~ Who’s Your Daddy? (2) ~
(A 10-part series on John 7:11–John 8:59)
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:41-47)
THE HARSH LANGUAGE in this days-long confrontation between Jesus and his detractors now takes on deeper and darker tones. Jesus has steadily deflected and deflated the attacks of his critics and has reduced their assault from attack to self-defense. “We are not illegitimate—only God is our Father.” (John 8:41b) This statement may indicate a hint of snide presumption about the long-whispered circumstances of Jesus’ birth, and if so, fits well within the context of the theme of legitimacy that explodes forth in this revealing scene. In the maelstrom of words that follow, Jesus now has them at his mercy, but he gives them none—they have by their own actions excluded themselves from Grace. “If God were your Father, your actions would be far different. You belong to your father, the devil.” (John 8:42.44)
Throughout the gospels, Jesus’ teachings are counter-intuitive to the prevailing worldview, and he often appeals metaphorically to the senses of the body as a way of understanding what he has said. “Let those with ears to hear, hear, those with eyes to see, see.” (Matt. 13:13-15) Not so with those before him now. He clearly views them as enemies, which they are, and his tone with them is scathing and unrelenting. “Whoever who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47) The indictment could not be more severe, but they are unable to hear, even though they are students of scripture. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way.” (Psa. 2:12)
We are not used to seeing Jesus as angry and combative, and we find this unsettling. The modern personal Jesus of western evangelical Christianity always smiles warmly and has outstretched arms inviting warm embrace. But we have just caught, seen glimpsed beneath the white wool of the Lamb, a clear view of the fur of the Lion of Judah. We picture lambs as innocent, perhaps cuddly, like a young child’s favored toy; the lion, however, is an apex predator. Not only is this disturbing, it should be, and should be a call to action for, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)
No other figure in human history has carried a message that has lasted as long and had as much impact as the words of Jesus. His message withstands the test of time, because it is timeless; his message transcends this world, for it comes from heaven; his message is for everyone whose father is God. Let those with ears, hear, and eyes, see: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. He who belongs to God hears what God says.” (John 8:42, 47)
Q. Am I a legitimate child of God?
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