Last time we saw that many were confused about who Jesus was, although there were many who put their faith in Him. The religious leaders tried to seize Him, but no one could lay a hand on Him because His time had not yet come.
We also learned that we are to follow Jesus’ example. He offers living water. When we believe in Jesus, streams of living water will flow in us. When we come to Jesus we put our faith in Him, we trust Him, we rely on Him, and we cling to Him.
John 8:1-11 – The Adulteress Woman
Jesus was teaching in the temple when the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Him. They told Jesus that the law commanded such women were to be stoned; they were trying to trap Jesus. Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with His finger. He said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7. Then he continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they began to walk away one by one. There was no one left but the woman and Jesus. Jesus then told the woman to go and leave her sinful life behind. (John 8:1-11)
These leaders weren’t really concerned for the woman, but in trapping Jesus. They interrupted His teaching wanting to make it as public as possible. They wanted to embarrass both the woman and Jesus. They used her sin as a weapon against Jesus while ignoring their own sin.
Here we learn a lot about Jesus. He didn’t rush to speak, but took His time by writing on the ground. He was loving, patient, kind, fair, all knowing and forgiving. We learn instead of throwing rocks at sinners, He loves and restores them. He shows us we need to be forgiving. We are to be gentle and humble when confronting someone of their sin. We should not think ourselves better than someone else. We should look at our own sin and not judge others. When we gossip, that is like throwing stones at someone.
What sin do you need God’s help to defeat?
What was Jesus writing on the ground? We really don’t know. Maybe He was writing some of the sins of those who were condemning her. Or maybe He was just giving them time to think about what they were doing using this time to convict their hearts.
Jesus’ words in verse 11 show He was concerned about her sin as He is with our sin. Jesus has a heart for sinners and wants all to repent and turn to God. Sin always matters, because God hates sin. God will always forgive our sin if we are sincerely sorry, but we must not continue in that sin. We can ask Him to help us with the sin in our life and He will help us defeat it.
We’ve all been caught in the act of sin. Even if we manage to keep our sin hidden from others, God knows our every sinful thought. He knows every swear word we’ve said and every hateful thought we’ve had. Religious people are just as guilty of sin as immoral people are. We all sin. None of us is perfect. Only Jesus is the perfect One. James 2:10 tells us whoever keeps the whole law, which is all 10 commandments, but stumbles at just one is guilty of breaking all of the laws. We tend to rationalize our own sin. Of course we shouldn’t tolerate others sin, but we also should not condemn them either. We should restore them by being gentle and humble.
Are you more concerned about someone else’s sin than your own?
Principle: Jesus offers grace to broken sinners who repent.
John 8:12-30 – Jesus is The Light of the World
Jesus spoke again to the people and told them, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12.
Jesus gives valid testimony of
Himself. He said He passes judgment on
no one. If He does, then His decisions
are right because the Father stands with Him.
In their own law if 2 men testify then the testimony is valid. Jesus testifies for Himself and the Father is
the other who testifies. (John 8:12-18)
When Jesus says, “I am the light of the world”, He means He is able to shine the pure light of truth into hearts and consciences of everyone who believes on Him. He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. He can expose the sin that lurks within everyone. He came to open eyes to the truth, to enlighten, and to show the way of salvation. We are to walk in the light as He is in the light and we are to point lost souls to the One who lightens the darkness in lifeless souls.
Verses 13-20 lists the witnesses Jesus gave that prove His testimony is valid. He reminded them that their own Law was written that the testimony of two men is valid. He is His own witness; the other witness is the Father, who sent Him.
Jesus explained how He was different from the people in verses 23-24. He said that He was from heaven above and they were from the world below and they would die in their sins if they did not believe in Him.
They asked Him, “Who are you?” – John 8:25. He answered that He was sent by the Father who is reliable and that He speaks for the Him. Jesus doesn’t make mistakes as people do. His judgment is always fair. He thinks just like His Father and God is never wrong, but perfect in every way.
Jesus told them that they don’t know Him or His Father. He said He is going away, where they cannot come. He is speaking to those who do not believe. He is going to heaven and unless they believe in Him they cannot join Him in heaven. He said they are from below and He is from above. They are from this world and He is from heaven. They will die in their sins if they didn’t believe He is who He claimed to be. (John 8:19-26)
Jesus said, “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 along…” – John 8:28-29. He is talking about when they would put Him on the cross they would realize who He really is. He said God would never leave Him alone. This was His purpose and God’s plan. God would be with Him just as He is with us in all circumstances.
Is Jesus the light of your life?
Principle: Jesus is the Light of the world.
In order to go to heaven we must:
John 8:31-47 – True Freedom
To the Jews who believed He said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32. They answered Jesus by saying they were Abraham’s descendants and were never slaves. Jesus told them that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Yes, they were Abraham’s descendants, but they were ready to kill Jesus. They said Abraham was their father. Jesus then told them if Abraham was their father, they would do as he did. Even Abraham knew the Messiah was coming and looked forward to it.
Never slaves? The Bible tells us they were enslaved by the Egyptians, by Babylonians, by the Assyrians and even now under the Romans. Jesus said if you commit sin, you are a slave to sin. Of course they were talking about physical slaves, but Jesus was talking about spiritual slaves.
They didn’t understand what Jesus meant. They were under the Roman rule, but were not slaves. Jesus pointed out that they were really slaves because of sin. The freedom Jesus offers is spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin. Sin controls people and guides how they act. It affects how they behave. Jesus is God’s Son and can stop sin’s power over a person. He alone has the authority to let people join God’s family.
Have you chosen to be a slave or a child of God?
Jesus said they failed to recognize Him because they didn’t belong to God. All mankind is either a child of God or of the devil. If you have not received Jesus by faith then you are a child of the devil. God has offered you a way to be in His family – believe in Jesus as you Lord and Savior.
Jesus offers us freedom. True freedom comes from knowing Christ through genuine faith and abiding in His Word. Freedom to know that when we sin (and we know we all do since we are not perfect) we are forgiven. We don’t have to worry about it. We will mess up from time to time, but if we are followers of Jesus we are set free from sin’s penalty. “For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Rom. 8:1
What sin are you trying to hide from God?
If you don’t have this freedom, ask God to give it to you. Pray specifically about the sin that is keeping you in bondage. It may be lust, gambling, alcohol, food, etc. Whatever it is, Jesus can break this bondage of sin.
In John 8:37-44 Jesus challenged them to proudly claim Abraham as their father by doing the things Abraham. Instead they wanted to kill Him for telling the truth that He heard from God.
We can distinguish between the truth of God and the lies of Satan by examining the Scriptures. If it goes against Scripture, it’s from Satan. Also you can ask yourself, “What would Jesus do”.
Principle: True freedom comes from knowing Christ through genuine faith and abiding in His Word.
John 8:48-59 – Jesus is I Am
They became more and more angry with Jesus. They tried to insult Him by calling Him a Samaritan and demon-possessed. Jesus told them He was not demon-possessed, but honors His Father and does not seek glory for Himself.
John 8:51 – Jesus said if anyone keeps His word, he will never see death. This means that believers will never see eternal death but will have eternal life and will never be separated from God.
He told them even Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing His coming one day meaning that he had hope, desire, and great expectation that he would see the promised Messiah (John 8:56). The Jews said you aren’t yet 50 years old and you have seen Abraham?
John 8:58 – He said, “... before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah, the One who Abraham saw by faith. He existed even before Abraham existed; Jesus was foretold to be the promised Messiah. This enraged the leaders so they attempted to stone Him.
How do you start being a follower of Jesus? First confess and repent of your sins. Accept Him as your Savior. Then start by abiding in the Word of God – read it, study it, and pray it. If you are faithful to this, you will know the truth. God will help you understand it. You will have eternal life in heaven with Him.
Jesus calls Himself, “I Am”. This is the name God revealed for Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. It means He is eternal and has always existed and will exist forever. He is “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come” (Rev. 4:8). He is the beginning and the ending – the Alpha and the Omega. He is everything and everywhere. Jesus is God; He is the Great I AM.
Jesus’ claims:
We face the same choice the Jews faced; either Jesus was a blasphemer or He is God.
Do you believe that Jesus is God?
Principle: Jesus is the Messiah.
Key verses:
Next week we will study John 9. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus
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Resources:
Bsfinternational.org
Bibleref.org
Enduringword.com
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