Your Works Reflect the Devil

Lesson #147

We continue on in the section, defined by John 8:39 – 47, at verse 43: “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word” (ESV). I can almost see Jesus standing before them and with the authority of the Son of God, saying to them, “Why do you not understand what I say? Well, let me tell you why. It is because you are not able to accept what I say as truth that is given to me from my Father.” Jesus follows this with a repeat punch: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 ESV). Again, for the third time, Jesus tells them that the devil is their father and since the creation of man he has felt compelled to do him harm. Since the devil knew that the Son of God was to come as the Messiah and clothe himself with human flesh, he has done his best to prevent that from happening. With such an intense desire to kill Jesus these Jews are clearly demonstrating that they are doing the work of devil and thus he is their father. The devil was a murderer from the beginning and even today he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV).

The devil was not evil by nature, for there was a time when he walked in the truth, but pride was found in his heart and his worship turned from God to himself. The devil is now head over the domain of darkness of which every human is a member apart from Jesus Christ. This evil kingdom is engaged in battle with the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Having turned from the truth he is now knows as the father of lies. The devil hates the truth and therefore cannot endure it and when he speaks he speaks he speaks out of his own nature and all that he speaks are lies. We see this lying in the garden of Eden. God placed man in the garden and said, “from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17 NASB). But the devil shows us as a serpent and says to the woman, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4 ESV). These Jews speak the same way, accusing Jesus of being an impostor and speaking lies to them. The devil is the father of lies and his children follow his example and speak lies also.

This section contains three more verses, which we will cover in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, when I was born again I became a new creature in Christ, living in a body of sinful flesh. As a new creature I desire to live a holy and righteous life, allowing Jesus to live his life through me, but my flesh still has ties back to my old father and still struggles to express itself through works learned from him. The battle between self-wanting to live and Christ living in me is constant and, I am sure, will continue until death. Father, please continue to conform me into the image of your Son.