The part of the Gospel of John that I don't really like to read is the whole chapter 8 except for the first 12 verses of it. Why don't I like it? It's the part where the arguments between Jesus and the Jews take place. There are strong statements about himself and the Jews who oppose him in this part of the chapter.

(By the term "Jews", the Gospel of John refers to the Jewish leaders consisting of the Pharisees and the Scribes. While talking about the ordinary Jews, John simply uses the word "people").

Jesus describes himself as the light in these chapters. There is a kind of struggle between light and darkness in this chapter. When Jesus speaks about himself as light who could he be referring to as the darkness? Naturally, what we would think is that he is talking about the devil. But that's not the case. The people who oppose Jesus here are the people who say they know God, they love God, and they are born of God. That's in the first part.

Jesus’ harshest verse comes in 8:44. “You are from your father, the devil” The language in this passage is the harshest. We are surprised to see who Jesus is addressing to with these harshest words.

The passage begins by saying, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who did believe in him” (8:31a). That means, Jesus’ strongest accusations and rebukes are directed to those who believe in him. These are the very people who think, claim, and confess that they believe in Jesus, and that they are his disciples. Just like the first group who knew God outwardly but did not know him inwardly, the disciples of Jesus who claim to know Jesus outwardly but have not actually captured him inwardly.

They are the ones Jesus clearly describes as ‘children of the devil’!

The remedy Jesus suggests is, “If you abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples.” The word, which is translated as "abide" and "remain," has the meanings "to take root," "to establish," and "to bear fruit." It seems to me that its primary meanings could be "to dwell," "to meditate," and "to get deepened."