GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 8

•THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

•Chapter 8

•Jesus truth and light

•INTRODUCTION

•In previous chapters we studied some of the miracles performed by Jesus.  We learned that these miracles were probably not the only miracles performed but rather the miracles John recorded.  We learned that these miracles were recorded intentionally and each one carries its own message about Jesus.   

•In chapter 8 we will learn how Jesus introduces Himself as have the authority to forgive sin.  We will study the central conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees.  We have concluded that a power struggle existed between Jesus and the church officials.  

•The Adulterous Woman JOHN 8: 1-11

•3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court,

–Jesus was teaching in the temple at the time probably in the outer court (REF JN 8:1&2)

–The Jewish leaders had excited the crowd to confront Jesus with a crime that in their eyes meant death (X LEV 20:10)

THE JEWISH TEMPLE WHERE JESUS TAUGHT

•4 *they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”

–They were not seeking the guidance of Jesus but rather to trap Him

•If Jesus had said He forgave her sin; they would have proof (in their eyes) that Jesus was a blasphemer

•If Jesus did nothing and agreed with the judgment of the crowd He would have failed to show Gods compassion

–Instead Jesus caused them to look within and by them doing so saw their own guilt

–6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him… What would they accuse of?

• If Jesus were to say you must follow the law, they would have said what then of the Sabbath did you not heal the lame man on the Sabbath?

•If He were to say do not follow the law, He would have contradicted himself when He said I have come to fulfill the law not set it aside.

–…But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

•There is much speculation as to what Jesus wrote in the dirt.

•The important thing to consider is not what He wrote in the dirt, but rather the challenge He gave

•The lesson He taught – the guilty have no authority to judge the guilty

•7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

–Was this just a cop out?

•NO!! Jesus was showing them and us that we and they do not have the right to judge, that right was given by the Father to son. (JN 7:24; MAT 7:1)

–It is true the elders and religious leaders were given the right to settle disputes

»These disputes were between two citizens who could not resolve the dispute

–Man is incapable of righteous judgment, who judges according to the flesh.

–Jesus did not judge this women (X , He forgave her

•8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.

–The guilty can not righteously judge the guilt of another.

•Perhaps this is the origin of the warning to people who live in glass house they should not throw stones

–The guilty should not accuse or judge the guilt of another, for by doing so they may also be establishing the criteria by which they would be accused and judged  (X MAT 7:1)

•

•Jesus asks the women two questions

–10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they?  Did no one condemn you?”

•Jesus is telling the women no one that accused her was eligible to judge her by there own judgment

•The accusers themselves looked into themselves and found they were lacking

–We are quick to judge others, and if we were to  look into ourselves we too would find ourselves lacking.

–If we are judgmental in our nature or in our actions; we establish the very standards by which others will judge us

»Jesus will also righteously judge us by these same standards

•11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” ]

–Jesus forgives the women of her sin

–He shows her the falsely of those who would judge her and by their own admitted sin were unworthy to judge her

–He gives the women two instructions

•Go or turn away from her sinful behavior

•He commands her to sin no more from this point on.

• Like the women accused of sin we must be convicted of our own sin

•Others do not have the right to judge us righteously

•The Holy Spirit will convict of sin (that little voice which is at times ignored)

•We must first repent that sin,

–To regret having

• To ask Jesus to forgive that sin

»Followed by  turning away from that sin

•Jesus does not give us a free pass

•NOTE: We are all guilty of judging others from time to time…

•ARE YOU WITHOUT SIN?

•JESUS LIGHT OF THE WORLD JOHN 8: 12-30

•12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

–We see things because light is reflected to our eyes from a source…if that source was not available we would be blind.

•Jesus is speaking of spiritual light, He is the source which enables those who believe to have sight (or see the truth)

•Light also dispels the darkness to reveal potential dangers, and the correct path to safety 

•Without the light of truth provided to us from Jesus we would be lost in the darkness of our own sin for all eternity.

•13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”

–The Pharisees were attempting to use Jesus’ own words to trip Him up (X JN 5:31)

•14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

–They could not see the truth because they did not believe in who Jesus was

•They did not believe in the Divinity of Jesus because they could not accept that a flesh and blood man born in poverty could not possibly be the Son of God

•Even though the prophets of old described in detail the birth of the Messiah the Pharisees could not or would not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

• Why?

–To accept Jesus would have meant the end of their control over the people, which meant the loss of power

–They believed the Messiah (deliver) was coming with an army to deliver them from the persecution of Rome

–They failed to see they needed deliverance from their own sins

»In there eyes they were righteous because they kept the law

•15 “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.

–To judge someone we compare them in some way to someone else usually ourselves.

•The comparison the Pharisees would use is their own interpretation of the law

•The accepted practice of other Jews

–Flesh is fallible and sinful by nature, and as such judging flesh by flesh yields a fallible judgment.

•The only true and righteous judgment must come from God because He alone judges rightly

–The Father has given all things into Jesus’ hands to judge

•

•16 “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. (X JN 5:30)

–Jesus judges rightly because He does not seek His own will but rather the will of the
Father.

•17 “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.

–Who testifies for Jesus?

•John the Baptist testifies (“there is one greater than I to come”…“behold the lamb of God”

•The Father testifies (“ this is my Son of whom I am well pleased”)

•The prophets of old testifies to His birth in Bethlehem, in a manger

•18 “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”

–Jesus was speaking about His heavenly Father

–The Pharisees were thinking only of his earthly father.

•19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”

–This statement must have lit a fire Jesus was saying that was the Son of God and was like the Father

–They did not believe Jesus was the son of God and therefore did not know Him

•21 Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.”

–This is not the first time Jesus said this (JN 7:34)

•When something is repeated we should take special note of it.

•Jesus was prophesying His own death

•He also telling the Pharisees they could not enter heaven, because of their unrepentant sin.

•22 So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’ ?”

–Jesus of course was talking about His ascending into heaven – Flesh must remain with Flesh-”dust to dust”

•23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. (X John 3:31)

–He was telling them their concerns were only with the hear and now in things of this world

–He pointed out the difference between Him and them by saying they were of this world and He was not

•He was from the heavenly Father whereas they were from their father Lucifer

–Jesus’ body was transformed upon His resurrection allowing Him to ascend to heaven

•The believers body will also be transformed in a like manner

•24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

(X John 8:21)

–Jesus is the only path for the redemption of sin

•To redeem something mean to claim that which was yours – Jesus knows His own even before the foundation of the world

•Without Jesus there is no hope

–The law was not meant to cleans them of their sin but rather to convince them of their sin

•25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?

–Jesus repeatedly spoke in the synagogue and in the streets telling people who He was, why he was here, and where He came from

•Only a relative few believed Him and were saved   (X Matthew 22:14 )

–The same situation exists today as then

–Some would say they had the advantage they saw Jesus with their own eyes

»Therefore we have an excuse not to believe

–Christians would say we believe because we believe the word of God

» by faith in the Word we are saved

»The early Jew did not have our Bible

  

•26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”   (X John 7:28 )

–While Jesus was in human form the Father told Him all things to be said

•I believe Jesus was not just tempted in the desert but also received instructions

•Basically Jesus is telling them that He is not making things up but only repeating what the Father has told him

–27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

•Their assumption was He was referring to Joseph as His father – here again the physical not the spiritual

•28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

–He was speaking of His crucifixion (X John14 , John15)

•He was telling them that He was the promised one the Messiah they had been waiting for (X John 3:14; John 4:26 ; John 12:32 ; John 8:24 ; John 8:58 )

•What is the pathway to a continued close relationship to Jesus?

–29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

•We are never alone either, the Word of God has told us so (X John 14:18  )

•To keep a close relationship with God requires as a minimum the following:

–Study His word and keep it in your heart

–Pray without ceasing asking for His will to be shone to you

–Resist the temptations of this world as Christ did

–Love Jesus with all your heart

•THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

•31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

–Jesus is referring to his teachings

•His verbal teachings

•His teaching by example

–We must study the word and keep it in our hearts, reading it alone is not enough

–The Greek word for disciple is mathetes math-ay-tes’; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.

•32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

–But how could they be free the Jews were under Roman rule

•Jesus is the Word (X John 1:14 )

•Jesus is Truth (X  John 1:17 )

•The truth He spoke of is that He alone is the redemptive path to everlasting life

•The freedom Jesus was speaking of is the freedom from our own sin which keeps us from a true communion with God

–The following verses will make His meaning abundantly clear•

•33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

–The children of Israel were slaves in Babylon & Egypt

•They were speaking of the current generation

–They were not considered slaves by Rome

–The question remains what were they and people of our generation enslaved by?

–We will look to the next verse for the answer

•34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

–The guilt of sin takes captive of our lives and dictates our actions; can you think of some examples?

•35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

•This life is temporal whereas Jesus is eternal and through Him we also have eternal life

•36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

–Jesus continues His explanation•

•37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. (X, John 8:40  )

–Also in Judea (X John 7:1)

•38 “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” (X John 8:26 )

–Jesus is telling His followers once again, He was with the father always

–Just as we do the will of our earthly fathers He does the will of His heavenly Father

–His heavenly Father is theirs and our heavenly Father, and they as well as we must comply with the Fathers will, as sons and daughters of the Father   

•39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.

–They were saying they are the true descendants of Abraham (X Romans 9:7 )

–He is saying if you are the descendants of  flesh (Abraham) and do not claim yourselves as children of the heavenly Father then you will believe and do those things of this world

•You will live and die in your own sin

•40 “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.

–Abraham did not tell the people of Israel of the redemption through Jesus

•Abraham received the law from God, he did not receive the plan of salvation from God

•This statement was made not to say Abraham was a lire but rather that he was not given this redemptive information and therefore could not teach it

•We will read in verse 44 that children of the devil are children of a lire and do the things of the devil for there is no good in him (X  John 8:44 )

•41 “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.”

–Greek word for the phrase “born of fornication” is porneia por-ni'-ah; harlotry (including adultery and incest)

–They were brought into this world with the blessings of God through marriage one man and one women (X Gen 1:27 &Gen 2:24 )

–Now they claim God as their only Father not Abraham•

•42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.•

–43 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

–44 “You are of your father (X John 8:41 )  the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, ( X Genesis 3:4 ) and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

•John tells us in  I John 3:8  if a man practices sinful behavior he/she is of the devil.

•If a man professes to know the Lord, and fails to keep His commandments is a liar and is of the Devil the father of all lies

–Matthew 12:34  tells us the mouth speaks of that which lies in our heart

–45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

•Jesus revealed peoples own inner dark self

•Darkness (sin) can not give light (truth); Jesus speaks the truth and illuminates the darkness of man

•I John 4:6  tells us he who know God listens to the truth and those who do not are not from God will not listen

–46 “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

•He who is without sin…cast the first stone

•Why do you suppose they did not believe Jesus?

–It is easier for man to be flattered by lies, than to  have their inner darkness brought into the light of day•

•8 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 4

•(X John 7:20 )

–As we have learned the Samaritans were outcasts and not considered to be Jews

–They were adherents of Samaritanism

•49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

–If they dishonor Jesus then they also dishonor the Father

•50 “But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

–John 5:41 Jesus told us He does not seek glory for Himself

–In chapter 8 Jesus expounds on what He said in (X John 8:54 ; John 5:41)

–God alone has the right to judge man and has given Jesus the right to judge all things

•Jesus tells us that if we fail to heed His teachings we have already passed judgment on ourselves     (X John 12:47 )

–Jesus did not come to the world to judge it (this time); He came to save it from sin         (X John 12:47 )

•51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”     

–(X  John 14:23 ) 

–Jesus tasted death for us (X  Hebrews 2:9 ); therefore for those who believe in Him they will not taste death for He has overcome death for us (X Revelation of John 2:11 )

•the lake of fire the second death; which is an eternal separation from God (X Revelation of John 20:14 )

•52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’

–The death referred to hear is the eternal separation from God (the second death, the lake of fire)              (X Revelation of John 2:11 ; Revelation of John 20:14 ; Revelation of John 21:8  )

–Abraham died and was not resurrected in body, but because He kept the word of God will not be threatened by the lake of fire

–Abraham was mortal of man and women; Jesus on the other hand was deity born into mortality.

»His body did not suffer the decay of death but rather was raised transformed back to His glorified body

•53 “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”

–The death spoken of here is the eternal death the eternal separation from God

–54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;

–55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.

•56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

–How could Abraham see Jesus in His day?

•We must realize that time does not exist in heaven for all things are now.

–God made time for man, and He himself is not bound by time and sees all things in our past present and future as happening in the present.

•We can also deduce by this that those who have suffered the decay of death see as God does all as happening in the present

–Therefore Abraham sees Jesus in His glory.

•57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

–58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

–59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

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