◄ What Does John 8:44 Mean? ►

As Christ's earthly ministry progressed, the animosity against the Lord Jesus increased. In this chapter, the gracious words and godly wisdom of Christ stand in stark contrast with the wicked plots of evil men who sought to discredit His words and damage His reputation by setting traps to denigrate His teachings. In this chapter, man's scheming wickedness is seen to be the antithesis of the goodness of Christ.

Grace and forgiveness was contrasted with law and accusations when the woman was caught in adultery. Light was contrasted with darkness, life with death, honour with dishonour, freedom with bondage, and the glorious truth of the gospel of Christ was dismissed with icy lies, as the bitter antagonism against the Lord of glory and His messianic message increased to fever pitch.

The incarnate Word of God stood before them, and eternal Truth in human form was presented before their eyes. Immanuel had come from heaven to teach the truth of God to fallen humanity. Christ Jesus the Lord presented this hostile group with the life-changing truth which could free each one from the bondage of the Law, slavery to sin and death, and eternal separation from God.

The words that Christ spoke and the message that He delivered was from His Father in heaven Who, at His baptism, had acknowledged Him as: "My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." The denial of this truth caused the only begotten Son of God to label His accusers as children of the devil: "You are of your father, the devil," were His blistering words, "and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Pride was the sin that was found in Satan, and pride was the sin that was resident in the hearts of these religious leaders: "For whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but the one who confesses the Son has the Father also."

The Bible tells us that all unsaved people are, by nature, children of wrath and disobedience, until the time when they trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation by grace through faith in Him. However, there are those who willingly reject the truth and turn their back on the only means of salvation: "For salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ, for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved."

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am Your child. Keep me, I pray, from the sin of pride and unbelief. Please give me discernment in every area of my life, so that I do not fall prey to the lies of the devil. Help me to look to Jesus, moment by moment, and to walk in the Truth. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.