Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - Jesus's Origin Story | The Gospels | John 8:21–30

Episode Date: July 10, 2026

Who is Jesus, really? Why does it matter where he came from? And what does his identity have to do with our salvation? In today's episode, Jeff explores John 8:21–30 and shows how Jesus's origin as the Son sent from the Father reveals who he is, why he came, and why he's worthy of our trust and worship. Read the Bible with us! This year, we’re exploring the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and it's never too late to join! Download your reading plan now. Your support makes TMBT possible. Ten Minute Bible Talks is a crowd-funded project. Join the TMBTeam to reach more people with the Bible. Give now. Like this content? Make sure to leave us a rating and share it so that others can find it, too. Use #asktmbt to connect with us, ask questions, and suggest topics. We'd love to hear from you! To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @TenMinuteBibleTalks. Don't forget to subscribe to the TMBT Newsletter here. Passage: John 8:21–30

Welcome to 10-minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life. In the time it takes to get to work. I'm Jeff Parrott. There is something about a good origin story that captures our attention. From ancient mythology to modern superheroes and Jedi masters, the origin story sets the stage for who the main character is by showing us where they come from. It authenticates their identity. It orientes us to the significance of their journey overall.

The power of a good origin story is why we see it at play beyond the world of fiction and in the real world itself. From politicians to athletes and influencers, everyone loves to leverage the tale of their hometown. Its power to authenticate identity and orient a story can be absolutely magnetic and moving. And if that origin is uncommon, Well, then the identity and the story are all the more glorious. Throughout our time in John's gospel account, we've encountered significant statements about the totally unique and uncommon origin story of

Jesus. In chapter one, we learned that Jesus is the divine Lagos, the word, the ultimate expression of who God is as the word. Jesus doesn't have a usual or a common origin story. He is involved in creation, yet is himself uncreated, existing in eternity past with the Father and the Spirit as a divine person in the Trinity, one God, and three persons forever. John chapter one also tells us that the uncommon origin story of Jesus necessarily involves him, as the divine word, becoming flesh and dwelling among us. John 1.14 tells us that we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son, from the Father, full of grace and truth.

According to John, there is something especially weighty, wonderful, glorious about who Jesus is as the one who comes from the Father. Knowing that part of his origin story is to know the fullness of his grace and truth. Now, for everyday people and everyday Christians, this aspect of Jesus' eternal, divine identity can be easily overlooked. We can be very glad to confess that Jesus is God, but why does it matter that he is the word who comes from the Father? How does that reveal the glory of God and the fullness of His grace and truth, as John 114 tells us? Our passage today in John Chapter 8 presents us with a compelling window into the significance of Jesus's origin story, authenticating his identity as the son of God,

and orienting us to his true story in the gospel. As we approach God's word together, let's slow down and ask for His grace to move through our time with one another. Heavenly Father, we do thank you for the gift of life and breath. And we thank you for the gift of your word. We bring before you every part of our experiences here and now,

our joys and our sorrows, our anxiety and our excitement, our calendars and our contingencies. we pray that you'd meet us in this space. Jesus help us abide in you as we engage with your truth. And Holy Spirit, we ask you to move in and through this time in John's Gospel account. As we read your living word, may it read us and restore us to new life with you. In Jesus' name, amen.

All right, leading up to our text in John chapter 8, Jesus has communicated wonder and necessary truths about his identity. He said that he's like living water for thirsty people, that when they come to him, rivers of living water will flow from their hearts. Right before our passage today, Jesus declared that he is the light of the world, and whoever follows him will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. This powerful disclosure of his identity drew the suspicion of the Pharisees. They didn't really appreciate where Jesus, Jesus came from, where he was going, and what he came to do. And so in John 8, verse 23, Jesus digs further into his origin story by contrasting it with the usual origins of other human beings.

He says this, you are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe, believe that I am he, you will die in your sins. Okay, notice here how Jesus raises the stakes in his conversation. He is from above. He is not of this world. He is the light of the world who comes from the Father. And unless the Pharisees believe that, unless they trust the authenticity of Jesus' origin

story, they will die in their sins. There is something absolutely foundational about seeing Jesus as the one who comes. comes from the Father. Now, the issue of Jesus' origins and his identity come into focus with the Pharisees question in verse 25, who are you? Now, this is one of the key questions in John's Gospel account and one of the key questions of the entire Bible. The way Jesus answers this question will change everything for our lives, for eternity, for the entire cosmos. Who is this Jesus? After the religious leaders fail to understand who Jesus really is in this moment, he says this to them in verse 28. When you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my

own authority, but speak just as the father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. All right, there's a lot going on in what Jesus says here. So let's hit some key things. themes. First, Jesus doubles down on his origin story as the one who comes into the world from the father. The connection he had with God the Father in eternity past is being played out here and now. He works with the authority of the Father, in the presence of the Father, and for the pleasure of the Father. Now, why does this connection to the Father matter? Well, remember, like every good origin story, this authenticates Jesus's identity. It's telling us that Jesus is not a guru with good

advice. He's not just a good teacher with a theological trend to share with us. Jesus is God himself, who has existed forever and enters into our world to carry out the divine purposes of the Father. When Jesus authenticated his identity this way, the appropriate response is worship. and trust. But worship and trust aren't immediately evidenced here. Remember, he said in verse 28, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am he. This is the other half of the significance of Jesus' origin story, because not only does it authenticate his identity, it also orientes us to the trajectory of his story. Jesus didn't just come into the world to announce something, he came to accomplish something to be lifted up on a cross and die in our place,

and later to be lifted up from death to give us his new resurrection life. In accomplishing the purposes of God on the cross, Jesus fulfills a plan that originates in eternity past, yet permeates everything in the present. Now, this can feel like a lot to hold together. We're talking about the Trinity and God the Father and Jesus is the last. the sun. We're digging into the dance of the Trinity and the identity of Jesus as the eternal and the incarnate son of God. This is a lot. This is some thick theology. But if you want a short yet significant way to summarize the importance of this work of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, here's something I learned from some wise theologians years ago. It's really stuck with me. I hope it

helps you. In the work of redemption, the Father appoints the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies. Those three A's kind of help us understand the work of the Trinity and redemption. And the work of redemption, the Father appoints. He has, as Ephesians 1 says, a purpose, a plan for the fullness of time that will be realized in Christ. And so Christ, the Son, accomplishes. He carries out that purpose of the Father. His death and resurrection aren't merely symbolic. They are real events that fulfill real plans that impact our real lives today. And the Spirit applies that work. He unites us to Jesus and draws us into the bigger story of redemption as individuals,

but also as a community of faith, as the body of Jesus. Now we're going to consider more of that work of the Holy Spirit later in John's gospel account. So hold on for that. But yeah, looking at all this work of the Trinity, we see that the Father appoints, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies all of this works together, it matters that Jesus comes from the Father to accomplish what has been appointed. Jesus makes some radical claims here in John chapter 8 as he digs further into his unusual and amazing origin story. But why does it matter for you and me here today? Well, we could say a lot,

but at a minimum we can say that this teaching magnifies our sense of that glory of Jesus from John chapter 1 verse 14. When we see where Jesus comes from and what he came to do, we see the weight of his glory. We have to behold him. We have to take him seriously. So maybe you have the same question as the religious leaders back in verse 25. And you're asking the question, who are you? Who is this Jesus? Maybe you're even asking that for the first time. And if that's you, John chapter 8 invites you to consider who Jesus is by looking more closely at his origin story. This authenticates who he is. It orientes you and I to what he came to do. He came to be lifted up for people like you and me. Will you see who he is and trust him? Verse 30 tells us that as Jesus was saying these things,

many believed in him. And maybe for you, as you hear this now, you went to believe in him too. Or maybe for you, you've been believing in Jesus for some time, but you find yourself struggling to believe Jesus. There's a difference there. You're having a hard time believing Jesus, struggling to trust his authority with a big question or a big decision, struggling to surrender to his love in a secret sin pattern, or struggling to cling to his presence in a season of suffering or disorientation. If that's you, John chapter 8 invites you to see again who Jesus is so that you can not only believe in him, but believe him, trust him, so that you can be oriented to his true story again and follow him with everything you've got. He is the one full of grace

and truth. His glory is the full expression of the Father's grace, and His glory draws you into a story that is far bigger than your life, but includes your life. You can lift up your eyes and believe him because he was lifted up for you in a cross and will lift you up forever when he returns to bring his resurrection life for eternity. Who is this? This is Jesus. The Word made flesh. The divine son who comes from the Father and makes us beloved daughters and sons and his love. May we believe in him and believe him as we live in His grace. and His truth. Father, we praise you for the purposes you appoint to make all things new in Jesus. Jesus, we trust you and believe you as you were lifted up to accomplish the work of redemption. Spirit, we need your empowering presence to apply the grace and the truth of Jesus into our lives.

We ask all of these things because of your great grace for your great glory and in your great story. In Jesus' name, amen.