This chapter has such deep theology we can barely scratch the surface. It includes the infamous ‘woman forgiven for adultery’, commentary on Jesus being the Light of the World and from His Father in Heaven, and commentary on people being for their father of the world, the devil himself.
“He said to them, ‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world… I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.’ They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did… If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil… he… does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him…’ ” (v23, 38-39, 42-44 abr)
Jesus is very clear that we have two options for our spiritual heritage / lineage – we can choose God as our Father, or the devil as our leader – there is no middle ground or third option. Either we follow in the footsteps of Jesus and Abraham, obeying the Father in heaven, in whose image we are created, or we rebel against God and follow in the footsteps of fallen angels. By extension, we then teach our ‘spiritual children’ the traditions of our spiritual heritage, and perpetuate the family line.
I challenge us (myself included) to prayerfully examine our ‘family traditions’. Are we obtaining / maintaining moral practices that would make our Father in Heaven proud, and help build an eternal kingdom for Jesus, or are we promoting worldly ways? Let’s invite the Holy Spirit into this discernment process, since I for one am not a flawless judge of my actions and intentions.
Father God, our One True Lord, You are the one in whose image we are created. Holy Spirit, please open our hearts, minds, and eyes to the Father’s will and ways, humbling us, so we may choose to obey Him alone. Please guard us against temptation and deception, helping us to discern the traditions of this world so we can avoid them. Jesus please continue to model the way of the Father in our lives, so we may honor, obey, glorify and praise Him, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training