John 8:39-59

WeDaily S.O.A.P. Prompts

S – What verse stands out to me today?

O – What is God revealing about Jesus?

A – How should this change my life today?

P – What is my prayer in response?

Scripture

(John 8:39-59, NLT) 39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” 48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?” 49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” 52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” 57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” 59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple. 

Observation

• Jesus questions their heritage directly. He suggests that people who are truly from the line of Abraham would follow Jesus because even Abraham “looked forward to [his] coming.”

• Jesus accuses them of being sons and daughters of the devil, not Abraham, because they don’t love Jesus. If they were truly sons of Abraham, Jesus tells them, they would love him and follow him. 

• There is a lot of repetition in this chapter. The terms “truth”, “believe”, “glorify” and “if” are used multiple times throughout. 

• The crowd who “believed” is now calling Jesus a “Samaritan devil.”

• Jesus explains that anyone who obeys my teaching will never die. The crowd is now fully convinced that Jesus is possessed by a demon. 

• I notice the question, “Who do you think you are?” Jesus has been telling the crowd, the religious leaders, and anyone who would listen that he is the Christ, the Son of God. There is some irony in them asking this question. 

• Things have digressed at this point. The crowd is accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed, and Jesus is explaining that he would be a liar if he claimed to not know Abraham and that Abraham looked forward to this day when Jesus would bring freedom to God’s people. 

• God will glorify Jesus at the proper time. 

• The people are now wanting to stone Jesus.

Application

• Crowds can be fickle. 

• There will always be proof of belief. 

• Lying is from the devil. Truth is from God. 

• God will fulfill His plan even when the majority rejects his plan.

Prayer

God of Abraham, thank you for sending your son Jesus so that we could be included in the covenant family of God. You glorified Jesus at the proper time. Both the Jew and the Gentile became the beneficiaries of your sacrifice. Thank you for staying the course when so many people rejected you and called you names. You endured so much suffering and pain at the hands of people. They picked up stones to kill, yet you kept moving forward towards the goal. Help me to keep moving forward towards you, even when others decide to sit down. May my life be marked by a long obedience in the same direction. In Jesus’ name, amen! 

Have questions about today’s S.O.A.P. study? Comment below!