I am not close to my extended family. My dad is significantly younger than his other siblings and so growing up my cousins were approaching adulthood, while I was still playing with trucks in the sand. But, even though we are not close, we share familial traits. One of my cousins looks very similar to me. If I look at another cousin, I can see my uncle and a little bit of my dad in him. Because we are from the same family line we share in the family traits. But family traits only go so far. Your family genetics can only take you so far. Family pedigree only goes so far. In our passage we see Jesus talking to people who believe they are acceptable to God simply because they are descendants of Abraham. They are relying on their family tree to give them security before God. But as we shall see, Jesus challenges this belief. Let’s have a look.
Scripture Reference: John 8:39-47 (ESV)
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
This passage is a really interesting passage because it contrasts two ways in which we approach God. There are two postures with which we approach God. The first posture says “God must accept be because of who I am”. That is the posture of the people to whom Jesus is speaking. They tell Jesus, “Abraham is our father”. They are saying that since they are descendants of Abraham, they have a special place in God’s heart. But Jesus challenges them. He tells them that if they were spiritually truly Abraham’s descendants, they would do the works of Abraham. What was the work of Abraham, other than to have faith in God and to believe in his Word? But these people actually don’t believe in the Word standing right in front of them. So by their very unbelief they disqualify themselves as true children of Abraham. Not only that, they actively want to find a way to kill Jesus.
Trying to defend themselves “We have one Father – even God”. But Jesus confronts them directly. “If God were your Father, you would love me”. What Jesus is doing here is that he is highlighting the way we really relate to God. The way we approach God is through Christ Jesus. But it isn’t just a posture we take, Jesus isn’t just a path we should walk on to get to God. No true faith is love for Jesus. If you are a true child of God you will naturally love Jesus.
We should think about this because I think if we are honest we can unexpectedly find ourselves in the same place these people did. We fall into the same trap when we think we are all good with God because we attend church. Or that we are part of God’s family because we grew up in a Christian family. We can think we will be get our mansion in heaven because we ticked “Christian” on the census form. We can think that because we know our theology well, we are somehow made holy. But this passage goes to the heart of the matter. Do we truly love Jesus?
If you do then you are part of the family. If you don’t then you aren’t. Simple as that.
Prayer
Dear Holy Spirit, please help me truly love my Lord Jesus with my whole heart. I confess I need you to change my heart from within to make this possible. Please do it for his glory’s sake. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge
Today, make time to spend with Jesus. Meditate on all the things he has done for you and in prayer thank him for each one.