A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS

HHH. Christ’s Presentation As God’s Deliverer

(John 8:21-59)

I. Introduction

A. John 8:21-59 records the extensive, open conflict that Jesus had with the Pharisees in the temple over the identity of His Person, and in the process, He presented Himself as man’s true Deliverer. (J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, 1991, p. 286-288)

B. We thus view John 8:21-59 on Christ’s claims as man’s true Deliverer for our insight and edification:

II. Christ’s Presentation As God’s Deliverer, John 8:21-59.

A. First, Christ presented Himself as the true object of faith for man’s deliverance, John 8:21-30, Ibid., p. 286:

1. Jesus told the Pharisees in the temple that He would go His way, referring to His return to the Father, that the Pharisees would then die in their sins because they could not go with Him, John 8:21.

2. The Pharisees asked what He meant by their inability to go with Him, so Jesus said they were of the world below where He was from above, that if they did not believe in Him, they would die in their sins, v. 22-24.

3. Trying to entrap Jesus into claiming clearly that He was the Son of God so they could execute Him, the Pharisees asked Him Who He was, and Jesus avoided their trap by referring to what He had already said, John 8:25. Jesus added that He was the True Messenger from the Father, and when He was lifted up on the cross, when He died and was resurrected, they would know He was Who He claimed to be, v. 26-30.

B. Second, Christ presented Himself as man’s true Deliverer from sin, John 8:31-40; Ibid., p. 286-287:

1. Turning to those who were believing in Him, Jesus said that if they continued in His Word, they would be His true disciples, and they would know the truth and the truth would make them free, John 8:31-32.

2. The Pharisees countered Jesus, claiming they were Abraham’s seed and were never slaves of men, v. 33.

3. Jesus answered that He spoke of freedom from sin, what the Pharisees did not know as evidenced by the fact that they were sinfully trying to kill Him in doing the works of their spiritual father, John 8:34-38.

4. The Pharisees claimed Abraham was their father, but Jesus said that if it were so, they would do the works of Abraham, not try to kill Him like they were trying to do versus what Abraham would do, John 8:39-40.

C. Third, Christ presented Himself as man’s true Deliverer from bondage to Satan, John 8:41-49; Ibid., p. 287:

1. Jesus then explained that the Pharisees were doing the murderous, lying works of their spiritual father the devil, and since Christ was from the Father and told the truth, they did not believe in Him, John 8:41-45.

2. Christ asked which of them convinced Him that He had sinned, that if He then told the truth, why did they not believe Him, John 8:46. Jesus added that they did not heed Him since they were not from God, v. 47.

3. The Pharisees then charged Jesus as being a Samaritan who had a demon, but Jesus replied that He did not have a demon, but that He honored the Father though they tried to dishonor Him, John 8:48-49 ESV.

D. Fourth, Christ presented Himself as man’s true Deliverer from death, John 8:50-59; Ibid., p. 287-288:

1. Jesus added that He did not seek His own glory, that there was One (God) Who seeks and judges, and He explained that if a man kept His saying, very truly, he would never see (spiritual) death, John 8:50-51.

2. The Pharisees then (in ignorance) replied that they then knew that Jesus had a demon, for Abraham and Israel’s prophets were (physically) dead where Jesus claimed that if a man kept His saying, he would never taste of (spiritual) death, John 8:52. They asked Jesus if He was greater than Abraham and the prophets who had died, and thus Who did He make Himself out to be, John 8:53.

3. Jesus answered that He did not honor Himself, but that He let the Father whom the Pharisees claimed was their God honor Him. However, Jesus added that they really did not know the Father like Jesus did, and that if Jesus said He did not know the Father, He would be a liar like the Pharisees were, John 8:54-55.

4. Jesus added that Abraham rejoiced to see His day, that Abraham then saw it and was glad, John 8:56.

5. The Pharisees replied that Jesus was not yet fifty years old, so they asked how could He have seen Abraham, and Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:57-58).

6. The Pharisees considered this claim by Jesus to be the eternal “I AM” Yahweh of the Old Testament was blasphemy, so they took up stones to kill Him, but He hid Himself and left the temple, John 8:59 ESV.

Lesson: Jesus presented Himself in the Jerusalem temple as the eternal “I AM” Yahweh God of the Old Testament, the true object of faith for man to be delivered from sin, from bondage to Satan and from death!

Application: May we trust in Christ, the “I AM,” for deliverance from sin, from bondage to Satan and from death.