In 1985 John and Martha Laughlin were informed that they were unable to have children, and yet they so longed for little ones that they began saving money to adopt a child. Over time they had decided on a child from Russia, had been over once to visit and choose the child, a 3-month old baby boy whom they had named “John”, and in 1989 they had finally saved enough money to complete the adoption process. However two days before their departure, they were informed by the adoption agency that the Russian government was placing an “adoption tax” on all adopted children, the increased price was now nearly double the original amount. Heartbroken the Laughlin’s wrote the agency, expressed their love for John, and asked for a one month time period to acquire the difference in cost. They had no idea how they were going to come up with a similar amount in 30 days that had taken them nearly 4 years to save. As they were praying about it John had an idea. If they sold their only car, he could ride the bus to work, and they might have the amount needed for their precious boy. Twenty-seven days later they were on the airplane to Russia, having raised the exact amount needed. It hardly seemed like sacrifice to them at all, when they watched the clerk sign the adoption certificate and finally held that precious boy in their arms, having paid the adoption price out of love for John.
In John chapter 8, the whole section that we are in is a discussion about fatherhood, and it calls for us to consider the subject of adoption. We’ll see that as we look at this passage together. Now so far we have we have seen in this chapter some heart searching “ifs.” We have seen the “if” of discipleship. vs. 31 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” So that statement should cause us to examine ourselves and see if we are disciples of Jesus. Are we holding to the Teaching? Then we have the heart searching “if” of freedom. vs. 36 Jesus says “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Last week we saw that Jesus free people from the curse of the Law, from the guilt of sin and from the kingdom of Satan, thereby freeing us from sin’s power. And now today we have the heart searching “if” of sonship. Notice vs. 42: Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me.” So once again Jesus statement causes us to examine our hearts and see if by this definition we are children of God.
Now this whole passage is about fatherhood, and the Jews claim in verse 39 that Abraham was their father, meaning that they had all the entitlements and qualifications, and blessings of Abraham himself. But Jesus argues them out of that position so they change their story and in verse 41 they say “the only Father we have is God Himself.” But Jesus states that it is actually neither of these two options, and He clarifies for them who their father really is when He says in verse 44 “you belong to your father, the devil.” So my sermon title this morning is, “who’s your daddy?” I don’t mean your physical father, I mean who is your spiritual Father? The Jews didn’t know. Abraham, no wait, it’s God. No, neither one of those were right. And this is an extremely important question, for while we only live with our earthly fathers for 18-20 years, we will live with our spiritual father throughout all eternity.
Now we need to understand Jesus’ argument in this passage in order to know how He arrived at His conclusion, that they were children of the devil. Jesus is applying a truth that was stated in Gen. 1:12. Which shows the earth was created with plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” God made the first apple tree and that tree had seeds in it, that when planted grew up to bear a striking resemblance to the original tree. So that trees, and people, bear seeds in their own likeness. Have you ever talked with someone, and you also knew their Dad, and said, “Wow. that’s uncanny.” “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” People often say that about my son, Joshua, “wow, Mike with hair!” Like produces like.
So we’ve figured out whose children these Jews are not. Abraham is not their father; God is not their father. So who’s their daddy? Who’s their spiritual father?
Well Jesus makes two statements about the devil, obvious statements that they, themselves knew to be true: He says the devil is a murderer and a liar. End of Vs. 44: “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.” The devil is a murderer and a liar. And Jesus had said earlier to these Jews in verse 40 “you are determined to kill me” and in verse 45, “because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me”; they wanted to kill Jesus and they had no room for truth, both of which prove that they are in the likeness of the devil. Like produces like.
And though it is hard to accept, the plain truth of Scripture is that we are all born this way. “Oh, but I’ve never killed anyone. Don’t lump me in with those who murdered Jesus.” But that statement shows a lack of understanding of the human heart. We are all born with the seed of murder in our hearts. Mat. 5: 21 "You have heard that it was said, ’Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Here Jesus says that sinful anger is the seed of murder. One time years ago one of my little girls, she was about 18 months old, was playing with the watch on my arm. And she wanted it, she was pulling at it, and getting frustrated that it wouldn’t come off my arm, and finally she got so angry she slapped my hand. Now if she was in an adult’s body she would have picked up a bat, knocked me on the head, and took my watch. Anger is the seed of murder.
And we are born liars, just like the Jews we have no room for the truth, as the Bible says, “let God be true and every man a liar.” We have not come to know ourselves until we understand the truth of Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”
So here we are in the same condition as these Jews. We are born with the seeds of murder in our hearts, and we’re all liars by birth and by practice. The conclusion, based upon like produces like, is that every human being is born into the kingdom of darkness, into the family of Satan, and we grow up following the prince of the power of the air.
So an extremely important question arises, then, how is it possible for children of the devil to become children of God? How does anyone come to believe the truth about Jesus, and to have love replace hatred and truth replace lies? We don’t choose our parents, so how can this be? Jesus had answered this in John chapter 6. Let’s look there.
What was necessary, is that God has to give people to the Son: vs. 37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Second, what is necessary is that people be chosen by Jesus, which we can see from vs. 70: Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?" And finally what needed to happen was an adoption price needed to be paid, which we can see from the end of vs. 51: “This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." So God must give people to His Son, Jesus must choose people, and then pay the price for them.
This is simply a description of the adoption process. A child is chosen, a price is paid, and he’s given to new parents. Look at Ephesians 5. 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--” Ah, this is the beginning of the adoption process, God chose some children to be adopted.
But then note exactly what price was paid in vs. 7: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” The price paid to adopt children is stated to be “blood.” In other words, He laid down His very life to pay the price of our redemption and adoption. And examine what mercy this is. Most people adopt adorable, precious little angels, but we were deformed in our sin, kicking in our blood, rebelling against God, looking oh so much like little devils. But in that condition, Christ bought us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Now think about the grace and love of God to give His Son to pay for our adoption. Some of you have no doubt heard of a father over in Australia who kept his own daughter a prisoner in his basement, and he raped her, and molested her and what he did to his daughter was horrible. But I tell you, the devil has far more abused his children than that man ever did his daughter. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. His purpose is to deceive and enslave, and drag our soul into hell.
Imagine the scene: there we were, children of the devil, held captive by our father who is raping our soul, and molesting us, we’re in the dark basement of sin and we’ve lost hope. But here comes Jesus, there is an adoption price that has to be paid, will He pay it? There He is in the garden, “he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." He has looked in the cup and it is filled with God’s wrath against sin, and in His flesh He doesn’t want to drink it. He wrestles, the angels hold their breath, the very life and future of all people hang in the balance.
Then comes the word of surrender: nevertheless. “Nevertheless not my will but Yours be done.” He submits to the Father’s will, and sets out to pay the adoption price and rescue us from the devil. So God puts all our sins on Him, and Jesus assumes all our guilt and drinks the cup of God’s wrath. He hides not His face from shame and spitting. He offers His back to the smiters, and His beard to be plucked out. He suffers under the load of our guilt and shame, paying the price for our sin. His hands and feet are nailed to a tree, and with each pounding of the hammer God is signing our adoption papers in blood.
Hear His Word, “You were bought with a price”, you “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of His grace.” Because Jesus died, “we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). Galatians 4:4-5: 4 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” All who believe are joint heirs with Jesus, fully adopted into God’s family, and children of God with full rights of sons.
And best of all, through that payment of blood we were taken out of the family tree of the devil and grafted in to the family tree of God. Because of Jesus’ death we have a new Father, a new lineage, a new heritage, a living hope and a bright future.
But why must the price be so high? Why did our adoption require the death of God’s Son? Because God accepts only perfect children into His heavenly home. God is holy, He is righteous and His children must be perfect to live in His presence. And so Christ died to forgive our sin, His blood was shed to cover our wrongs, and to remove our sin as far as the East is from the West, so that we might be spotless, without blemish, free from accusation. We are God’s children, because of the payment Jesus made.
Oh how this increases my love for the Son of God. And you do realize that this is the distinguishing characteristic of God’s children. Look again at our text today, John 8:42 Jesus 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.” This is the determining factor of whether we are God’s children or not. If He adopted us, we love Him. If He forgave us, we love Him. If He died for us, we love Him.
God’s children are like the ex-prostitute Mary Magdalene, who because she had been forgiven much, loved much. So she came to the feet of Jesus, and recklessly poured out her perfume, disregarding the cost. And that perfume filled the room, and shouted “I love you Jesus.” She could not contain her love for Him, it spilled out of her eyes and she washed Jesus feet with her tears. We in the reformed tradition are so scared of emotionalism that we can’t shed a tear like she did, and washed His feet with her tears of love.
This is a heart-searching “if.” According to this passage, who’s your daddy? Do you love Jesus? Or do you have another spiritual father? If so, put up the white flag of surrender, lay down your arms of rebellion, and believe the truth.
Some have said, “what if I am not chosen? Maybe I can’t believe because I’m just not one of God’s elect.” But that is a terribly wrong focus. What we should do is look at the cross, and if we look at the cross we will see that there is room at the cross for even us.
In fact I want us to make an association. When we think of the cross let’s always associate the word “open” with it. Hebrews 10 tells us that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, opened for us through the curtain, that is His body. The curtain referred to here is the curtain that kept people out of God’s presence in the Temple. It was like an iron curtain, a fence, a sign that said “keep out!” But when Jesus died that curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, and the way to God was opened, like God saying, “I invite you.” Then when Jesus died, His arms were nailed open on the cross, open to receive all who come to Him, like God not only saying “I invite you” but “I receive you.” “Anyone who comes to me, I will not send away.” And finally, the Roman soldier stabbed a spear into Jesus’ heart, thereby opening up the heart of God for anyone who comes, so that God is saying “I love you.” The cross should be connected with the word “open” as God is saying “I invite you, I receive you, I love you.”
Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son to be our substitute, thank you for washing us clean in His blood, thank you for accepting His payment on our behalf, in Jesus’ Name.
