J. C. Ryle John

demon, but I honor my Father and yet you dishonor me. I am not trying to get praise for myself.
There is one who demands it, and he also judges. I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys
my teaching, he will never see death."
Then the Jewish people who had been listening to him responded, "Now we know you’re
possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys
my teaching, he will never taste of death.’ You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died,
are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?" Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself,
my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He
is our God.’ Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I say that I do not know him, I will be a
liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. Your father Abraham was overjoyed to
see my day, and he saw it and was glad."
Then the Jewish people who had been listening to him replied, "You are not yet fifty years old!
Have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham
came into existence, I am!" Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself
and went out from the temple area.
We should observe, first, in this passage, what blasphemous and slanderous language was
addressed to our Lord by His enemies. We read that the Jews "Aren't we correct in saying that
you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" Silenced in argument, these wicked men
resorted to personal abuse. To lose temper, and call names, is a common sign of a defeated
cause.
Nicknames, insulting epithets, and violent language, are favorite weapons with the devil. When
other means of carrying on his warfare fail, he stirs up his servants to smite with the tongue.
Grievous indeed are the sufferings which the saints of God have had to endure from the tongue
in every age. Their characters have been slandered. Evil reports have been circulated about
them. Lying stories have been diligently invented, and greedily swallowed, about their conduct.
No wonder that David said, "Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful
tongue." (Psalm 120:2.)
The true Christian in the present day must never be surprised to find that he has constant trials
to endure from this quarter. Sinful human nature never changes. So long as he serves the
world, and walks in the broad way, little perhaps will be said against him. Once let him take up
the cross and follow Christ, and there is no lie too monstrous, and no story too absurd, for some
to tell against him, and for others to believe. But let him take comfort in the thought that he is
only drinking the cup which his blessed Master drank before him. The lies of his enemies do him
no injury in heaven, whatever they may on earth. Let him bear them patiently, and not fret, or
lose his temper. When Christ was reviled, "He reviled not again." (1 Peter 2:23.) Let the
Christian do likewise.
We should observe, secondly, what glorious encouragement our Lord holds out to His believing
people. We read that He said, "I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will
never see death."
Of course these words do not mean that true Christians shall never die. On the contrary, we all
know that they must go down to the grave, and cross the river just like others. But the words do
mean, that they shall not be hurt by the second death--that final ruin of the whole man in hell, of
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