Doing the Things of My Father

Scripture: They were indignant. "Our father is Abraham!" Jesus said, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would have been doing the things Abraham did." John 8:39

Observation: Jesus is really having it out with the Pharisees and other leaders, eventually leading to his declaration "I am who I am", directly invoking the name of Yahweh. Before that, however, he is pointing out to them their own confusion and lack of integrity in a very simple manner ... by indicating to them that they are not in fact being obedient to the ways and teaching they declare, and watching them jump about in those declarations.

This began when several of them first said that they would follow Jesus. Jesus actually challenged their understanding of that statement, calling out how they would be released from their state of slavery if they did in fact follow him. At this, they declare they aren't slaves because their father is Abraham, and this is where it gets heated. Jesus effectively says ... you can't claim your father is Abraham, because you don't behave following his example. So they immediately say that is because their REAL father is Yahweh, to which Jesus says ... well that can't be true either because you don't behave following his example, either. And with this accusation, Jesus further declares that their father is satan, because it is his lies they most closely observe in their lives.

Application: I'll be honest, this section is confusing. Maybe something has been lost in translation, but for the most part this feels like it devolves into a name-calling level of "debate" or maybe a "yo daddy" (instead of "yo mamma") fight. That said, there is a takeaway about proper behavior. If a person believes they are aligned to another honorable person, they should be doing as that person did.

And there it is ... am I behaving like Christ? Of course I'm not. God is my father, Jesus is my savior, and I don't act like either of them, let alone complying with their teaching.

I need to be doing the things my father did. I need to serve others, care for the downtrodden, avoid sin, and show love. And I need to be doing those things all the time.

Prayer: Lord, I pray this every day but don't always follow through, so I say it again today. In your name, may I serve others today. Amen.