Lesson Text:  (John 8:48-59)

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

 

Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’  Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

 

Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

 

Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8: 48- 59)

Dogs!

Whenever people are losing an argument, often they will resort to name calling.  That is what the Jews did.  They were no match to the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus.  Therefore they began to call Him names and to insult Him.  They called Jesus a Samaritan.  Why was it an insult for one Jew to call another Jew a Samaritan? Because Samaritans were half-breeds. This means that they were half Jew and half Gentile (someone who is not a Jew).  Many Samaritans were idol worshipers.  Jews often called Samaritans dogs.  This is a great insult because dogs do not have souls. 

 Jesus once called a Samaritan woman a “dog”.  Did Jesus think she was a “dog"?  No, of course not! I believe He said it to demonstrate three things. First, he wanted to test her faith in Him.  Second, he wanted to let the Jews know that He was aware of what they called Samaritans. He also wanted to teach His disciples a lesson.   Do you think the lady was aware that the Jews called her people “dogs”?  Yes, most likely she did and she was very brave to be in a crowd of Jews who hated people like her.  She demonstrated her faith in Jesus in more than one way.  Let’s take a look at what happened:

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.   And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

 

But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.   (Matt. 15: 21-28)

Jesus was so kind and compassionate!  Jesus loves everyone!  Jesus wants everyone to go to Heaven! Jesus died for people of all races! 

True or False:

1. The Jews called Jesus a Samaritan and said that He had a demon.

2. If anyone keeps Jesus’ Words he will never taste death.

3. Jesus said that Moses rejoiced to see His day.

4. The Jews commented on the fact that Jesus was nearly 40 years old. 

5. Jesus said, “I do not seek My own glory”.

6. The Jews said that Jesus had a demon because they thought that He was very clever.

Family Discussion

What is a demon?  Do demons possess people today?  Find passages in the New Testament that mention demons and tell some of the things demons caused people to do.

Hidden Answers: 

In our lesson text we read that Jesus hid from the Jews.  The answers are hiding below.  Can you find them?

7. Christ said you xhyedishonoruthaev me.

8. Are You greater than our father Mavbtroaihkarmp  ?    

9. It is My Father who sronoh  Me.

10. There is One who seeks and dJGues. 

11. Jesus hid going thru the rshweilmidstklebehave of them. 

12. Abraham is liveliveupdownlivedeadsleeping.

13. You are not yet foiefktry years old. 

Something else to consider:

The Jews accused Jesus of committing blasphemy against God:

And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” (Matt.9:3)  What does “blaspheme” mean?  According to the Vine's Bible Dictionary it means: “....Speech defamatory of the Divine Majesty”.  It is obvious when you read today’s Bible text that the Jews were very guilty of that which they had accused Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross many blasphemed (made fun of or cursed) Him:  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads (Matthew 27:39) They blasphemed Jesus!  How sad that they did not believe and that they blasphemed Jesus! 

Time to put your ol’ thinking cap on:

14. Could someone blaspheme you and me?  Why or Why not?  What was a necessary factor if the tauntings people hurled at Jesus were considered “blasphemy”?
 

15.  (3 Down) The Jews said that Jesus had a _____________.

16. (6 Across) Christ did not seek his own _________ .

17.  (8 Across) Jesus said that if He denied that He knew the Father He would be a ___________.

18.  (5 Down) The Jews called Samaritans ________. 

19. (4 Across) The Jews picked up _______ to throw at Jesus.

20.  (7 Down) Christ said, “If I ______ Myself, My _______ is nothing.”

21. (1 Down) Jesus ____ Himself and went out of the temple.

22. (2 Across) The Jews said that Abraham and the prophets were ______.