the    sides

This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 8:12-46.

Interesting timing of this passage seeing how last Sunday was Father’s Day. Not only am I a dad but I’ve got three myself - father-in-law, biological dad and step-dad. To further confuse matters, I call all three of men “Dad” and am always introduced by the three men as “my son.” If we ever have dinner all together, it’s going to be a bit confusing.

Yet the really cool thing about this - besides all the warm fuzzy feelings that goes in Hallmark cards - is the sense of belonging. But the belonging doesn’t come without strings. Let me see if I can explain.

Growing up in the South I constantly answered the questions “Who’s your dad?” and “Who’s your grandfather?” I realize that part of the reason was to make sure that the family tree properly forked…(you can insert your favorite Alabama joke here) but something deeper was going on as well. I was being sized up to the kind of person I was based on my family tree.

The highest compliment you could receive was “Yes sir, that sure is English’s boy.” The lowest insult would be “You’re no son of English.”

(Stay with me…I know it feels like I’m rambling but this really does tie in to what Jesus is talking about here.)

The Hebrew culture is just like this except worse…on steroids. Remember reading all those lists - Joshua, son of Nun…everyone is known as someone else’s son. It’s not just to show identity but character and belonging as well.

So in walks Jesus talking to “the Jews”, the religious leaders and elite, where this is even more important. He claims to be the “Light of the World” and the only argument back from the Pharisees is this - who’s your daddy? They can’t question his character because it’s impeccable. They can’t argue the Scriptures with Him because Jesus has beat them at that game as well. They question his lineage and in response Jesus shares not just some of the most profound statements in Scripture but also some of his harshest insults.

“You are from below, I am from above.”

“When you have lifted the Son of Man, you will know that I am the one…”

“I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”

“If you hold to my teachings…you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

“Why is my language not clear to you? You belong to your father, the devil and you want to carry out your father’s desire.”

“The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Great quotes, explain to me again how this all relates????

Jesus says it’s your actions and attitude that reveals your true heritage, not your heritage that justifies your actions. The Jews thought - since I’m a Jew, a son of Abraham, what I do is right. What I think is right.

Jesus says no - your faith is in your heritage, not in the person of God. And when you have faith in anything but God - you are a son of Satan, bent on perpetuating lies and unable to hear God. You can claim to hear God but your life shows differently.

My two take aways from this are painful. First, I often wonder if Christianity in America is guilty of the same thing. We have God on our money in word, in deed we behave very differently. Many of us who grew up in religious homes rely on that as opposed to a personal, dynamic relationship with Jesus.

Secondly, as a son of the Father the true result of listening to Him is freedom. Still figuring out how that fleshes out.