Day 32-Saturday, March 16th
Read John 8:30-47
The Father of Lies

This crowd continues to be divided concerning the truth of who Jesus is. For those who are now choosing to believe and walking according to teachings of Jesus, Jesus is promising new life that comes from understanding this truth.
Even as He spoke, many believed in Him. To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:30-32 NIV

Those who refuse to believe are offended and become defensive about their ancestry. They don’t need this freedom Jesus is offering because they are children of Abraham and have never been slaves. As has been the pattern, they are once again missing the point altogether.

Jesus isn’t offering freedom from some earthly slavery; He is offering freedom for the guilt and shame of sin.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-36 NIV

Jesus goes straight to the point: they don’t believe in Him because they aren’t children of God the Father but rather, they are children of the devil.

Even though these Jews claim that they are children of Abraham, Jesus points out that they aren’t acting like it.

“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” John 8:39-41 NIV

Now these Jews want to claim God as their Father. Jesus rebukes them even further.
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God Himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own; God sent me. John 8:41-42 NIV
Verse 43 is significant as it sheds light on why these Jews refuse to believe and why some refuse to believe today.
Why is My language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
These Jews cannot comprehend what Jesus is saying because Satan has control of their thinking. They are listening to lies from the “father of lies”.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. John 8:44-47 NIV

There are those in our lives who refuse to believe for the exact same reason. Satan has control of their hearts and minds and continually feeds them lies about the truth of who God is. The most important thing we can do is pray that God will open their eyes and ears to the truth of their need of a Savior in Jesus Christ.

Questions to consider:
Who do you know that simply refuses to believe in God or place their faith in Jesus? Pray that God will open his or her eyes today.

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