5. The light of the world discourse 8:12-59Following Jesus’ claim to be the water of life (John 7:37-38), official opposition against Him intensified considerably. The following sections of this Gospel trace this rising opposition. While some believed on Jesus, most of His own people rejected Him (cf. John 1:11-12). This section of the text deals with Jesus’ claim to be the Light of the World and the controversy it generated. read more
The challenge to professing believers 8:31-47Jesus next addressed those in His audience who had expressed some faith in Him (John 8:30). read more
However, Jesus was not even willing to grant them that they were God’s children in the spiritual sense. How could they respond to Him as they did and still claim to be behaving as God? If they were God’s true children, they would love Jesus rather than try to kill Him. They would acknowledge that God had sent Him. read more
These Jews were having difficulty believing what Jesus was saying, specifically about Himself. Jesus identified the source of this difficulty as within them, not in His ability to communicate clearly. It lay in their inability to accept the truth that He spoke because of their presuppositions, prejudice, and parentage (John 8:44). Hearing here does not mean mere understanding but responding positively. read more
Finally Jesus identified the father of these Jews to whom He had been alluding (John 8:38; John 8:41). Their attitudes and actions pointed to the devil as their father for two reasons. They wanted to kill Jesus, and Satan was a murderer from the beginning of his career as a fallen angel. He indirectly murdered Adam and then Abel. Second, they had abandoned the truth for lies, and the devil had consistently done the same thing throughout history (cf. Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17). [Note: See... read more
Liars not only speak untruth, but they also reject the truth. These Jews rejected Jesus partially because He spoke the truth. The only way children of the devil can believe and welcome the truth is if God draws them and teaches them the truth (John 6:44-45). read more
Obviously many of Jesus’ critics thought He was guilty of committing sin (cf. John 5:18). Jesus asked if any of them could prove Him guilty (cf. John 18:23). This was one of Jesus’ clearest claims to being God. Not one of His critics could prove Him guilty because He was not guilty. No mere mortal could risk making such an offer as Jesus did here.The Qu’ran does not say that Jesus was sinless, but Muslims believe that He was sinless because the Qu’ran never says He sinned. They believe He was a... read more
8:43 word. (a-13) Logos . see Hebrews 6:1 . read more
8:44 of (c-3) of (c-46) Ek . see Note, ch. 3.31. stood (d-29) Perfect tense. what has been and continues. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 8:47
45-47. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not—not although, but just because He did so, for the reason given in the former verse. Had He been less true they would have hailed Him more readily. read more