That's A Devil Of A Problem

THAT’S A DEVIL OF A PROBLEM

John 8:37-47

S: Discipleship (spiritual heritage)

Th: “Who is your daddy?”

Pr: WE WILL LEAVE EVIDENCE REGARDING WHO WE FOLLOW.

?: Inductive

KW: Problems

TS: We will find in our study of John 8:37-47 three problems that the leaders revealed about themselves when they confronted Jesus.

The _____ problem is…

I. INCONSISTENCY (37-40)

II. ILLEGITIMACY (41-44)

III. INCRIMINATION (45-47)

Version: ESV

RMBC 25 May 03 AM

INTRODUCTION:

1. Have you ever noticed that our families have something to do with the way we turn out?

ILL Notebook: Inheritance (dad drove)

Kathleen O’Neill’s two daughters were having a discussion about family resemblance.

“I look like Mom,” said the nine-year-old, “but I have Dad’s eyes and Dad’s lips.”

The six-year-old said, “And I look just like Dad, but I have light hair.”

Then the six-year-old turned to Kathleen. “Mom,” she asked, “what does Dad have to do with us being born anyway?”

The old sister jumped right in. “Don’t be stupid, Christina. Dad is the one who drove Mom to the hospital.”

Well, it is true.

Our fathers do have something to do with the way we turn out.

Today we are going to discuss the relationship and the impact fathers have, but it is on a much different level than we normally think.

In our study today, the relationship is observed on the spiritual level.

First, though, let’s review the context of today’s text…

2. In our previous studies in John 8, we have noted conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.

First, there was the…

2.1 “Woman caught in adultery”

It was quite the scene when we started this chapter.

The Jewish leaders have been seeking to pit Jesus against the Law of Moses.

So they create a set-up with a woman that is caught in the act of adultery (we know this is a set-up because the man is nowhere to be seen).

If Jesus chooses to let her go, they will charge Him with going against the Law.

If He goes along with them, then they can get Him in trouble with Rome.

Their trap was flawed, though.

They were the ones that ended up being caught for they were confronted about who they were.

They were the ones that were guilty.

Jesus had made sure that they all walked away, convicted of their own sin.

In the next study, we studied the familiar proclamation by Jesus…

2.2 “I am the Light of the world”

This was a truth that the Jewish leaders certainly had difficulty facing.

When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” he insinuated that they were lost.

They were in darkness.

Therefore, they needed Jesus.

Not only that, and even more importantly, when He said, “I am,” they were confronted with His very exclusive claim of deity.

It was the truth, however, they did not want to hear.

In last week’s study, we considered another familiar saying of Jesus…

2.3 “The truth will set you free.”

When Jesus spoke about the truth that is so freeing, He was speaking about more than just knowing what was true and what was not.

He was talking about the true freedom that comes in knowing the One that embodies truth.

Just knowing facts wasn’t enough.

What really matters is that you know the One who is the truth.

This was another point of conflict that the Jewish leaders found absolutely unacceptable and leads to the conflict we come to today.

So…

3. We will find in our study of John 8:37-47 three problems that the leaders revealed about themselves when they confronted Jesus.

OUR STUDY:

I. The first problem is INCONSISTENCY (37-40).

[37] “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” [39] They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, [40] but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.”

I think we all realize that…

1. A godly spiritual heritage can be a powerful influence in our lives.

When in this continuing debate with the Jewish leaders, Jesus willingly concedes this point.

They are physically of Abraham’s line.

The leaders thought that directing Jesus to this holy heritage would be a convincing response.

But it hardly ended the argument.

ILL Notebook: Consistent (ivory chopsticks)

Ann and her friend were eating at a Chinese restaurant.

When an elderly waiter set chopsticks at their places, Ann made a point of reaching into her purse and pulling out her own pair.