You Are of Your Father

[453 words] In the heart-felt book of John, Jesus has several confrontations with the Jews of that day to prove to them His deity. Of note, the discussion in John 8 is particularly passionate. The hardness of heart of these people broke the Savior’s heart as they claimed allegiance to God, to the things of God, and to God’s faithful servant, Abraham. However, Jesus cuts to the core of their hypocrisy and powerfully says in 8:44, “You are of your father, the devil…” What were some things that betrayed their “true father’s” identity? They were ignorant of their spiritual heritage (8:32-36). Being honored by a family name is not necessarily wrong. However, pride had blinded these Jews to the point of ignorance of their history when they say, “we are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone” (8:33). People who will blindly trust in mom or dad’s…