start and the end of sin. 

According to v45-46, we note that there is a close link between truth and sinlessness. If you have truth in your heart, you will not sin. If you sin, you do not have truth in your heart. And v32 says the truth will set you free from sin. Thus, truthfulness and righteousness are two sides of a coin. 

According to that understanding, we can claim this way. Because Jesus was without sin, Jesus’ teaching must be truthful. However, they refused to accept Jesus’ teaching even though they knew Jesus was without sin. Why? They have no truth in their hearts and belong to the devil, the father of lies. 

If they belong to God, they would accept Jesus’ message that came from God. (47) Therefore, not listening to Jesus’ teaching implies not belonging to God.


Q3. Jesus proclaimed clearly, ‘If anyone who obeys my teaching, he will never see (         ).’ The Judeans couldn’t believe it and responded, ‘Everyone died including (            ) and the prophets. Yet you say so? Are you (        ) than our Father Abraham? Who do you claim to be?’ However, Jesus entrusted His defense to God (54 - 55) and proclaimed this way, ‘Your father Abraham overjoyed to see (         ), and he saw it as was glad.’   

Jesus proclaimed clearly, ‘If anyone who obeys my teaching, he will never see ( death ).’ The Judeans couldn’t believe it and responded, ‘Everyone died including ( Abraham ) and the prophets. Yet you say so? Are you ( greater ) than our Father Abraham? Who do you claim to be?’ However, Jesus entrusted His defense to God and proclaimed this way, ‘Your father Abraham overjoyed to see ( my day  ), and he saw it as was glad.’

Jesus’ message is a promise of resurrection for us who are destined to die. ‘To see my day’ could mean to experience God’s power of resurrection. Abraham saw God’s power that brought forth life through the body of Sarah who was like the dead. Isaac’s birth foreshadows the resurrection of the dead through Jesus.

Note that, against the persecution of the Judeans, Jesus only proclaimed the message from God without defending Himself. 

“You are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon.” (48)

Jesus' virgin birth was ridiculed as an illegitimate birth and thus called a Samaritan. The miraculous work of the Holy Spirit was mocked as ‘a result of immorality’ as in verse 41. 


Q4. Upon their continuous objections, Jesus declared his divine identity. “Before (          ) came existence, (        )!”

Abraham, I am

They could not accept this. No human can accept God’s immeasurable love that He came as a man and died on the cross. 

Though Jesus didn’t prove His proclamation, they should accept it because Jesus was without sin, which tells Jesus is telling the truth.


It is the first step for us to remove hatred and hypocrisy (or lie) from our hearts to see the truth. And accept Jesus’ teaching if you can’t find any guilt in Him. That’s the way of faith.

"If you continue to follow my teaching, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 




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