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    John 8:48-59
    ​Lesson 186

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Two accusations, two replies (8:48-56).
     
    Jesus is eternal (8:58).
    Picking up stones to cast at Jesus for declaring Himself God (8:58-59).
    By the Flemish artist Gerard van Groeningen (1515-1599). 
    Study Tip: 
     
    We tend to read as if we're in a race.
    But when you read the Bible, take the time to meditate on each passage.
    Allow the true meaning of God's word to enter you.     

    The Gospel According to St. John

    The King James Bible    ​

    John 8:48-59
    "Then took they up stones to cast at him"

    48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

    49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

    50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

    51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

    52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

    53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

    54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

    55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

    56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

    57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

    58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

    ​59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil." (8:48) - This is a double insult.  Samaritans were considered so evil and untrustworthy; they were not allowed to testify in court.  One possessed of a demon would be even worse.
     
    "Ye do dishonour me." (8:49) - Jesus was constantly dishonored (John 5:41). 
     
    "There is one that seeketh and judgeth." (8:50) - Means God will judge those who reject Christ.
     
    "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (8:51) - "If a man obeys my word, he will never (spiritually) die" (John 5:24; 6:63; 6:68; 11:25-26).  To obey God's word, we must know God's word.  We do that by reading the Bible.
     
    "Whom makest thou thyself?" (8:53) - "Who do you claim to be."
     
    "Abraham rejoiced to see my day." (8:56) - Abraham lived centuries before the birth of Christ.  Perhaps he saw Jesus' "day" in a vision while on earth or later from heaven.
     
    "Before Abraham was, I am." (8:58) - Bu saying He existed before Abraham and using the name "I Am," Jesus is claiming to be eternal and pronouncing Himself God (Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10; 43:13). 
     
    "Took they up stones." (8:59) - They picked up stones to throw at Jesus for claiming to be God (8:58).  Claiming to be God was blasphemy and punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).  This was not the only time they tried to stone Jesus (John 10:31).


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    John 8:48-59
     
    48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?"
     
    49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father-and you dishonor me.

    50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.

    51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!"
     
    52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!'

    53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
     
    54 Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,'

    55 but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.

    56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad."
     
    57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?"
     
    58 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!"

    ​59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. Is it possible to keep to the word of Jesus? (8:51)


    Make God a part of your life by studying the Bible every day.  It has more to teach than these lessons can cover.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. To follow the word of Christ means to love and trust God and to live according to His standards.  But since we are imperfect, we can't perfectly follow the word of Jesus.  Our Lord knows that we'll have setbacks, but if we accept His word as truth and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then eternal life awaits us despite our faults.


    Application thought for the day:
     
    How does this passage pertain to you?
    What do you take from it? 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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