Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.” (John 8:42-44, CSB)

Star Wars fans know well the iconic scene when Lord of the Dark Side, Darth Vader, reveals to Jedi warrior, Rebel hero, and disciple of the Force, Luke Skywalker, that he is Luke’s father. And, it then becomes a classic case of good vs. evil and what you think is good becomes evil.

There seems to be a similar theme in this discussion between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders: what people think is the agent for “good” is actually the agent for “evil.”

The genealogy of Jesus is often questioned in the Gospel of John. Under a constant barrage of threats and accusations about His background hurled at Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders, He consistently maintained that He was sent from God the Father.

In fact, Jesus being one with God and being sent by God the Father–His Messiahship– is a recurring theme in John.

But, in this case Jesus turns the table on the Jewish leaders and throws shade on them about their genealogy!

Jesus told them that if Almighty God was their Father, the source and object of their worship and faith, then they would recognize and respect who Jesus was and listen to Him.

If, as Israel’s religious leaders they didn’t recognize that Jesus was sent from God and consequently didn’t give Him their respect, then what they were saying and doing wasn’t of God; it was of the devil.

An absolute theological truth that all believers and seekers must acknowledge is that the default spiritual condition of all people is unregenerate.

So, if you are born human, you need a Savior–in fact, you need THE Savior, Jesus Christ, who was sent by God the Father to save humanity.

A corollary of this proposition that is just as absolutely and theologically true is that if you’re not serving the Lord, you’re serving the devil.

And, that’s what Jesus was warning these religious leaders.

It’s like the lyrics from the Bob Dylan “gospel” song declare: “Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord; But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24, CSB)