Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
The Jews answered Jesus with angry insult after He exposed their evil deeds and allegiance to the devil, calling Him a Samaritan in bitter religious and national hatred and charging that He was under the devil's power or possessed. The charge echoed the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub and was made because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments. This took place as part of His declaration that He is the light of the world, spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles and its lighting of the great lamps that commemorated the pillar of light and hoped for the Messiah, promising that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Though insulted, mocked and falsely accused, He did not retaliate but honored His Father, endured reproach without shrinking, and continued to love, labor for and save those who spoke against Him. His endurance shows that His followers, because they belong to Him, may face similar abuse, false charges and misrepresentation aimed at leading them to sin and dishonoring God, and should not murmur at the self-sacrificing demands of religion.
Setting and Accusation
The accusation belongs to Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world," spoken in the court of the temple specially connected with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles. It was uttered in the morning after the evening lighting of the great temple lamps that commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert. That illumination also expressed hope for the Messiah's coming to shed His light upon Israel.
The declaration promises that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. It forms part of the extended revelation of Him as the Light of Life in John 8:12-59, connected with John 9.
Calling Him a Samaritan was an insult expressing intense hatred and hostility toward Him. The insult drew on the bitter religious and national hostility and deep antipathy between Jews and Samaritans.
The insult was an angry reply to His exposure and rebuke of their evil deeds and allegiance to the devil. Their pride, prejudice and selfishness blinded them so that they rejected His testimony and words and misrepresented Him rather than accept that their works showed them to be children of Satan. They failed to recognize in Him the revelation of God's love. Their hostility was evident throughout the exchange and grew until they tried to stone Him.
The charge that He had a devil meant He was under the devil's power or possessed. It echoed the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub. It was made because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments.
Response and Example
Their insulting answer dishonored Him, while He honored His Father and left judgment to the One who seeks His glory. The leaders answered His exposure of their allegiance to the devil by calling Him a Samaritan and accusing Him of having a devil.
He was insulted, mocked, reviled, and falsely accused of being possessed by a devil. When untrue things were said about Him He did not retaliate. He endured reproach and rejection without shrinking from suffering. He did not cast off those who spoke against Him but loved them, labored for them, and saved the erring.
His opponents accused Him of being under the devil's power, echoing the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub. He was accused of being possessed because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments. Because they belong to Him, His followers may face similar abuse. Such false charges and misrepresentation were also directed at His followers, with the aim of leading them to sin and dishonoring God.
His endurance of reproach and rejection without shrinking from suffering shows that His followers should not murmur at the self-sacrificing demands of religion.
The charge that He had a devil is paralleled by the claim that Luther had a devil when his words and conduct amazed both friends and foes. The same accusation was made against Luther at Worms when his enemies marked his firm courageous bearing, kindly and joyous countenance, and solemn elevation and deep earnestness giving his words irresistible power. While some were convinced a divine influence attended him, others dismissed him by saying he had a devil.
The Jews answered Jesus with angry insult after He exposed their evil deeds and allegiance to the devil, calling Him a Samaritan in bitter religious and national hatred and charging that He was under the devil's power or possessed. The charge echoed the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub and was made because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments. This took place as part of His declaration that He is the light of the world, spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles and its lighting of the great lamps that commemorated the pillar of light and hoped for the Messiah, promising that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Though insulted, mocked and falsely accused, He did not retaliate but honored His Father, endured reproach without shrinking, and continued to love, labor for and save those who spoke against Him. His endurance shows that His followers, because they belong to Him, may face similar abuse, false charges and misrepresentation aimed at leading them to sin and dishonoring God, and should not murmur at the self-sacrificing demands of religion.
Setting and Accusation
The accusation belongs to Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world," spoken in the court of the temple specially connected with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles. It was uttered in the morning after the evening lighting of the great temple lamps that commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert. That illumination also expressed hope for the Messiah's coming to shed His light upon Israel.
The declaration promises that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. It forms part of the extended revelation of Him as the Light of Life in John 8:12-59, connected with John 9.
Calling Him a Samaritan was an insult expressing intense hatred and hostility toward Him. The insult drew on the bitter religious and national hostility and deep antipathy between Jews and Samaritans.
The insult was an angry reply to His exposure and rebuke of their evil deeds and allegiance to the devil. Their pride, prejudice and selfishness blinded them so that they rejected His testimony and words and misrepresented Him rather than accept that their works showed them to be children of Satan. They failed to recognize in Him the revelation of God's love. Their hostility was evident throughout the exchange and grew until they tried to stone Him.
The charge that He had a devil meant He was under the devil's power or possessed. It echoed the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub. It was made because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments.
Response and Example
Their insulting answer dishonored Him, while He honored His Father and left judgment to the One who seeks His glory. The leaders answered His exposure of their allegiance to the devil by calling Him a Samaritan and accusing Him of having a devil.
He was insulted, mocked, reviled, and falsely accused of being possessed by a devil. When untrue things were said about Him He did not retaliate. He endured reproach and rejection without shrinking from suffering. He did not cast off those who spoke against Him but loved them, labored for them, and saved the erring.
His opponents accused Him of being under the devil's power, echoing the claim that He cast out devils through Beelzebub. He was accused of being possessed because of His faithfulness to God and His rejection of human traditions exalted above God's commandments. Because they belong to Him, His followers may face similar abuse. Such false charges and misrepresentation were also directed at His followers, with the aim of leading them to sin and dishonoring God.
His endurance of reproach and rejection without shrinking from suffering shows that His followers should not murmur at the self-sacrificing demands of religion.
The charge that He had a devil is paralleled by the claim that Luther had a devil when his words and conduct amazed both friends and foes. The same accusation was made against Luther at Worms when his enemies marked his firm courageous bearing, kindly and joyous countenance, and solemn elevation and deep earnestness giving his words irresistible power. While some were convinced a divine influence attended him, others dismissed him by saying he had a devil.