John 8:39-59 “Life-or-Death Distinction”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace.

Join us.

We've been studying John's gospel to encounter Jesus, to know who he is, what he says, what

he does, how he impacts us.

This is someone that nearly everyone agrees is one of the most influential people in all

of human history.

What does that mean for me, for my family, for my neighbors?

We're going to encounter Jesus again today in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths.

He's been there, as we've studied, offering himself as the solution to the thirst of the

hearts of the people there, as the light of the world shining in their darkness, the deliverer

to set them free from their bondage to sin.

And the response has been split.

Some talking of killing him.

Others, we're told, believing in him at some level.

Now he's finishing up this interaction with people in many ways like us.

People interested in Jesus, gathered in the temple talking about God.

And Jesus has some really challenging words for them, for us.

We're going to pick up the reading of God's holy word in John 8 at verse 39, reading just

the first portion of this now and the rest of the chapter later.

The people have just said, Jesus, we are children of Abraham, so we don't really need to be set

free.

And Jesus has responded, I know you come from Abraham, but you're trying to kill me.

You're doing what you have heard from your father.

Verse 39, they answered him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what 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 what 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 has nothing to do with 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.

Pray with me.

Father, would you give us ears to hear?

To hear your voice.

To hear words that could even feel like words of death to us.

Would they be by your spirit this morning?

Words of life.

Speak, Jesus.

And help us to listen.

We ask in your name.

Amen.

Amen.

I was getting my hair cut a few months ago when it came out that I was a pastor.

Happens sometimes.

My stylist asked, what kind?

I love that question.

The kind that needs Jesus a lot.

That kind.

It's awkward, yeah.

Yeah, but like do you have a church nearby?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, it's just over the hill.

Southwood Presbyterian.

Oh, that was the answer he was looking for.

You know, my grandfather was a Methodist pastor for many years.

Several different churches here in Alabama.

In fact, I was just at one of them not long ago.

So I said, oh, that's so cool.

You're a Christian too?

He looked at me as though I had three heads.

I think that what he was thinking was, are you not listening to me?

I just told you that I lived in Alabama, that my grandfather was a pastor, and that I've been in a church building recently.

What are you not hearing?

How could I make it any clearer to you that I'm a Christian?

I think the crowds in this passage are feeling something very similar.

Jesus, are you not listening?

Abraham is our father.

We're good.

And then Jesus presses more, and they say, okay, listen, we have one father, even God.

It's another version of what we'll call this morning natural Christianity.

I'm good with God because of my proximity to the things of God.

Near the temple, being near the promises, near the people of God.

Abraham doesn't get any closer than that, right?

I came by this naturally.

I'm born into it, they're saying.

Natural Christianity claims God by association.

We run in the same circles, so to speak.

It's a cultural Christianity based largely on being around the right sorts of things and the right kinds of people.

And I don't think I have to tell you, this is all around us still today in Huntsville, Alabama.

How did you become a Christian?

Just naturally because you started hanging around some church people?

How would you describe your relationship with God?

Has it just been in the family for generations?

Listen to what they say to Jesus, verse 41.

Hey, it is your heritage, not ours, that's questionable.

Do you hear what they're saying?

We are okay on our own with God.

Just like we don't need to be set free, we don't need help to get in with God.

We are already associated with Him.

Maybe you just don't know us well enough.

Maybe when I ask how you are a Christian, you think,

I'm connected to the right political party.

I mean, I send my kids to the right school.

Listen, pastor, of course I'm a Christian.

I'm not a Muslim or a Hindu.

I don't even look like...

Watch out.

Watch out, Jesus says.

Being in with God is not about appearances.

It's not about associations.

It's about your heart.

Verse 42.

Jesus said to them,

If God were your father,

here's what would happen.

You would love me.

Natural, okay on my own Christianity,

talks about God,

but doesn't love what God loves,

especially whom?

Jesus.

You can't even bear to hear His word, He says.

To submit to His direction.

You're not doing the works of Abraham.

What did Abraham do?

He believed God.

Right?

And he followed after God,

even when he was called to go to an uncertain future

in a land that he'd never seen,

he believed and followed God,

even when it seemed crazy.

Do you love following Jesus,

even when it's hard?

Finding comfort and life in God's word.

See, it's not merely a natural association.

Something has to change about what you love.

Kids, I want to talk to you

for a couple of minutes this morning.

You can listen the whole time,

but I especially want you to listen right now.

Especially if you've grown up in the church.

Many of you have been baptized

like little Jimmy was here this morning.

A whole bunch of you have just recently

finished the communicants class.

And so you're spending a lot of time right now

thinking about your own relationship with God.

And that is awesome.

I'm so excited about that.

You need to remember that Jesus loves you.

And Jesus wants a relationship with you

where it doesn't just happen in one moment,

but where it continues growing every day

the rest of your life.

You learn more of how he loves you.

And he grows in you a love for him.

That's what Jesus wants for you this morning.

But that's not just automatic.

That doesn't just happen automatically

because you sit in this church building

or because you get water poured on your head

or because you know lots of information

and sit in a class and learn stuff about God.

I want you to imagine that you're born

into an Auburn family, okay?

Some of you don't even have to imagine.

Your parents love Auburn

and they tell you stories of the kick six

and how great Auburn is

and they teach you to say war eagle.

But then as you grow up,

you become an Alabama fan

and you start yelling roll tide

during the Iron Bowl.

Can you imagine?

That can happen, doesn't it?

Just growing up around Auburn stuff

doesn't automatically make you love Auburn, does it?

Being born into a Christian family

and around Christian stuff

doesn't automatically make you love Jesus.

Okay?

Kids, you have been brought up

in the story of the God who loves you so much

that he sent his only begotten son

to save you

so that you could be with him forever.

What a great gift it is.

Praise Jesus

that you've been born into this family

where you don't have to wonder

what to do when you fail

or does anyone love me

or is there a group that I can really belong with?

Is there any hope in this world?

You've been living in that your whole life.

You know someone loves you.

You know you belong here in the family of God.

But being born into this family

doesn't automatically make you love Jesus.

God doesn't have a relationship with you

because of how many times you've gone to Sunday school

or how many answers you can give to Bible questions.

That's not how it works.

He is calling you, not your parents,

he is calling you to trust him,

to follow him

and we celebrate when you follow Jesus yourself,

when you trust him,

when you confess your sins

and receive his forgiveness,

when you read his word,

when you shine his light,

we celebrate that with you.

You know that?

Oh, Father,

keep working in our children.

Keep working in their hearts

that they might see you and love you

and know more tomorrow than they do today

how much you love them.

Please, Father,

for Jesus' sake,

show them more of yourself.

Give them joy in following you.

Sorry, I didn't mean to pray that long

and a false end to the sermon

tricked some of you.

No matter how old you are,

Jesus is not trying to scare you off from him

with strong words this morning.

He is about to tell the same crowd

hearing these hard words

how they can know life forever.

So language like,

verse 44,

you are of your father,

the devil,

should never be weaponized

against Jewish people specifically

as it sadly has been.

It is about any

who reject Jesus,

who lie about him

in order to kill him.

That's what he's talking about.

It's just in this conversation

they also happen to be Jews

that he's talking with.

What we need to hear

is that Jesus is actually calling

all of us

to consider our hearts.

That's my desire this morning.

It's not to create crippling doubt

in those of you

who already know

and love and trust Jesus,

but to push all of us

to Jesus

so that we talk with him honestly

about whether or not

we are Christians.

He and I are pushing us

not to be good enough

or to check our associations with God

and see if they're strong enough

and up to date,

but rather to come to Jesus

and look at what he says

is true Christianity.

The strong warnings here

that we need to hear

are to expose false hope.

And so when they do that,

they show us how much we need

the real thing,

which is what Jesus offers.

Okay, that's why he speaks

so directly.

If we're going to call ourselves

Christians,

what does Christ say that means?

I'll call it supernatural Christianity

in contrast with the born into it

by association version

that we've been talking about.

Listen to the rest of this interaction

as the crowd turns its focus on Jesus

and his identity.

Verse 48.

The Jews answered him,

Are we not right in saying

that you are a Samaritan

and have a demon?

Jesus answered,

I do not have a demon,

but I honor my father

and you dishonor me.

Yet I do not seek my own glory.

There is one who seeks it

and he is the judge.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

if anyone keeps my word,

he will never see death.

The Jews said to him,

Now we know that you have a demon.

Abraham died,

as did the prophets.

Yet you say,

If anyone keeps my word,

he will never taste death.

Are you greater than our father Abraham

who died?

And the prophets died.

Who do you make yourself out to be?

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.

But you have not known him.

I know him.

If I were to say that I do not know him,

I would be a liar like you.

But I do know him

and I keep his word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced

that he would see my day.

He saw it and was glad.

So the Jews said to him,

You are not yet 50 years old

and have you seen Abraham?

Jesus said to them,

Truly, truly, I say to you,

before Abraham was,

I am.

So they picked up stones

to throw at him.

But Jesus hid himself

and went out of the temple.

Two key questions there

in verse 53,

from the crowd.

Are you greater than the prophets?

Who do you make yourself out to be?

It's a good question.

Supernatural Christianity

focuses on Jesus.

Jesus.

His association with,

even we'll see,

identification with God.

And says,

that's what it's all about.

That's how Jesus can say

in verse 51

that anyone

connected to him

is connected to God.

Listen, friends,

please don't miss this.

This is such good news,

especially if you're not

particularly religious

or churchy.

If that's how you wouldn't

describe yourself,

you don't even need

association with God

by birth,

by culture,

by morality.

That's not what's required.

Christianity,

focused on Jesus,

says if anyone,

anyone,

keeps my word,

believes in me,

he will never see death.

What a promise.

What amazing hope

if you came in with none

and thought you were going to

have to find some somewhere,

some relative

who used to do something for God.

No.

You find Jesus

to be the only one

you need.

See, what Jesus is saying

is that supernatural Christianity,

Christianity focused on Jesus,

claims God only

by adoption.

We don't deserve to be in.

We don't naturally belong

in God's family,

even if we hang around a lot,

but he graciously

welcomes us in

because of our relationship

with his one and only

true son.

That's how it works.

This true Christianity

not only focuses on Jesus,

but also loves the Jesus

that the Father loves.

What I mean by that

is a Jesus

who is the divine,

eternal son of God.

It's not just

who he makes himself out to be,

it's who he is.

Friends, look at the miracles,

the signs,

the loving,

pure,

righteous

life.

He says,

you can't even

convict me of sin,

so why would you

suspect that I'm lying

to you now

when I say these things?

He's so good.

Whom else

could the Father

himself

seek

to glorify?

Verse 54,

can you believe it?

The Father

and the Son

here are clearly

not the same,

but clearly

equal

in glory.

The Father

is glorifying

the Son.

That's how

Jesus can say

that Abraham

rejoiced

at seeing his day.

He's the promised

seed

to bless the nations.

Abraham heard about him.

This is the one

to fulfill

all of God's promises.

And Jesus says,

let me tell you

how that's possible.

Before Abraham

was,

not

I was,

he could have said that,

but what?

I

am.

As the crowd

clearly recognizes,

Jesus has taken him

all the way back

to Exodus,

to Exodus 3,

the name of Yahweh,

God's personal name

by which he introduced

himself

to his people.

This guy

is claiming

equality with God

and the crowd

says,

blasphemy.

They're now hearing

Jesus clearly,

aren't they?

He is tying together

everything that he's

been telling them

at this feast

that we've been talking

about the last few weeks.

This feast

where they have gathered

to celebrate

God's deliverance

in the past,

to celebrate

God's promise

of a deliverer

coming in the future.

And Jesus stands

and says,

not only am I

the bread of life

more fulfilling

than anything

your fathers ate

in the wilderness,

not only am I

the source

of living waters

pictured by the water

flowing out of that

rock that Moses struck,

not only am I

the light of the world

to guide you

like the pillar of fire

in the dark wilderness,

but also

I am

Yahweh

himself.

God

has come

to be

with you.

The one who

appeared in the burning bush

to Moses

who powerfully

delivered his people

across the Red Sea

who tabernacled

with them

as they wandered

who finally brought

them all the way

to the promised land.

I am the one

you're gathered here

to celebrate

Jesus says.

God

come to you

tabernacling now

in the flesh.

Do you hear

what I'm saying?

truly, truly

I am the one

who gives life.

God

the Father

is glorifying

me.

Truly, truly

before Abraham

was,

I am.

The divine

claims

Jesus is making

could not

be clearer.

Are you hearing

what he's saying?

What he's telling you

is that he existed

in perfect relationship

with the Father

and King

of the universe

before the world

began,

before time

began.

He's telling you

that he is the one

who spoke the universe

into existence,

who shaped the sun,

who called the stars

out by name,

who breathed life

into mankind.

And then

he entered

this creation

so that anyone

who believed

in him

would become

a child

of God,

brought into

the family

not by natural

association,

but by

supernatural

intervention,

born,

remember,

of God.

Not by human

achievement,

but by divine

adoption.

There is now

no other name

under heaven

given to men

by which we

must be saved.

Praise

the name

of Jesus.

There's

something about

that name,

the only

name

whereby

we must

be saved.

Give

me

Jesus.

Oh,

how I love

Jesus

because he

first loved

me.

Without

his love

I am

lost.

I am

lost.

What Jesus

does here

intentionally

is leave us

with very few

options

in regard

to him.

His claims

to deity

are so

clear

and so

fantastical

that the

response of

this crowd

is what?

Kill him.

And he slips

away.

We already

know when

his hour

comes he

will be

lifted up

to die.

But as

Pastor Tim

Keller

often said

echoing

centuries

of

theologians

it's

kill him

or crown

him.

There is

no middle

ground

with Jesus.

No

natural

cultural

Christianity

option

remaining

to us

because

cultural

Christianity

rejects

this

Jesus.

Remember

we don't

need him

there.

We're in

naturally

by association.

So at

best we're

kind of

okay with

Jesus.

But thinking

about him

is mostly

a Sunday

activity.

Only

fanatics

would follow

after him

in daily

sacrifice.

Oh yeah

and if you

want to find

God and

hope and

life some

other way

with other

religious

associations

that you

have more

naturally

no problem

Jesus is

cool with

that.

No big

deal.

No.

No.

That is

not a

Christianity

that Jesus

or the

Bible

recognizes.

If we

don't

kill Jesus

for his

blasphemy

we must

crown him

king.

Bow at

his feet

and in

humble

worship

live by

his word

for his

glory.

That is

the first

difference

that

supernatural

Christianity

makes.

It removes

the option

of our

being okay

on our

own

finding the

God of

the Bible

apart from

Jesus

some other

way.

Now if we

stop to

think about

that question

what difference

does it

make?

I'm

gods by

association

versus

I'm gods

by adoption.

The answer

is all

the difference

in the

world.

It's

life or

death

difference.

There's

so many

ways that

we could

talk about

the difference

it makes

but Jesus

highlights

one in

this passage

that I

want to

reflect on

briefly

as we

close.

It's

verse 51.

Truly

truly

I say

to you

if anyone

keeps my

word he

will never

see

death.

What's

Jesus

promising

those who

come to

him?

that what

we think

of as

death

life

ending

will

never

happen

to those

who receive

the life

that he

gives us.

The life

he's been

talking about

because that

life is

now defined

by Jesus

as knowing

God.

Living in

relationship

with him

being free

from the

power of

sin to

live the

way that

we were

created to

live and

when our

hearts stop

beating

here in

this world

that life

doesn't

stop.

Instantly

that life

continues with

Jesus forever

absent from

the body

present with

the Lord

alive forever

never more

to die.

And that

makes all the

difference in

the world

now

because we

know what

it's like to

live with the

fear of death

don't we?

to be anxious

about the

next cancer

scan

to worry

about gun

violence

to try

desperately

to forestall

aging in a

hundred ways

anything we

can come up

with.

The Bible

says we

all fear

death

and

Jesus

frees us

from it.

Hebrews

2.14

Jesus

took on

flesh

he actually

came so

that through

death

he might

destroy

the devil

and deliver

all those

who through

the fear

of death

were subject

to lifelong

slavery.

Lifelong

slavery

because we

fear death

all of us

specifically

so sweet

in light of

our passage

the offspring

of Abraham

need to be

set free

us

listen

it is the

truth of

Jesus

that sets

us free

when the

son sets

you free

you are

free

indeed

that is the

only way

to true

freedom

from this

universal

fear

because Jesus

conquers

death

on our

behalf

you got

that right

in Hebrews

2

the only way

is that

through

death

he could

conquer it

naturally

on our

own

death

haunts

us

the only

way

he can

guarantee

that we

won't see

death

is that

he takes

it

for us

so that

we can

live

with the

confidence

of people

who know

that no

matter what

happens

our life

our true

life

our

abundant

life

our eternal

life

goes

on

oh

death

where is

your

victory

oh

death

where is

your

sting

now listen

of course

we also

grieve

the loss

of loved

ones

here

so does

Jesus

by the way

we're getting

to that

in a few

weeks

but what

he's saying

is that

those

left

behind

are the

ones

who

grieve

the one

who dies

keeps

living

with me

forever

you will

never

see

death

you'll

see the

lamb

who is

the

light

of the

heavenly

city

you'll

taste

divine

delight

and a

perfectly

restored

creation

you'll

see a

restored

body

and all

those

tears

will be

wiped

away

forever

by the

hands

that stretched

out on the

cross

to conquer

death

to free

you

from the

fear

of death

forever

so look

what he's

offering

us

freedom

from that

big

fear

the fear

of death

and therefore

all the

smaller

fears

beneath it

today

now

I am

freed

from

safe

self-centered

self-protective

living

where I cling

desperately

to every

day

I can keep

myself

safe

and alive

and looking

young

freed

to live

boldly

and

adventurously

and risk

taking

for Jesus

to fail

and still

find hope

I'm

freed

to slow

down

with God

and be

with him

since

he made

me

to live

with him

I don't

have to

rush

around

to find

something

else

before it's

too late

and I miss

out on

real life

no

I've

got it

freed

to sacrifice

in ways

that inspire

to give

generously

to others

it's two

for one

orphan year

Southwood

did you

forget

if the

father has

adopted

you into

his family

your resources

of life

are endless

you will

never

taste

death

your resources

of time

are

endless

it doesn't

feel

that way

but it

is true

and you

can use

some of

your time

to listen

to

to love

to point

others

to this

glorious

divine

eternal

Jesus

see if

you know

Jesus

then you

find yourself

as a part

of his

church

whether you

like it

or not

and so

you're going

to find

yourself

surrounded

at times

by people

who know

Jesus

only by

association

they see

themselves

as Christians

by association

and they're

going to keep

showing up

in your life

all the time

and you can

point them

to the one

who truly

sets us

free

and gives

us life

can't you

what a joy

friends

some of you

here today

need

to be set

free

by this

supernatural

Jesus

there's a

life or death

distinction

between

being

assuming

that you're

in God's

family

by association

and being

in God's

family

by adoption

a distinction

so significant

that the only

one who ever

earned

life

tasted

death

himself

so that he

could give

us

life

those of us

facing

death

fearing

death

could actually

live

forever

he has

already

been

killed

lifted

up

to die

he's

already

been

crowned

risen

to the

highest

place

won't you

bow

and be

free

and live

let's pray

amen

to the

Lord

oh Jesus

help us

hear your

voice

calling to

us

calling us

out of

darkness

into your

marvelous

light

setting us

free

from the

bondage

of sin

and fear

of death

oh we need

you

we love

you

work that

love in our

hearts afresh

we ask in

your name

amen

for more

information

visit us

online at

southwood.org

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