John – Chapter 8:30-47
8:30-31 The Seed of Abraham and the Identity of the Father – Some have argued that those Jews that believed v.13-29 are less hostile than those of v.31-59. More likely is that this repetition indicates a passage of time. It describes not those who were Jesus’ obvious enemies but those who were once believers but who day-to-day come into conflict with Jesus. Ultimately, their rejection of Jesus is due to His absolute claim that the only means by which they could become “free” is faith in Him. Their conflict is over Jesus’ self-revelation that He is the Christ and the Son of God. v.31b “If you abide in My word, your are my disciples indeed” – “Abide” or “continue in” is a frequent expression in John’s Gospel (see 5:38; 6:56). it indicates the activity, perseverance, and faithfulness of believers, and then the reciprocal effect that word has on them. “Indeed,” “truly,” or “really” is emphasized to show that apart from continuing the Word, there can be no genuine discipleship (see also 13:35; 15:8). v.32-33 “You shall know the truth” – This is the trustworthy knowledge of God revealed in the coming of Jesus Christ (1:14, 17; 3:21; 5:33). This is not general, philosophical truth or merely theoretical insight, but the understanding, gained by their experience, into who God is for them in Jesus, also then insight into how He/truth is obtained and what truth/He gives. The liberating effect of this truth, “shall make you free,” is unique to this section. This is not autonomy or a realization of self-identity. This is a freedom that man does not have in himself. Hence the lively protest from the Jews. This concept does not fit within their Jewish framework and even violates their first principle, “children of Abraham.” Clearly they are not thinking about earthly, foreign bondage as their own histories postAbraham attest. What they confess is the spiritual superiority as children of Abraham as chosen by God out of all the nations, and being exempt from any servant relationship to others (see Romans 2:17-20). v.34-36 – The Jews being children of Abraham offers no special privilege over the power of sin. While taking a slightly different angle, Paul echoes this thought in Romans 6:16ff; 7:7ff regarding the superior power of sin and the insufficiency of the law in the face of it. Then Jesus expands the metaphor (v.35-36)…