The Way - Day 189 (John 8)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
JOHN 7:53-8:30
Following Jesus' conflict with the Pharisees and chief priests, "everyone went to his own house... But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives" (7:53-8:1). Early the next day Jesus went to the temple again (7:14) where many gathered to hear Him teach (8:2). The scribes and Pharisees burst into the temple bringing a "woman caught in adultery." They most likely set up this scenario to question Jesus' loyalty to the law of Moses (8:3, 5). Having no compassion for this woman, the religious leaders said to Jesus…

"Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" (8:4-5)

John writes that the religious leaders said these things to test Jesus "that they might have something of which to accuse Him" (8:6a). They thought this would be a difficult question for Jesus to answer. If He ignored the law of Moses, which called for death in the case of adultery (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22), Jesus would lose the respect of the people who highly esteemed Moses. But, if Jesus demanded the woman be put to death, the people would question His love and forgiveness.

Instead of answering their accusations with words, Jesus bends down and begins to write in the sand with His finger. Much speculation has surrounded what Jesus was writing. Some have suggested He was writing the sins of the religious leaders in the sand. Although we cannot be certain what was written in the sand, Jesus finally speaks to the woman's accusers saying, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (8:7). Jesus stooped down again to write in the sand and those who were listening were "convicted by their conscience." (8:8-9a). Rather than defend their own sinful actions in comparison to the adulterous woman, her accusers left one by one and left Jesus alone with the her (8:9b). When Jesus realizes that He is alone with the woman He asks, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" (8:10) The woman responds saying that no one is still standing there to accuse her (8:11a). In loving compassion for the woman, Jesus comforts her saying, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (8:11). Jesus offers freedom from condemnation, but also demands that she change her actions. Jesus did not excuse what she had done, but assured her of His forgiveness. This is a great reminder to be forgiving and compassionate because we have been loved and forgiven by God.

After this event, Jesus speaks to the people who have gathered for the Feast of Tabernacles (see John 7:52).

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (8:12).

This is the second I AM statement mentioned by John, which he has been using to prove Jesus' deity. The first one is found in John 6:35 when Jesus claimed to be the Bread of Life. Here Jesus is claiming to be the Light of the World. The world is full of darkness because of evil and sin, but He is the one true light who has brought salvation into the world. The Pharisees call Jesus a liar (8:13), but He confirms His claim to Godhood by declaring the witness of Himself and His Father (8:14-18). The religious leaders ask Jesus, "Where is Your Father?" thinking He was speaking about a human father when, in fact, Jesus was referring to His divine Father (8:19a). Recognizing the ignorance of the religious leaders, Jesus exposes their true heart, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also" (8:19b).

As Jesus had already told them (7:33-34), He would be going away soon (a reference to His death) and they could not go to where He would be (8:20-21). Jesus also adds that they would seek Him, but end up dying in their sins (8:21). The Jews did not understand His sayings, so they speculated that Jesus was going to kill Himself (8:22). He reemphasized His teaching to them.

"You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (8:23-24).

Jesus' words were clear. God the Father had sent Him into the world to bring forgiveness of sin and all those who would believe in Him would receive eternal life. The Jews still did not understand (8:25-29), but there were some who believed in Him (8:30).

Although many did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus declared that one day they would see His words coming to fruition.

"…when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him" (8:28-29).

Do you believe in Jesus as the One sent by God to bring forgiveness of sin to all who would believe in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection? If not, you will also die in your sins and pay for them by spending eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

JOHN 8:31-59
Jesus had just declared that He was the "Light of the World" (8:12), who brings truth into a world full of sin and those who refused to believe in Him would die in their sins (8:23-24). Although many rejected Jesus as the one sent from God to bring forgiveness of sin, there were a few who did believe (7:31, 8:30). Jesus wanted those who had expressed faith in Him to fully understand what it meant to follow Him.

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (8:31-32).

Faith leads to abiding (obeying) and obedience leads to freedom. Those listening did not consider themselves to be in bondage, but Jesus was referring to the spiritual bondage of sin, not physical bondage (8:33-35). "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (8:36).
 
Jesus then recognizes their Jewish heritage (8:37), but reveals that being a descendant of Abraham does not have the power to bring salvation because they are still slaves to sin. If they were related (spiritually through faith) to Abraham, their works would demonstrate that truth (8:38-39). Many Jews exhibited their disobedience to God by attempting to kill His Son (8:40), which substantiated that they were still being controlled by their father, the devil (8:41-44). Jesus was teaching a very simple concept. Those who believe in Jesus would obey God's word and those who reject Jesus would do the evil works of their father, the devil. Faith leads to obedience. Obedience leads to freedom. Freedom leads to good works (8:45-47).

The Jews accused Jesus, once again, of being demon-possessed (7:20; 8:48) because some did not believe what He was saying, but Jesus affirmed that He was telling the truth (8:49-50). Jesus' next words caused the Jews to question His sanity, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (8:51). The Jews only understood Jesus' saying in a literal way and could not grasp the concept of life beyond death. They point to Abraham and the prophets, who were dead.

"Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" (8:52-53).

Jesus did not come to proclaim Himself as greater than anyone, but only to do the will of His Father who had sent Him (8:54-55). Jesus best communicated God's will for Him when He spoke to Nicodemus, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).

Jesus then revealed more truth to them by saying that Abraham looked forward to His day (8:56), knowing that God had promised a Deliverer from sin (Genesis 12:3); however, the Jews could not understand how Jesus, who was not even fifty years old, could have had contact with Abraham (8:57). Jesus responds with one of the clearest statements of His eternality and deity, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (8:58). This is a declaration that He was God and therefore greater than Abraham and the prophets. Because of Jesus' claim, the Jews attempted to stone Him, but Jesus "hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by" (8:59). Jesus' escape was probably through supernatural means. No matter what the Jews believed, Jesus is God and the One sent by the Father to provide eternal life to all those who would believe.

Dear God, thank You for providing eternal life through Jesus.