A Samaritan with a Devil - John 8:48

The apostle John wrote how Jesus asked the people who were questioning Him, “Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God hears God's words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God”, and in chapter eight and verse forty-eight of his book John shared how the religious leaders told Jesus, “Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?” where we read:

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him,

Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?

The verse reads, “Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, ...” John began with the words, “then answered” which means “at that time responded and began to speak” “the Jews” or “the people of the Jewish nation by origin, birth and religion”, “and said unto him” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words to Jesus. John shared how the “Jewish people” who were listening to Jesus began to respond to His words.

The verse continues, “.... Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?” John added the words, “Say we not well” which means “do not we, Jewish people, utter, declare and proclaim rightly, excellently, nobly and commendably” “that you are a Samaritan” or “that you, Jesus, exist as a Samaritan from the area of Samaria who were people that were a mixed race of people and not purely Jewish”, “and have a devil” which means “and hold, own and are possessed by an evil spirit or messenger of the devil”? John shared how the “Jewish people” began to accuse Jesus of being a “half-breed Samaritan who was not purely Jewish” and that He was “possessed” by an “evil spirit”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we discover how this conversation is escalating, and now the Jewish people who were challenging Jesus began to “label” Him as a “Samaritan” and as one who was “possessed” by a “devil”. Though these people thought and believed they were correct in their appraisal of Jesus, they could not have been any further from the truth. Jesus came to the earth to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and be granted everlasting life with God. Any aberration of this idea will not only have people calling Jesus name, but will also drive them from the very “truth” of God. Those who are wise will examine themselves to discover who they really believe Jesus is, and when they find Him to be God's Son, let them humble themselves and submit their lives to Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells the religious leaders, “I have not a devil; but I honor my Father”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".