When we read our Bibles we need to look for repetition. Most authors tell us what they want us to notice by repeating words or ideas within a passage. In John 8:31-58 I notice “word” is used six times (vv. 31, 37, 43, 51, 52, 57) by Jesus in one of His interactions with a group of people that claim to believe He is the Messiah. I think we can summarize Jesus’ use of “word” in this passage in three ways.
First, Jesus says to keep the Word means you are a true disciple of Jesus. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine’ (John 8:31).[1] The phrase “those Jews[2] who had believed Him” (v. 31a) describes a profession of faith that has yet to be proven. The Message puts it like this, “Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in Him.” In other words, something needs to change because of their belief. Jesus was saying that their future loyalty to His teaching will prove the reality of their present profession.[3] We follow this same line of reasoning now in the context of a local church when we accept church members on profession of trust in Christ, but their continuance in the word and following the teaching of Scripture proves the authenticity of that profession.[4] As the late Greek scholar and seminary professor A.T. Robertson once wrote, “Continuance in the word (teaching) proves the sincerity or insincerity of the profession. It is the acid test of life.”[5]
Second, Jesus says to keep the Word means you will never see death. “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death” (John 8:51). The words of Jesus here are placed in the strongest way to say a negative in Greek. It’s what’s called the “emphatic negation subjunctive” which declares that something is not even a potential possibility.[6] Jesus is saying that that person who keeps His word will certainly, never, ever, experience spiritual death.
Third, Jesus says to keep the Word means you know God. “and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word” (John 8:55). Keeping the Father’s Word is synonymous to knowing God. This is similar to the relationship between a parent and son. For my son to be by son implies that he obeys me when it comes to instruction for how to live. This is especially true as a young child when he needs protection from wrong when I tell him things like “Don’t eat that” or “Don’t touch that.” When my son obeys me it shows that he belongs to me.
Following Jesus means we follow God’s Word. One of the ways that we tell God that we believe in Him and trust Him is by doing what He says. When we are obedient to Him it shows Him that we love Him and trust Him. Our behavior in following His word shows we believe in Him.
[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
[2] “The Jews” likely refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem who had been listening to Jesus’s teaching in the temple and had believed his claim to be the Messiah.
[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Dan Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 468-469. Also see The NET Bible First Edition (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).