John 8:48 - Meaning and Application

Here is the malice of hell breaking out in the harsh words the unbelieving Jews, probably the scribes and Pharisees, spoke against our Lord Jesus. Until now, they had only argued against his teaching and made bitter remarks about it. But when they saw themselves convicted of stubborn unbelief, they dropped all restraint and attacked him directly, saying, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” (John 8:48).

Notice what kind of insult this was. To call Jesus a Samaritan was to say he was an enemy of their church and nation, someone they despised and could not bear. In that culture, no name could make a man look worse. They had often called him a Galilean, trying to make him seem low and common, but now they add another insult, even though it clashes with the first. This shows how people try in every age to make good people hated by giving them a blackened reputation. A crowd can be stirred up easily once a person is labeled badly.

When they said he had a demon, they meant either that he was working with the devil, or more likely, that he was possessed and out of his mind. In other words, they were saying his words were no more trustworthy than the ramblings of a madman. In that way, the divine truth God gives has often been slandered as mere enthusiasm, meaning a wild religious frenzy. Yet true divine inspiration is not a frenzy. “Wisdom is proved right by her children,” that is, by the people who truly belong to her.

Look also at their hardness. They said, “Do we not rightly say this about you?” One would think Christ’s powerful teaching would have corrected them, but instead it only hardened them further. They even took pride in their hatred of him, as if they had said something wise when they spoke most wickedly. People reach a terrible level of sin when they openly defend what they should be ashamed of, and repeat what they ought to take back. It is bad to speak and act wrongly, but worse to stand by it.

Now see the gentleness and mercy of heaven shining in Christ’s reply (John 8:49, 50). He first denies their charge: “I do not have a demon.” The insult was false. He was neither controlled by a demon nor in league with one, and his works against Satan’s kingdom proved it. He says nothing about their calling him a Samaritan, because that was a personal insult and not worth answering. But the charge about a demon attacked his mission, so he answered it directly. Augustine suggested that by not answering the Samaritan insult, Jesus was in fact the good Samaritan from the parable (Luke 10:33).

He then defends the sincerity of his life: “I honor my Father.” They had suggested that he was stealing honor for himself and taking glory that belonged to God alone. He denies that by saying his aim was to honor the Father, and only the Father. This also proves that he had no demon, because a demon would not lead a man to honor God. Those who can truly say they make it their constant care to honor God have strong protection against human criticism and ridicule.

Christ also points out the wrong they were doing to him: “You dishonor me.” As a man, he felt the shame and insult deeply. Reproach was like a sword in his bones, yet he endured it for our salvation. God wills that all should honor the Son, but many still dishonor him. There is a sharp conflict between the sinful mind and God’s will. Christ honored his Father as no one ever has, yet he himself was dishonored as no one else ever was. God has promised to honor those who honor him, but he has not promised that people will honor them.

Finally, he clears himself from any charge of vain glory, meaning selfish pride, in speaking this way about himself (John 8:50). He says, “I do not seek my own glory.” He was not trying to win praise for himself or gain power in the world. He did not seek glory apart from his Father, nor did he have a private interest separate from the Father’s will. To hunt for one’s own glory is no real glory at all, but shame. Christ says this here as a reason he was unmoved by their insults: “You dishonor me, but you cannot disturb me, because I am not chasing my own honor.”

He adds comfort under that dishonor: “There is one who seeks and judges.” Christ was not looking for people’s approval, and he could leave that matter with God. God will guard the honor of those who are not trying to secure it for themselves, for humility comes before honor.

He did not try to get even when people insulted him. He was not troubled by their abuse. In that sense, he could say, “There is one who judges,” meaning that God would defend his honor and deal severely with those who dishonored him.

He may also be pointing to the judgments that were coming on the Jewish nation for the way they treated the Lord Jesus. See (Psalm 37:13-15). “I did not answer, because you will answer.” If we try to judge and defend ourselves, then any loss we suffer is left to our own handling. But if we stay humble, appeal to God, and wait patiently, we will find great comfort in this: there is one who judges.