Jesus soberly denied their charge. His claims resulted from His faithfulness to His Father, not from demonic influence. Jesus" aim was to honor His Father by faithfully carrying out His will. The Jews" goal was to disgrace Jesus. They tried to do this by rejecting the testimony that the Father sent through Him. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 8:48-59 - The Eternal Christ
It is absolutely true that the Christian disciple does see death as the king of terrors or as a grim monster. Jesus has robbed death of its sting; He has destroyed Him that had the power of death. The moment of death is the moment of birth into a wider and happier existence. We are set free from this body of mortality and become possessed of the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The grave is the vestibule of Paradise. We know that the iron gate opens into the city of God. Absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. The moment of transition is so desirable that it is only comparable to the falling asleep of the tired laborer.
The Father glorified His Son by the attestation given at the Baptism and the Transfiguration, by the Resurrection from the grave, by the Exaltation to His right hand. Yet these are but stages in the glorification of our High Priest. The full outburst of His glory is yet future. We shall behold the glory with which the Father has rewarded His obedience unto death; nay, we are to share it with Him. See John 17:22; John 17:24. Notice the I AM of John 8:58. Compare Exodus 3:14. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 8
1Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery 12He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine; 31promises freedom to those who believe; 33answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham; 48answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity; 59and slips away from those who would stone him
Greek Commentary for John 8:49
I have not a demon [εγω δαιμονιον ουκ εχω] This Jesus says calmly, passing by the reference to the Samaritans as beneath notice. My Father As in John 2:16. He is not mad in claiming to honour God (cf. John 7:18). They were insulting the Father in insulting him (cf. John 5:23). On ατιμαζω atimazō (α a privative and τιμαω timaō to dishonour) see Luke 20:11. [source]
I have not a devil [] He ignores the charge of being a Samaritan, refusing to recognize the national distinction. For devil read demon. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 8:49
John 5:23That all may honour the Son [ινα παντες τιμωσιν τον υιον] Purpose clause with ινα hina and present active subjunctive of τιμαω timaō (may keep on honouring the Son). He that honoureth not the Son Articular present active participle of τιμαω timaō with negative μη mē Jesus claims here the same right to worship from men that the Father has. Dishonouring Jesus is dishonouring the Father who sent him (John 8:49; John 12:26; John 15:23; 1 John 2:23). See also Luke 10:16. There is small comfort here for those who praise Jesus as teacher and yet deny his claims to worship. The Gospel of John carries this high place for Christ throughout, but so do the other Gospels (even Q, the Logia of Jesus) and the rest of the New Testament. [source]
Greek Commentary for John 8:49
This Jesus says calmly, passing by the reference to the Samaritans as beneath notice. My Father As in John 2:16. He is not mad in claiming to honour God (cf. John 7:18). They were insulting the Father in insulting him (cf. John 5:23). On ατιμαζω atimazō (α a privative and τιμαω timaō to dishonour) see Luke 20:11. [source]
He ignores the charge of being a Samaritan, refusing to recognize the national distinction. For devil read demon. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 8:49
Purpose clause with ινα hina and present active subjunctive of τιμαω timaō (may keep on honouring the Son). He that honoureth not the Son Articular present active participle of τιμαω timaō with negative μη mē Jesus claims here the same right to worship from men that the Father has. Dishonouring Jesus is dishonouring the Father who sent him (John 8:49; John 12:26; John 15:23; 1 John 2:23). See also Luke 10:16. There is small comfort here for those who praise Jesus as teacher and yet deny his claims to worship. The Gospel of John carries this high place for Christ throughout, but so do the other Gospels (even Q, the Logia of Jesus) and the rest of the New Testament. [source]