John 8:30-36, Abiding in Jesus’ Word

We concluded our previous post asking, “what do you think of Jesus?”  Today’s passage seems to be answering the question, “what would Jesus say to you if you were to profess faith in Him?  John says many believed in Him“ (v30), and then Jesus addressed those among “the Jews” who “believed Him” (v30).  We have explained that the term “Jews” refers to the leadership (see Day 4 on John 7:11-18). 

Perhaps this was the time when Nicodemus believed in Jesus.  He had argued about the treatment of Jesus and been reproved wrongly by his fellow Jews (Jn. 7:50-52).  Perhaps Joseph of Arimathea was in this group.  He was the member of the Jewish ruling council whose tomb was borrowed for three days, after the crucifixion of Jesus (Mk. 15:43; Lk. 23:50).  Until the time he asked to bury the body of Jesus he had remained secret about his faith “for fear of the Jews” (Jn.19:38).  As Jesus’ ministry continued there came to be many among the leaders in this category.  Note this passage from John 12:42-43:

⁴² Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Why did Jesus challenge these believers at this point?  There are many who see the issue to be, was their faith genuine?  If their faith was not genuine then they would not experience the freedom Jesus offered.  Jesus made public confession of Him a critical issue in what it means to be in a relationship with Him (Matt. 10:32-33).  One brother put it like this:

They were just converted – converted under a single sermon.  They had had no time to test their faith.  Jesus assures them that if their faith should abide the test, if it should produce obedience to his commandments and a holy life, it would be proof that their faith was genuine, for the tree is known by its fruit. (Albert Barnes)

But one difficulty with this view is that we are told, “many believed in Him” (v30).  In John 1:12 and 3:16 and elsewhere we are promised that all who believe in Him have eternal life.  Perhaps this is why Jesus challenged these particular believers here.  The goal of a believer in Christ is to grow and mature in His faith.  In other words, he needs to be a follower or disciple of Christ.  Jesus challenged them to become “disciples indeed” by abiding (remaining) in His word.  John, both in his Gospel (John 15) and his letters (1 and 2 John) uses the word “abide” to refer to our ongoing “union and communion” with Christ.  Without this the believer will not experience the freedom Jesus offers in this life.

Jesus didn’t really raise the question as to whether their faith was genuine.  But He did, clearly, exhort them, and us, to continue on in our relationship with Him.