Anchor My Faith

No, the Devil Is Your Father!

Scripture: John 8:41-44

As the Jews were ready to respond to the strong comments of Jesus, we decided to end the lesson and start this one with ^{Jn 8:41} “[the Jews saying] to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”’

Since the Jews were not making much, if any, progress in their discussion with Jesus, they decide to attack his background. At the time when Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist, Mary went to visit her after being visited by Michael, the Archangel. She stayed with Elizabeth until the time of the birth of John. By this time, it was clear to Mary that she was pregnant. The Jews were denying the virgin pregnancy and assuming that Mary became pregnant during the time of her visit with Elizabeth. This is what Joseph thought also until he was told in a dream that the Father of Jesus was God. This is the sexual immorality the Jews are alluding to.

The Jews then trap themselves by saying, “We have one Father—even God.” ^{Jn 8:42} “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.”’

Again, Jesus makes it clear that he is from God and is standing before them as the Son of God their Messiah. If God were the Father of these Jews, then they would be spiritually children of God and would love Jesus as their brother. Unless one is willing to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and embrace it, the connection of Jesus to God as his Father cannot be made. These Jews are not able to or are not willing to make that connection and so are doing all they can to show that he is an imposter deserving of death.

Jesus then makes it very clear to these Jews, who their father is. ^{Jn 8:43} “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴ 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.”

It was not only these Jews that didn’t understand, for through the gospel of John many people misunderstood Jesus and his teaching. Jesus now explains to them why they didn’t understand. First, it is because they could not bear to hear his word; in other words, they were not able to hear (receive) what Jesus was saying. Bases on their knowledge of the Scriptures, they should have been able to hear and receive, but they didn’t.

The second reason why they couldn’t understand was because their father was the devil, making them children of the devil. As children of the devil, their desire is to do their father’s will; to fulfill his desires. We know from previous lessons that the devil desires the death of Jesus, and it is his desire to use these Jews to accomplish this task for him.

At this point we will end this lesson and finish this section in the next lesson.

Conclusion

Father, how important it is to hear, understand and apply the words of Jesus to our lives. It is so easy to be drawn away to the things the world has to offer and then fall short in our walk with you. Forgive us and encourage us, even with persecution if that is needed, to walk more closely with you and your beloved Son, Jesus.