The Pharisees are indignant that Jesus had the nerve to tell them they were not spiritually free. They tell him first that Abraham is their father. When push comes to shove they slur Jesus’ reputation and say, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God” (John 8:37-41).
The irony of calling God their Father is almost palpable, because not too long in the future they will seek to kill Jesus because he says God is his Father (John 10:31-33).
Jesus is straight forward in his response, “You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do” (John 8:44).
They said they were worshiping God, yet Jesus told them they worshiped Satan. How could he say that when they had never bowed their knee to an idol or false God? He could say that because they were rejecting the one God had sent to save them from their sins (John 8:42-47). These men were not of God therefore they were of Satan.
There are not three choices, God, Satan and Self. There are only two. Satan is self serving, so if we serve only ourselves, we have partnered with him.
