Aug 31, 2022
Why Jesus didn’t respond to being called a…
https://youtu.be/Ig0QCJUjNBo
The Passage
This week we will study John 8:48–50. Let’s read the passage, “The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.”
He Loves You
In this blog, we are studying John 8:48–50, we will discuss the beautiful reason why Jesus did not respond to being called a Samaritan. We will also discuss demons and why our twenty-first-century worldview eliminates them almost completely when they are still very active today. We will also study the Jew’s response to Jesus calling them sons of the devil, they called Jesus a Samaritan and accused Him of having a demon. Let’s begin by explaining why they thought calling Jesus a Samaritan would offend or discredit Him. The Jews and Samaritans have always hated each other because the Samaritans are offspring of the Jews, who married people who are not Israelites. The main reason they hated each other was due to race and because of religious disagreements. The Jews thought that Jesus is one of them, and would take offense to being called a Samaritan. What is beautiful, which you can see looking back, is that Jesus did not take offense to this, and the Samaritans were the first people who Jesus told He was the Messiah, because He loves them for who they are. In fact, I believe there are two main reasons He told them He was the Messiah. The first reason is that Jesus looks for the ones that the World hates and pushes away and He loves them (1 Corinthians 1:26–31). Second, He sees the Samaritans for who they were, He does not see them for all the things that society hates, but for who He has made them be in His image. He loves you, not because of who you are, who your parents are/were, what you have or haven’t done, but because of who He is. He loves you right now, as much as He could ever love you, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you more or less than He does right now.
Demonization
Jesus does not even respond to being called a Samaritan, but He does respond to them asking Him if He had a demon. Jesus responded to them by saying, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.” Jesus is telling them, that He is not demonized, but is only seeking to honor His Father. They could not understand that He was talking about God, His Heavenly Father; they thought He was talking about Joseph (John 8:27). They thought He was demonized because demonization is a real thing and not just something that happened in Biblical accounts, but this still happens today. Jesus is greater than all the power and principalities of this world and where Jesus is, all demons must flee in Jesus’ Name. So often in our culture, we want to assign physical and mental labels to things that are spiritual. Do not take this the wrong way, I am not saying that all or even most illnesses and diseases are demonic. But, some are and if we were as quick to turn to Jesus, as we are to turn to medicine, then we would experience more healings and deliverances. Now I am not saying that we should not seek medical care, but I am saying that instead of being frantic on the way there and during treatment, we should be crying out to Jesus for His help. Because Jesus still moves today and He will help, heal, and deliver those who cry out to Him.
Dishonor
Jesus said that the Jews dishonored Him, this refers to them not accepting Him and saying that He had a demon. Jesus then tells them, “Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge”. Jesus never glorified Himself, but let the Father humble and glorify Him as God saw fit. We should do this too, we should not seek our own glory, but let God humble and exalt us, as He sees fit. But, when we are in the spotlight and in a season where God has exalted us we should glorify Him rather than ourselves (Romans 8:30). Jesus said, that the One who seeks glory, is the Judge, referring yet again to God the Father. Remember that there is nothing you can do to earn more of Jesus’ love, just like you can’t earn your Salvation. If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life please click this link https://wbencouragement.medium.com/who-is-your-father-john-8-38-47-7d5f86d06c7e. Also, remember that Jesus is more powerful than the powers and principalities of this world. We should call upon Him in our time of need and glorify Him always. For more verse-by-verse Bible Studies just like this, join our newsletter, https://www.biblicalencouragement.org/join-our-newsletter/
