One author called John chapters 7 and 8 a record of one “confrontation” after another, Jesus’ enemies attacking Him from many angles! The core of their hatred, however, was directed at our Lord’s claim to Deity! “My Father,” Jesus said of God, in a personal sense!

In verses 38 and 39 Jesus in fact uses the exact expression “My Father,” while the enemies retort with “Abraham is our Father!” (Which was true in a genealogical sense, but only in a biological sense.)

But Matthew 1:1 pronounces Jesus as the true “Son of Abraham” … in an even greater sense! (“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”)

In verse 45 Jesus bluntly says: “I tell you the truth.” But the “Jews” continue in their error, for the most part. This dichotomy reminds me of 1 John 4:6. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

The Holy Spirit promotes Truth! (In John 14:17 His Name is even “the Spirit of truth!”)

The devil promotes error, lies! (Verse 44 explicitly says of Satan … “He is a liar, and the father of it.”)

Then in Verse 46 I had (in class) very little time to mention Jesus’ unique challenge to his enemies … “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?”

In other words, tell me something I have done wrong (in God’s Eyes)! Then “prove” it,” the idea behind the verb “convinceth.” Of course, no one responded, because Jesus is sinless!

Let John the Baptist speak to this crown of Pharisaical “big heads” … self-diagnosed “Abraham’s children” …

Matthew 3:7-9 … “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

Wow!

I love this quote … “The Cross had two beans, one vertical and one horizonal!” My first allegiance …, Heavenward, to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father! My second, to lost souls (my peers) all around me!

Now, if you will take the time, watch the entire class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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