John 8.31-59

John 8:31-59 tells of Jesus's encounter with Jewish leaders who refuse to believe in Him. He tells them He is their liberator, emphasizing that abiding in His word will set them free (v. 31-36). This freedom isn't merely physical; it's a liberation from sin's enslavement, a theme underscored by Jesus's words that those who commit sin are slaves to sin (v. 34). He responds to their claim of Abrahamic lineage, asserting that true children of Abraham would obey His word (v. 37-47). The ensuing argument escalates, with Jesus telling them "your father is the devil" (v. 44), accusing them of rejecting His witness because of their hatred for God. This rejection leads to a heated exchange where Jesus declares His pre-existence and divine authority, with one of the most remarkable statements of Christ’s ministry, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Their ignorance, slavery to sin, and inability to know Christ for God ultimately leads to their attempt to stone Him (v. 59).
Key to understanding this passage is grasping the nuances of Jesus's language. The Greek word for "abide" (μένω, menō) emphasizes a persistent, intimate dwelling or remaining. Jesus uses this word repeatedly, highlighting the ongoing nature of discipleship. This "abiding" in Jesus is directly connected to His words abiding in the believer, mirroring John 15:7's promise of answered prayer. Another significant word is "truth" (ἀλήθεια, alētheia), representing reality unadulterated by deception; Jesus links it directly to His teachings and person, asserting He *is* the truth. This aligns with John 15:7 because only by residing in *this* truth – by fully accepting Jesus’s words and teachings – can a true and abiding relationship with God occur, opening the way for answered prayer. The repeated emphasis on "believing" (πιστεύω, pisteuō) points to the necessity of complete faith and trust in Jesus's claims and authority. Jesus's use of "true" (ἀληθινός, alēthinos) emphasizes authenticity and genuine reality and reinforces the sincerity of His promises. This, too, is reflected in John 15:7, where authentic, abiding faith, rooted in the truth of Jesus’s words, activates answered prayer. The failure of the Jewish leaders to "abide" in Jesus's teaching and embrace his claims of truth directly prevents them from experiencing knowledge of who Jesus is, and the promise of John 15:7. Their rejection of His authority and words ultimately leads to their separation from the Source of power for answered prayer.

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31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never yet been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35 “And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
37 “I know that you are Abraham’s seed; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham.
40 “But now you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do.
41 “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come of Myself, but He sent Me.
43 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
44 “You are of your father the devil, 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.
45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
46 “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
47 “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 “But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death—ever.”
52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death—ever.’
53 “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;
55 and you have not known Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.