Make Room
Let's look at one of the most savage verbal beatdowns delivered by Jesus and recorded by the Apostle John. It is found in John's gospel and chapter 8. First, let's get some context. Jesus has just come from speaking with the Pharisees. There was some dispute over who Jesus claimed to be. In standard form, the religious elite were attempting to discredit the Messiah instead of listening to the words He was speaking. This must have elicited some righteous wrath in Jesus because He comes from this discussion into the next and is ready to kick it.
In verse 31, we see who the recipients of Jesus' verbal wrecking are. John calls them "the Jews who had believed Him [Jesus]." So, we understand that Jesus is talking to people who received his teaching and believed. Jesus initiates the discourse with a truth, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." Note to self: Jesus is not about believing. He is about discipleship! Reference James 2:19.
It is good that we believe and better that we confess that Jesus is the Son of God. But the Son of God is looking for disciples. To be a disciple, one must hold to the teachings of the Son of God. This was Jesus' initial message to those who believed. Jesus followed this proclamation with His renowned statement, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (vs. 32). If we hold to Jesus' teachings, we will understand the truth. In understanding the truth, we will find freedom. Freedom from what?
The people who were about to get a verbal heel hook responded to Jesus by saying, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (vs. 33) Here, Jesus enters this writer's imaginary octagon cage, stating, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin." Slaves do not have a permanent place in the family. But the Son does! By His position in the family of God, the Son provides true freedom and a real relationship to the Father. Jesus Christ gives us a permanent position in God's family through the adoption and the right granted to those who believe in Him to be called "children of God."
After Jesus gets started up with the "you sin and are slaves to sin" comment, He follows up with, "I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me because you have no room for my word." (vs. 37) In other words, I hear what you are saying, but your heart is sinful, and you cannot receive the truth because there is no room in your heart for it.
We must stop and dwell on this point. It is eternally vital that Jesus' heart declaration to these people has no foundation in our lives. Have we made room for the Messiah's teachings in our own hearts? Have we tossed out the junk the world has stuffed into our lives so that we may receive what Jesus wishes to invest in us? Are we so cluttered and our lives full of the world that we have no room for the Son of God? Check yourself.
Make room for the Word of God. Seek God’s kingdom and grow in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus continues, "I am telling you what I have seen in my Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father." To which the people freak and say," Abraham is our father," and, "We are not illegitimate children; the only father we have is God himself." Jesus is now under their skin but nowhere near finished with them. Jesus replies, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say." Then Jesus delivers a verbal Superman punch when He says, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires." Remember, Jesus is talking to people who "believed him."
Although they believed, they had no room for what Jesus taught and instead wished the Son of God killed. They were slaves to sin, and their father, the devil, controlled them. They were carrying out the devil's purpose. This same descriptive position is exemplified in any person who has not submitted to the Lordship of God's Son. If you do not serve God, you will definitely serve His enemy. Jesus spoke the truth bluntly to these people. Through these same words, He speaks bluntly to all who would say they believe but have no adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christianity is not about having a faith. It is not even believing. Being Christian is being Christ-like, and a person has no hope of being like Christ without holding to the Messiah's teachings. Don't be deceived. There is no place in God's kingdom for people who have no room for the Word of God. Jesus is the Word, and His teachings are life and truth. Make room, receive the Word, be set free from sin, and be adopted into the family of God.