Who is Your Father?

 Our father is Abraham!" they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father." They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father." Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God." John 8:39-47

Meditate. Consider Abraham’s relationship to God. Who is your Dad?

 

Who is Your Father?
Is it that crafty lying devil?

These Jews who were confronting Jesus declared that Abraham was their father. That is just what Jews are. Sons of Abraham. They were also stating that God was their father, but Jesus was telling them that the devil was their father. Because of that, they did evil things, like their lying father. They were not listening to Jesus—so they didn’t understand Him, because they don’t belong to God.

They actually had the nerve to accuse Jesus of sinning. Who did they think they were? Jesus was the only sinless person to have ever lived! Would you ever consider accusing Jesus of sin? We have the advantage of knowing Jesus on this side of the cross. He sacrificed too much for us—His own life, yet He was above reproach. Do you belong to God? If so, then Jesus says you’ll listen to God’s words.

How often do we just listen to our own thoughts and ideas, instead of checking to see if that is in God’s will—His plan? Have you even read your Bible today? Do you have a systematic method for reading your Bible? Are you making notes of the portions of Scripture that really speak to you, what you learned, and can apply to your life? The choice is ours—each step towards or away from the Lord God.

What do you learn about Jesus’ character from this portion of Scripture today?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for Your sacrifice. I understand what You are saying to those Pharisees. They just couldn’t believe—but I do. You are the Son of God—the Savior of the world.  

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Victory (Salvation) comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people. Psalm 3:8

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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