βYe do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even Godβ (John 8:41).
Once Christ replied with sound doctrine (verses 42-47), Israelβs religious leaders simply resorted to name-calling again (verse 48): βSay we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?β A Samaritan was half-Jew/half-Gentile, and βthe Jews [had] no dealings with the Samaritansβ (John 4:9). Notice Jesus was insulted twice moreβthey called Him a βSamaritanβ and βdevil possessed.β Throughout the rest of John chapter 8, Israelβs religious leaders continue arguing with Jesus and nearly stone Him to death (verse 59)!
Why did Jesus not simply βzapβ these religionists and instantly throw them into hellfire? They belittled and blasphemed Him several times in this one account, and then attempted to murder Him, but rather than Jesus killing them with His spoken word (which would have been justified), He only conversed with them. Why?
Remember, when the Apostles James and John saw how the Samaritans refused to accommodate Jesus, they asked Him if He wanted them to call down fire from heaven and consume those sinners, He replied, βYe know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy menβs lives, but to save themβ (Luke 9:55,56). This First Coming of Christ was His βmeek and lowlyβ coming: He did not come to judge manβs sins, but to die for them!
Even today, God is still not pouring out His wrath on wicked mankind (2 Corinthians 5:19), creatures who still snicker at Jesus Christ, deceive others in His name, persecute His saints, ignore His Word, and βrub His noseβ in their sins. Lost mankind is wasting Godβs grace and mercy that He is offering so freely. When His grace is finally exhausted, the undiluted wrath that has accumulated will finally be poured out (His Second Coming). May we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour now so we have our sins forgiven now, lest we face that angry, righteous God in judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)! source
