John 8:44 and 1 John 4:4…Identity Politics?

At first glance it seems that John was better at PR than Jesus! Consider the following passages:

In John 8:44, Jesus, says to some Jews “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.” And according to John 8:31, the Jews that Jesus talked to, “believed him.” So if the Jews believed what Jesus was telling them, it would seem to a mortal like myself that he was defeating his purpose of saving them when he told them that they were of the devil. How many people could Jesus save had he gone around telling that to the Jews, who, ironically, knowing that God exists, would be more receptive to Jesus being God’s chosen son, compared to the pagans who had no concept of one God, one creator?

On the other hand, we have John in 1 John 4:4 telling the people he was addressing, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” It would seem that the people he spoke to would feel more encouraged than the Jews that Jesus spoke to. Perhaps Jesus’ abrasiveness contributed to some Jews’ resentment against him?

Commentators suggest that John was talking to people who have accepted Jesus as being God’s chosen son, and in that context they were truly of God. Perhaps before they accepted Jesus, they were of the devil, but after accepting Jesus they became of God. It is curious that Jesus was harsh with the people who believed him, whereas John was more personable.

It raises some questions. Did God tell Jesus what to say? Did God look to harden the hearts of the Jews that Jesus was talking to, in order to accomplish a bigger purpose?

Jesus came as an offering to the world to save us all. But we were only created in the image of God, born in the devil’s playground and as being less than God, we engage in earthly things such as politics. In that context, if a candidate running for office offering us good things, how much would he accomplish if he toldl us things like ‘You are of your father the devil?’

Seems that it was left to Jesus’ disciples like John to sort of smooth things over, that other people would accept Jesus. It also seems that, not even including Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus was off to a rocky start.

John, in one of the last things in his Gospel, said there were many things Jesus said and did that would fill too many books for the earth to hold. Perhaps Jesus, in his abrasiveness to the Jews, was trying to show that his words would not be taken seriously if the audience is accused of coming from evil? On the other hand, if Jesus stands for peace and love, how can you convince someone you love them by saying they same from evil?

Were things like the Crusades and the Inquisition a reaction to what Jesus told the Jews and perhaps others in John 8:44? How many people did the Crusades and the Inquisition convert? Probably not as many as they would have liked, if we presume that people accomplish more with honey than with vinegar.
What does all this mean for us today? What can we come away with? Seems we can come away knowing that people are either of God above, or of the devil below. There is no in-between. But as we are not perfect, God will judge us on the whole, and perhaps we are to evaluate eachother on the whole as well.

Here is a question…In Rockland County, New York there has been a massive measles outbreak. It’s been established that the outbreak was due to children not being vaccinated because their parents refused to vaccinate them. Their parents have otherwise established themselves as being respectful members of their communities. Would you say that their parents are of the devil, or would you say they are of God, on the whole? And I tell you that as a corollary to Jesus telling us to judge not, that we be judged, we can judge others in a manner that we would want to be judged.

Jesus spoke to the people according to their ways about them, and whether they accepted Him, or not, and He knows the conditions of people's heart, and their stubborness, or willingness to pry in to the matter of Him.

Jesus is not an ordinary man, but He is God in the flesh, so as God He knows the condition of people's hearts, and would respond according to it.

But Jesus always responded with love first, which when He met with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, He showed kindness.

But when He met with other Pharisees He went against them greatly because of their ways about them, and their stubborness.

Jesus said He knows what is in people, so He already knows how to respond to them.

If Israel was rebellious against God for a certain amount of time He would send a prophet to turn them to the truth, and the prophet did not speak kindly to them, but said straight up turn from your wicked ways, and if they did not He would allow a nation to go against them as punishment.

So why would people think that Jesus would be out of line if He went against the Jews in a harsh manner, for He knows that they are stubborn, and He needs to be more harsh with them to get the message across, and also to speak out for He is God that is their Judge.

Would someone say God does not have good public relations with the Jews for going against them harshly, and Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, and God will tell it like it is and say stop playing around, and accept the truth.

Also Paul went against some people claiming Christ harshly, and rebuked them, and telling them to stop playing around, and do right by God.

The Old Testament prophets, and writers, and Jesus, and the saints will tell it like it is, and will react to people according to how they respond to the truth, and of their conduct.

John was speaking to saints that are with God, and obviously talking to the ones that were abiding in the truth, so he did not need to go against them, but he would rebuke them if he was writing to people that were being hypocrites for He would have to do that.

If they are stubborn and did not want to listen then Jesus would be harsh with them, but all within the bounds of holiness, and He is God that does not hesitate to tell you like it is to do right.

To say Jesus does not have good public relations is to say God does not have good public relations, and
the Jews that were rebellious were not going to obey anyway if Jesus always spoke nice.

And Paul rebuked people a lot that were being hypocritical, for they should know better, the same as Jesus rebuked many Jews, for they should know better seeing the words of God were given to them, and they knew the Messiah was to come, which Jesus said the works He does testifies He is of God telling the truth, and the Pharisees, and leaders, should of known better.

The Jews should of known better for they are God's chosen people, so Jesus would be harsh with some, the same as Paul going against the hypocrites claiming Christ for they should know better so He was harsh.

But when dealing with Gentiles that knew not the truth, Jesus and Paul would have a more kinder approach for they did not know the truth yet, so they did not know better.

The people that should know better you have to rebuke, and tell them to stop playing around, but the people that do not know better you have a different approach.

Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

The Jews are God's chosen people, and should know better, and know the truth, so Jesus who is God would go against them harshly, like the Old Testament prophet that was harsh with them telling them to turn to the truth.

And Paul would rebuke, and go against the hypocrites harshly for they should know better.

But John was speaking to people that were abiding in the truth, and would speak to them kinder.

He rebukes whom He will, and who know better that Him???

The word of God is directed at those have the Holy Spirit. When Jesus, says to some Jews “You are of your father the devil. he was not referring to those who believe, according to John 8:31.

Its like the loving commandment to study to show oneself approved unto God it was not just a good suggestion . It was not written to unbelievers which is easy to see especially with Catholicism they must seek the approval of men. Therefore making the commandment without effect it fits the “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.”

Um.
I dont want to get into politics.

JEsus knew what was in mans heart. How, cos he had the spirit of GOd in Him to discern as such. So did John, and so did Peter and Paul in the book of acts when they cast out demons and could see people lying to the holy spirit, and sorcerers and such claiming false claims.

We can have this gift too, if we ask for gift of discerning of spirits.

As for the measles thing, human parents dont always get things right. Whoever said they do, must either not be a parent or never had anything wrong done to them by their own parents! People often do what is right in their own eyes. I dont think its a clear cut case that, parents are deliberatly harming their children by refusing vaccinations. Something else is going on there.

Many times people do things out of ignorance, or listen to someone telling the, the wrong thing, but think they are doing right because that person who says so is in authority. How many times do bosses tell their workers to do things even if its not the right thing to do, just in order to get profits an example, or because its expedient. Going with the flow is easy, standing up for truth is hard.

How many times do evil people give gifts, just to bribe their recipient? Parents do that all the time! Candy/lollies, icecream, pocket money, . Some parents, sadly teach their children how to be evil. They dangle forbidden fruit. And then say eat it but dont tell anyone.