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Jesus' Divinity - Our Incarnate Lord

A Bible Discussion by Robert Jackson

 This study traces a fascinating conversation in John 8 where Jesus repeatedly asserts the truth and integrity of his claims. The conversation culminates in what is probably Jesus’ most direct assertion of divinity in the entire Gospels (John 8:58). Jesus’ divinity is, of course, central to his character and his message.

Opening discussion point: What is the Incarnation? [God taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.]

Part 1

Read John 8:31-41: The conversation between Jesus and the believing Jews begins.

v31-32: What is Jesus saying to these “believing” Jews? [Belief is not enough! We need to make Jesus our Lord and hold to his teachings. These Jews had started to believe his words, but they had not given their lives to Jesus – they were not yet free.]

v33: Why are they so offended? [By saying they can be set free, Jesus is implying that they are not free.] Is their claim true? [Absolutely not! The Jews had spent most of their history in subjection: first Egypt, then Assyria, then Babylon, then the Seleucids, and, currently, Rome.] Can people respond the same way today? [Very much so. “What do I need to be saved from?” “Who are you to say that I’m lost?”]

v34-36: Jesus draws a clever illustration here. Who can explain it? [Slaves are not a part of a family – but the ruling family has the authority to grant a slave freedom. We were all slaves to sin, but Jesus has the power to set us free.]

v37-38: Jesus knows their hearts and their intentions. The gospels are full of instances of Jesus knowing people’s thoughts and revealing their hearts… What is Jesus implying by referring to “your father”? [He is saying that their plot to have him killed comes from their father – Satan.]

v39a: The Jews realise immediately what Jesus is implying. What is their first evasion? [Their first attempt to justify themselves is to say that they are Abraham’s children. Since they are the chosen people, how could they be serving Satan?]

v39b-41a: What is Jesus’ response? [Abraham’s true children are those who share in his covenant of salvation and walk in the light (Romans 4). These Jews are illegitimate children, since they have rejected God’s purpose for their lives.]

v41b: Now the Jews try a second evasion: They make a direct claim to be the children of God.

Part 2: Read v41-48

v43: Why are they unable to hear Jesus’ words? [They are blinded by their sin and cannot accept the truth – they are so sure of their own goodness and chosen status that they refuse to even listen to any accusation.]

v44 is one of the most compelling and direct descriptions of Satan in the Bible.

Over the course of this conversation, Jesus has put forward many incontrovertible reasons to trust his words:

  1. He is guilty of no sin – his life has been one of perfect righteousness (v46).
  2. He has only told the truth – no one can fault a word he says (v45).
  3. He is a prophet and the son of God (v36, 38).

Now read v48: What is the Jews’ response to Jesus’ incredibly powerful testimony? [He is a Samaritan and demon-possessed. A petty, racist and ridiculous accusation.]

Part 3: Read v48-59

With such an outlandish outburst, Jesus has every right to shake the dust from his feet. Instead, he continues to reason with them. Why? [He is giving them every possible chance to see the truth.]

v49: What is Jesus’ first response? [Since his life honours God, he could not be demon-possessed.] By pointing out that he has been dishonoured, Jesus shows that he has taken offence at their words.

v50-51: What else does Jesus say in response? [He is not drawing attention to himself, but pointing people to God – further evidence that he is not demon-possessed. And lastly, his words are the path to salvation, so he must be from God.]

v52-53: What are the Jews claiming here? [They have misunderstood Jesus’ words. They think that Jesus has promised physical immortality. In truth, this is further evidence of their lack of spiritual discernment.]

v54-56: Jesus gives an evasive answer, simply making further claims to be the Messiah. What does Jesus mean in v56? [This relates to Luke 10:24, and is more directly explained in Hebrews 11:10-16. Abraham looked forward to the coming Messiah!]

v57: Once again, they miss the point totally. We can now see how right Jesus was in v43 – the more he explains the truth, the more blind they become.

v58: This is probably the most direct claim that Jesus ever made to be God. What passage from the Old Testament does it refer back to? [Exodus 3:14 – Jesus is Yahweh, the I AM, in the flesh.]

v59: How does the conversation end? Why did the Jews go straight for the kill? [Blasphemy was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16). The is the exact fate Stephen was to suffer – a sudden stoning in a fit of anger… But Jesus’ time had not yet come.]

Conclusion

Jesus was God in the flesh, and his life was filled with compelling claims and irrefutable evidence of this single fact. We worship an Incarnate Lord.

Life Applications

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