Not seeking glory for one’s self

John 8：42 ～ 51

The Children of the Devil

⁴²Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. ⁴³Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! ⁴⁶Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? ⁴⁷He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

The Claims of Jesus About Himself

⁴⁸The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

⁴⁹"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

I. Message:


Content:

1. The Lord Jesus emphasizes that He is from God and points out that they (the Jews) don’t see God as their father (v. 42)
2. Lord Jesus points out that they (the Jews) follow the devil so they are unable to hear what He says (v. 43~44)
3. The Lord Jesus points out that they (the Jews) don’t listen to Him because they do not come from God (v. 45~47)
4. They (Jews) used the terms mixed blood (Samaritans) and the demon-possessed to put Jesus down (v. 48)
5. The Lord Jesus once again explains His own identity and task (v. 49~51)


Themes:

1. Don’t listen, don’t understand, don’t believe, don’t act.
2. Following the Devil’s desires
3. Not seeking glory for one’s self

II. Who is God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus as one who is sent by God (v. 42)
2. Jesus as one whose words are not accepted (v. 43)
3. Jesus as one who speaks the truth (v. 45-46)
4. Jesus as one who is without sin (v. 46)
5. Jesus as the one being put down(v. 48)
6. Jesus as one who honors God the Father (v. 49)
7. Jesus as one who does not seek for his own glory (v. 50)
8. Jesus as a righteous God (v. 51)
9. Jesus as one grants people eternal life (v. 51)


III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?

1. Don’t listen, don’t understand, don’t believe, don’t act.

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. (v. 43) Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! (v. 45) If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? (v. 46)

He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. (v. 47)

In this part of the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus rebukes them because they don’t listen, don’t understand, don’t believe and don’t act upon His words. But on the other hand, they believe, rejoice, accept and act upon what the devil says. How troublesome and regretful that is. Is there any difference between the Jews of that time and the people of today’s society?

Reflection: How do I react to God’s words? Do I “not listen, not understand, not believe, not act” upon it?

2. Following the Devil’s desires

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (v. 44) In this part of the Scriptures, the desires and path of the devil can be described by the following:

a. Acts upon one’s emotions, desires b. Kills, killer, murderer c. Does not follow the truth, does not have the truth, is not based upon the truth d. Lying is normal because he, by nature, is a liar

Reflection: Do some of my actions and what I say come from the devil?

3. Jesus as one who did not sin His whole life

Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? (v. 46) In this part of the Scriptures, it is shown that no one is able to point out any sin that the Lord Jesus has committed in the past. Those who are against Him, hate Him and plan on killing Him have looked at His life and cannot find any fault in it. From Jesus’ life, one that is without sin, it can be seen that He is God who is the Word made into flesh, one in whom we can put our full trust and reliance in and is a role model to pursue. In Hebrews 4:14-16, it says: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,^[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Reflection: Do I completely trust and fully rely on Him, coming to the throne of grace with confidence, to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need?

4. Maliciously put down Lord Jesus

The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. (v. 48~49)

When Jesus points out the sins of the Jews, saying that they “see the Devil as their father”, they were mad. On the other hand, they turned around and accused Jesus, calling Him a Samaritan (mix blood) and demon-possessed.

Reflection: Through my actions and speech, have I ever put down Jesus and even nailed Him on the cross?

5. Not seeking glory for one’s self

I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. (v. 50)

Jesus emphasized: He does not seek glory for himself, but that there is one who seeks it for him and is the judge: Almighty and righteous God. In John 17:4, before his death, Jesus once prayed like this: I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

If we consider God, He will consider for us. If we give glory to God, we will as a result receive glory as well.

Reflection: For whom do my actions and speech as well as my services give glory? For myself? Or for God?

6. Following God’s teachings to receive eternal life

I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (v. 51)

Jesus rebukes the Jews according to His teachings saying that they “don’t listen, don’t understand, don’t believe, don’t act. Therefore, these people will not receive eternal life. But, those who listen and believe and act accordingly will never see death. In other words, will receive eternal life.

Reflection: Have I longed for and thirsted, listened, understood and acted according to Jesus’ teachings to receive eternal life?



Translated by Timothy Tsay