John 8:31-47
For the past five weeks we have been looking at Jesus’ teachings and the resulting confrontation that occurred with the Jewish religious leaders over His claim to be the Son of Man [27] at the Feast of the Tabernacle.
The religious leaders made three claims they believe validated their position in God…the first claim is they are the physical descendants of Abraham…the Jewish religious leaders took pride that they were Abraham’s offspring…they saw their physical connection to Abraham as a guarantee of God’s favor.
Just so you know there is another group that can claim to be Abraham’s descendants because he produced two sons…Ishmael, whose lineage includes most all Arabs, and then there’s Isaac’s lineage which includes the Israelites.
The second claim is they are of the spiritual seed of Abraham…because for them Heaven was for people of faith…so they claim to be favored by God…they understood that heaven was their final home.
Their third claim is they are the Children of God: as described in
‘You are sons of the LORD your God…’ [Deut. 14:1]
We have one Father—God [41]
Jesus agreed with their first claim…twice Jesus agrees in the physical sense they are Abraham’s descendants…BUT here’s where the conflict comes in…you are not the spiritual descendants of Abraham because:
If you were Abraham’s children you would do what Abraham did [39]
Jesus tells them…Abraham was my friend [Isa. 41:8] he never treated Me the way you do…you might be the physical descendants of Abraham…but your second claim as being the spiritual seed of Abraham is bogus because you reject Me.
Jesus makes a startling comment…first by claiming they weren’t the spiritual descendants of Abraham…and secondly…by implying that He knew Abraham.
They’re asking Jesus…you’re not even yet 50 years old [57] …Abraham’s been dead for thousands of years and yet You make the outlandish claim that You knew him.
So how could you have remotely known Abraham…that you were friends with him…you must have a demon [52] why would anyone believe you had a relationship with a man whose been dead for thousands of years?
So starts this long discourse between Jesus and the Jews about Jesus’ relationship with Abraham.
This portion of Scripture has captivated me…I’m studying this last week and I’m wondering why John would put so much emphasis on Jesus’s relationship with Abraham…why did he think it to be such a big deal that he dedicated so much space to it in his Gospel…why did John include so much detail…and what is there in this story that John thought would be so relevant to us today?
What is there about this that is so important that John can recall this conversation with such preciseness…theologians believe John wrote his gospel as many as 60 years after Jesus’s ascension and yet he’s able to recall the exact words of Jesus.
The words of Jesus are in red so they are the actual words Jesus spoke…it is not a paraphrase…why did the Holy Spirit impress upon John to record this conversation with such detail…what is so intriguing about this event that John feels the need to expound on it in explicit detail?
Contained in this discourse are some of Jesus’s most salient points.
1) — I am the light of the world [12]
2) — unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins [24]
3) — If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will make your free [32]
4) — I proceeded forth and have come from God [42]
5) — If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death [52]
Jesus enters into this long discourse in John 8 but to fully understand everything that’s being discussed it’s important to include the events that occurred back in Genesis 18…without knowing what occurred in Gen 18 you wouldn’t understand why this story is relevant to us today.
It’s an event the religious leaders would have all known…they would have been familiar with Abraham’s encounter with the three men on their way to Sodom and Gomorra [Gen. 18] …but…they certainly would not have known…because they had no knowledge of Jesus…that one of the three men in that story was Jesus in human form even though Scripture clearly reveals it was.
Now the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) [Gen 18:1]
Abraham was still standing before the Lord [18:22]
Jesus and two angels took on the appearance of men…these ‘men’ are a physical manifestation in human form…there are eight recorded appearances in the Old Testament where Jesus/God took upon Himself a physical form.
Being familiar with this story they would have known how Abraham treated these three visitors.
When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth [18:2]
So now we have the story of Sodom and Gomorrah…Jesus appears to Abraham in the ordinary dress of the day…no thunder or lightning as He did on Mt. Sinai when Moses went up to get the Ten Commandments.
There is an important concept we can draw from this story…this story teaches us that God is aware of what is happening on earth… and He is involved….an element about God seen time and again in Scripture.
God is not insensitive to what’s occurring in the world and especially to His people…God knows from eternity past what things are going to happen and when they will happen…what is occurring in Sodom is no surprise to God…He knew years before it happened.
God knows the beginning from the end because He has planned it that way.
He came in a personal way…sharing His plans with His friend Abraham…His plans are to visit Sodom…even though the wording hints that God has been taken by surprise at what has been occurring: [Gen 18:21]
the LORD said, the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, I will go down and see if they have done according to its outcry
Obviously, God does not have to come down from heaven and see for Himself…if that were the case He would not be the omnipresent and omniscient God we know Him to be…He would not be God.
What happens to the angels once they arrive in Sodom…people wanting to have sex with them, is proof that the situation has gotten completely out of hand…God knew…now we know the reason for the visit.
Jesus’ visit to Sodom was to assess the sins of the people…to confirm the outcry against that city and then make a judgment on what to do which ultimately is to destroy the cities killing every man…woman…and child.
So what you have is four ‘men’ looking at the city of Sodom…one is Abraham… one is the Lord in human form…and the other two are angels also in human form… on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
Contained in this judgmental act of God we see the basis of Abraham’s friendship with God…maybe why John was so intent in capturing this occurrence.
Abrahams’s friendship with God displays the elements of those who have a meaningful fellowship with God…Abraham was by no means perfect, however; the overall direction of his life was always towards God.
The New Testament presents Abraham as a person who believed the truths of God and lived out those truths in his day-to-day living…and although the Old Testament portrays a different Abraham…still…he exhibited at least five characteristics that define who can be called a friend of God.
Friends of God Continually Worship Him
Not when it convent…when I have time…if I’m not doing anything else.
Friends of God Prioritize Time with Him
We must plan to develop intimacy with God to prioritize time with him.
Friends of God Are Enthusiastic in Serving Him
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [Rom.12: 11]
Friends of God Are Generous in their Offerings to Him
If we are unfaithful with God has given us…then God cannot give us more.
Friends of God Grow in the Knowledge of God’s Will
Friends of God receive revelation from the Lord through his Word. Isaiah 66:2
At this point in the story things begin to get weird…Jesus is having a conversation with Himself;
shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do [17]
But He’s talking loud enough to ensure Abraham hears Him…why would God make known His intentions to Abraham…what is the reason Jesus wanted Abraham to hear this? …what’s the point?
He is inviting Abraham into what He’s doing…He’s sharing His intentions with Abraham…it is in this dialogue that we see the heart of Abraham and why Jesus decided to share His intentions with him to destroy Sodom.
God Himself says, “I have chosen him …”[Gen 18:19] …there was nothing special about Abraham that led God to choose him…he wasn’t better than all other men…he wasn’t stronger, smarter…not because he had higher moral standards than his friends…God chose him purely out of grace…this means it was not something Abraham deserved…or earned…rather, it was something that God decided to do.
Abraham had been chosen by God. So, what does God expect from him? Keep the way of the LORD…Do what is right…Do what is just.
I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, [Gen 18:19]
Abraham possessed the qualities that made it possible for him to approach God and the reason why God would listen to him…as we grow in spiritual maturity…there are certain conditions we must meet…that is why Jesus elected to share with Abraham and possibly the angels His plans for Sodom.
Remember angels have no ability to see into the future…all they know at this point …based on Scripture…is that they are on their way to assess with Jesus the sins of Sodom…so Jesus explains to the angels…and us…why He will not hide from Abraham what He is about to do.
—Because Abraham was His friend;
—Because Abraham listened to God’s commands and put them into effect;
—Because of his steadfastness to be obedient to God’s commands;
—Because of his desire to lead his children accordingly;
—Because Abraham trusted in God and declared his faith by obeying God.
—Because Abraham possessed those five characteristics that define who can be called a friend of God
But in doing so Abraham begins to become concerned about the residents of Sodom…about what is about to befall them…because again…Abraham has some unusual qualities…qualities that God is desirous to see in every Christian.
FIRST…Abraham’s gift of compassion.
In Elaine’s Sunday school class they’re going through the spiritual gifts…here we see one of those spiritual gifts…the gift of compassion.
It could be argued that Abraham didn’t have the ‘spiritual gift’ of compassion because the Holy Spirit had not yet been given…but what we see in Abraham is an abnormal concern regarding the people of Sodom.
Two of the many descriptions of someone with the motivational gift of compassion are: 1) they want to remove hurt from those who suffer and 2) they often wonder why God allows people to suffer. https://bible.org/seriespage/9-becoming-friend-god-genesis-18
We see both of these features in Abraham…let me share something about spiritual gifts I shared with Elaine’s class: Having spiritual gifts is different than having human feeling about someone or something.
I’m sure we all have feelings about those people who were destroyed but for those with the spiritual gift of compassion it goes much deeper…it’s more intense.
Human compassion recognizes the suffering of others and then has a desire to take action to help…and that’s OK…that’s just the natural human response…we all have that feeling of compassion when someone is hurting…BUT
What Abraham exhibited was an almost supernatural sensitivity to the emotions of those who were about to die.
A compassionate/merciful person cannot stand to see another person hurt or be offended…they are quick to take up the offended person’s cause…even…as in this case… ‘arguing’ with God about His decision.
In fact, those with the gift of compassion tend to react negatively to the idea that God would ever allow a good person to suffer.
We see this in Abraham’s concern that the righteous in the city should not suffer the same fate or be treated in the same way as the wicked…Abraham wanted God to spare the righteous people who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah… [23]
Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked…to treat the righteous and the wicked alike
SECONDLY…Abrahams’s desire to intercede.
Because of Abraham’s gift of compassion, he approaches Jesus and begins to talk with Him with terrifying boldness…notice God allows Abraham to have a say in what was about to occur.
Abraham was so agonized that he was driven to speak again and again about what he believed was an injustice.
Who was Abraham to question the integrity of the God? …Abraham was pleading with God…interceding on behalf of the entire city…Abraham realizes he was on shaky ground…twice he uses the expression “May the Lord not be angry” [30,32] But Abraham can’t be silent…he can’t help himself…he has to speak on behalf of these people.
Something to notice here…Abraham asks…he doesn’t demand…not a good idea to make demands of God…that attitude won’t go far…there’s a difference in being insistent…and being demanding…God needs no counseling from us.
Here we actually see the down side of someone with the gift of compassion… they’re so absorbed in wanting to relieve the oppression of the person suffering… they often don’t take into account why God would allow people to suffer…and so they misjudge God’s actions…or fail to understand how and why God works.
Abraham was unable to sit by and let the good suffer with the bad…he just felt he had to say something…that was exactly what God wanted…he wanted a response.
In this verse is the example of God allowing a human to know more of His mind… in this verse God is speaking to Abraham about something He has already determined that He would do…He already knows how it will proceed…to emphasize the extent of Sodom’s sins and why He must take appropriate action.
Abraham knows the situation in Sodom…he anticipates what the angels will find there and that God will wipe out the city.
In his eyes God’s judgment is a foregone conclusion…Abraham is right in feeling horrified about the coming destruction of the cities…but Abraham was convinced that God would never act unjustly by “putting the righteous man to death with the wicked one.” [23] …such an act was “unthinkable” to Abraham.
So…here they stand…just the two of them…standing there together:
Abraham was still standing before the Lord. [22]
God is silent and waiting…He is waiting on a response from Abraham.
It’s as if Jesus is expecting Abraham to say something regarding what He’s about to do to the people in Sodom…He wants someone to speak up on their behalf.
This is a trait of God found throughout Scripture…God is looking for people to intercede…to speak up…to implore Him to reconsider His intentions.
It’s as if God was saying to Abraham…I am going to destroy the city…are you satisfied with my decision to kill every living thing?
Here’s something we see about God…God does not invoke His wrath on people with pleasure… I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, [Ezekiel 33:11]
It is God’s desire that as Christians we would intercede on behalf of people…in the Bible we actually see God asking people to intercede on behalf of the lost.
Abraham’s dialogue with Jesus reveals the deep friendship he had with God…a friendship that afforded him the privilege to question God’s actions.
May the Lord not be angry but let me speak just once more
God knowing Abraham’s heart…knowing his compassion for those people…He knew Abraham would intercede for those cities…unlike Jonah whose response to God destroying Nineveh…kill ‘em all…who cares.
But because of Abraham’s compassion he did approach Jesus and talk with Him with terrifying boldness…realizing his own smallness. ‘I am dust and ashes [27]
Abraham is exhibiting both qualities God desires to see in every Christian…a compassion not to see innocent people suffer…but also a desire to intercede not just for the righteous people but for the entire city if God would spare the city on finding just ten righteous people.
BUT notice what happens because of Abraham’s fear of continuing to intercede for Sodom…so the Lord wouldn’t be angry with him…he cuts his intercession short.
Abraham asks God if just 10 righteous people [32] were found would He spare the entire city on account of just ten…so God agrees…if just ten righteous people are found…I won’t destroy the city…BUT…he stops asking with the number ten.
We don’t know what would have happened if Abraham had been persistent…if he would have continued asking…what if there is just one righteous person… because…there was one righteous person in Sodom…his nephew Lot.
Another downside of those with the motivational gift of compassion is at times they let their sense of compassion override their spiritual discernment as to why things happen…if Abraham had continued his request until he got to one he might have known why God was preparing to destroy Sodom.
Discernment is being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure or not evident to the average mind…because of Abraham’s lack of discernment he was unable to see God’s purpose in dealing with Sodom.
As a result, he questioned God’s dealing in how He was going to treat these people. Abraham was giving sympathy to those who were about to suffer, not realizing it was God who was sending the suffering in the first place.
We must understand that God evoked this kind of response from Abraham by revealing His intentions to him…God knew how Abraham was going to respond… but at the same time He welcomed Abraham’s response knowing Abraham’s compassion for those who were to die.
(Joyce G. Baldwin, The Message of Genesis 12-50, The Bible Speaks Today, The Old Testament Series, pg. 74)
Those who live a life of faith live a life in communion with God.
Genesis 18 brings out the delight of being in true friendship with God…in this dialogue we see the heart of Abraham and the heart of God.
Abraham was a friend of the Lord and the Lord showed himself friendly to him… treating him as His friend, by imparting His secrets to him.
Those that live a life in communion with God are able to know more of God’s mind than other people…they have a better insight into what is present, and a better foresight of what is to come.
So is it possible to be a friend of God to the extent Abraham was?…that is the significance of this story…these are the qualities needed…Abraham exhibited all these qualities:
Prayer with God is about His will and intentions, not ours.
The importance of praying in God’s will…because of Abraham’s lack of discernment, he was unable to see God’s purpose in dealing with Sodom. Intercession is not about moving the heart of God…God was trying to move the heart of Abraham…intercession is sharing in the burdens with the Lord.
When appealing to God’s plans and purposes we can be bold.
May the Lord not be angry but let me speak just once more.
Be persistent until an answer is received.
If just 10 righteous people [32] were found would He spare the entire city on account of just ten…so God agrees.
God is looking for intercessors.
This whole thing of intercession is at the very heart of the Bible…find it in Ezekiel…with Moses…here with Abraham…and ultimately with Jesus who is the intercessor and mediator of the whole world…there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
“I have chosen Abraham,” says the Lord [Gen 18:19] …but God has also chosen you and me…every single believer, like Abraham, is chosen of God…every single believer, like Abraham, has an everlasting covenant relationship with God…every single believer, like Abraham, is to be God’s partner…God’s fellow worker in bringing about the Kingdom…every single believer, like Abraham, is a friend of God to whom God reveals His will – not in person, but in the Word.