What is the meaning of John 8:48? The Jews answered Him • The response comes after Jesus’ bold claim, “Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). His declaration of eternal existence provokes an immediate confrontation. • Earlier in the chapter they had already challenged His identity (John 8:25, 33, 41). Now the tension reaches a climax as they speak collectively, displaying unified resistance similar to the council in John 11:47-48. • Their answer illustrates the pattern that light exposes darkness and brings opposition (John 3:19-20; Acts 7:54-57). Are we not right to say • They frame their accusation as obvious truth, revealing self-righteous certainty. Proverbs 26:12 warns, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” • Isaiah 5:20 describes the danger of calling evil good and good evil; here they call the sinless Son of God evil. • 1 Corinthians 8:2 reminds that “the one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.” Their confidence exposes their ignorance. You are a Samaritan • In first-century Judea, calling someone a Samaritan was a slur questioning lineage, orthodoxy, and loyalty (John 4:9). • They imply Jesus is an outsider, unclean, and heretical—dismissing His authority by labeling Him with a despised group (Luke 9:52-54). • Ironically, Jesus had already shown compassion to Samaritans (John 4:4-42; Luke 17:11-19), revealing God’s heart for the marginalized, while His accusers cling to prejudice. You have a demon • Accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed repeats earlier charges (John 7:20) and anticipates later mockery (John 10:20). The pattern traces back to those who called righteousness “sorcery” (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22). • By attributing His words to demonic influence, they reject the witness of His miracles (John 5:36), His teaching (John 7:46), and the Father’s testimony (John 8:18). • This blasphemous claim fulfills prophecy that the Messiah would be “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). summary John 8:48 captures hardened hearts responding to Christ’s self-revelation with insults instead of faith. Their collective certainty (“Are we not right”) masks spiritual blindness, leading them to smear Him as both a Samaritan outsider and a demon-possessed deceiver. The verse exposes the tragic reality that when confronted with undeniable truth, unrepentant hearts may choose slander over surrender. |
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