Abraham is Our Father - John 8:39

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told the people who believed on Him, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-nine of his book John shared how the Jewish people and religious leaders told Jesus, “Abraham is our father” where we read:

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them,

If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

The verse reads, “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, ...” John began with the words, “They answered” which means “the Jewish people and religious leaders responded and began to speak” “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to Jesus”, “Abraham” whose name means “father of a multitude” and was “the founder of the Jewish nation” “is our father” or “exists as our progenitor and ancestor”. “Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “said unto them” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Jewish people and religious leaders” the following words. John shared how the people listening to Jesus declared “Abraham” to be their “progenitor and ancestor”.

The verse continues, “... If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.” John added the words, “If you were Abraham's children” which means “whether you, Jewish people and religious leaders, existed as Abraham's offspring and progeny”, “you would do the works” or “you, Jewish people and religious leaders, would perform, make ready and produce the business, employment, acts and deeds” “of Abraham” which means “belonging to Abraham”. John shared how Jesus told the Jewish people and religious leaders “if” they were actually “Abraham's” offspring, they would “produce” the “business, enterprise, acts and deeds” that “Abraham” did.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how the people listening to Jesus challenged Him again with their “heritage” found in “Father Abraham”. In other words, He was their “fore-father” and they were of His lineage. They thought being connected to “Abraham” put them in a place of favor with God, however, Jesus let them know if they were really the “offspring” of “Abraham”, they would be performing the “acts and deeds” that “Abraham” did. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and regardless of a person's “earthly heritage”, that relationship is not enough to gain entrance into Heaven with God. Only Jesus can save, and Only Jesus can provide access to His Father God by forgiveness of sins and granting everlasting life with Him, and no earthly “heritage”, regardless of how old or important it is, will bring a person into a personal relationship with God.

Next time John shares how Jesus told the religious leaders, “now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth”, 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".