John 8:44

“The fact is you are in cahoots with your father the devil; you live to do the things your father wants you to do.  How is that, you ask?  Well, for one, your father is a murderer, and has been one since the very start of human history. Secondly, he plays very loose with the truth, since he has no affinity for it. When he tells a lie, he acts out what comes naturally to him, since he is a liar to the core—in fact he is the father of lies!” John 8:44 EFP 

It was bound to happen. Even the mild-mannered Jesus reaches the end of his rope. He has tried every which way to bring these men across the line, hoping to see in them a glimmer of hope that would produce faith in him…someday. But it becomes clear they are no closer to believing in him than they were when they arrived on the scene. Their claims to Abraham as their spiritual father only makes their hypocrisy more distasteful.

Finally Jesus delivers one of his harshest condemnations ever. He metes out judgment equally to both teacher and students. The devil is unmasked for the treacherous liar and cold-blooded murderer he is. His “children” carry his banner proudly, although they claim a spiritual giant as their progenitor. Jesus calls them out. He points out their motives and actions have much more in common with Satan than with Abraham. Murder and deceit are his trademarks. Their less than honorable intentions for Jesus line up with Satan’s track record. A father’s likeness can be seen in his children. They are undeniably children of the devil, as long as they keep acting like him.

It begs the question—“Who’s my daddy?” What do my actions say? What do my choices reveal about the one who has passed on his values onto me?  My choices, my habits, my motives are an indication of my spiritual DNA. It is a sobering thought.