SCRIPTURE: JOHN 8
While Jesus was at the temple courts teaching the people, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They said according to the Law of Moses, a woman caught in the act of adultery must be stoned to death. They are asking Jesus what to do with this woman to trap him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger as follows: “If any one of you is without sin, jet him be the first to throw a stone at her.”. At this, the people began to go away until only Jesus was left with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” (v. 10) “No one sir,” she said. Jesus declared., “Then neither do I condemn you,. God now and leave your life of sin.” (v. 11)
THE VALIDITY OF JESUS’ TESTIMONY (vs. 12-30)
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (v.12) The Pharisees challenged the validity of his testimony. Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (vs. 14-18). “Where is your father?”, they asked him. Jesus replied: “You do not know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (v. 19)
Once more, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come. 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; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (vs. 21-24) Who are you?” they asked. Jesus replied: “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world. When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (vs. 21-29)
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM (vs. 31-41)
Jesus said to the Jew who had believed him: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (v. 31). They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free” (v. 33). Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.; Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father. they answered: “Abraham is our father” Jesus replied, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.” (v. 39-40) “We are not illegitimate children” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself” (v. 40)
THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL (vs. 42-47)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. (vs. 42–47)
THE CLAIMS OF JESUS ABOUT HIMSELF (vs. 48-59)
The Jews accused Jesus that he is a Samaritan and demon-possessed. Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (vs 49-51) At this, the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!. Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” (vs. 52-53) Jesus replied,. “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.. (v. 54-56). The Jews said to him: “You are not yet 50 years old and you have seen Abraham!” (v. 57). Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” (v. 58). A this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
THOUGHTS:
Jesus did not condemn the woman accused of adultery, but he did not ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. If you have any sins in your life, Jesus stands ready to forgive. However, confession and repentance are needed to change your heart. With God’s help, we can receive Christ’s forgiveness and stop our wrongdoings.
Jesus was speaking in the part of the Temple where the offerings were put, where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel through the wilderness. Jesus called himself the light of the world with this context. The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection and guidance. As the Light of the World, he brings God’s presence, protection and guidance.
Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us and dictating our actions. But Jesus can set us free from this slavery to be all that God meant us to be.
There is a distinction between hereditary children and true children. The religious leaders were hereditary children of Abraham and therefore claimed to be children of God. But their actions proved that they were children of Satan because they lived under Satan’s guidance. Their hatred of truth, their lies and their murderous intentions indicated that they were controlled by the Devil. True children of God will imitate and obey the true Father which is God.
When Jesus says those who obey won’t die, he is talking about spiritual death, not physical death. Those who follow Christ will be raised to live eternally with him.
When Jesus said that before “Abraham was born, I am,” he was proclaiming his divinity and claiming equality with God. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?