This morning we will continue on with the series
titled “What Did He Say?!” The series
covers the book of John chapters 5 through 11.
As we’ve already heard over the last few weeks, Jesus repeatedly stuns
his hearers in these chapters. To quote
Carl directly, Jesus says, “the most serious things ever said, the most
profound, and, especially, the most important. They have immense implications
for every person on earth, eternal implications.” It is as if in each chapter Jesus is
successively more stunning and revealing about his own character and identity.
Occasionally, I have heard things said about Jesus regarding his
self-awareness during his time on earth.
Questions like, did Jesus really know he was God’s Son? Did he know that his sacrifice was sufficient
to cover the sins of the world? Did
Jesus really know that He would rise from the dead?
Well, the book of John gives us those answers very clearly. Yes, Jesus repeatedly talks about his
relationship to the Father. He knew
exactly his purpose and when his time had come.
He speaks of his own death, resurrection, and ascension before they
happen.
Simply put, these chapters bring the hearers then and readers now to
critical decisions about Jesus. Many
preachers and writers including C.S. Lewis have put forward the trilemma of
Lord, Liar, or Lunatic. The basis is the
gospel accounts and either Jesus is who He says He is, or He’s deluded or
crazy, or He’s something worse. When
you read the words of Jesus, he is making very definite claims about
Himself. There is no wiggle room for
thinking Him a great teacher or a good man alone. He is bringing everyone to the decision
point. We each must decide: Do we accept Jesus as whom He says He is or
do we reject Him?
Today, we will continue with John chapter 8.
Before we continue, I believe many of you may find a note in your
Bibles at the beginning of John chapter 8.
Specifically, the section of John 7:53 through 8:11, may have a note
that says something like “not included in earliest manuscripts” or “most
reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not include this
passage.” Because of the prevalence of
these notes, I feel the need to discuss it.
The brevity and tone of these notes kind of leave you thinking, “If
these guys are right, should this passage even be included in the Bible?” This is unfortunate because it does not
appear Christian scholars question whether or not this story is true or should
be included. Rather, the note was added
to highlight a variation when comparing ancient texts. Some included it, while others did not.
Among the early church Fathers,
for example, Papias of Hierapolis, Didymus the Blind, Pacian, Jerome, Ambrose,
John Chrysostom, and Augustine all make reference to this story in their
writings. Augustine in particular wrote,
“This proceeding, however, shocks the minds of some weak believers, or rather
unbelievers and enemies of the Christian faith: I suppose, lest their wives should
be given impunity in sinning, they struck out from their copies of the Gospel
the Lord's act of forgiveness toward the adulteress, as if he who had said, ‘Go
and sin no more,’ had granted permission to sin.” (Augustine, De Adulterinis
Conjugiis) Augustine’s thought was it
had been omitted because some people were afraid it might be interpreted as a
license to sin.
There are other early church fathers, Tertullian, Cyprian, Origen, and
Greek Church theologians prior to the 9th century, who do not
mention this passage in their writings.
But, understand that both groups are contemporaries. The majority of them are from the third and
fourth century. And some were aware of
it and discussed it while others were not and did not.
The reason that this note appears at all actually stems from the Protestant Reformation. At that time inWestern Europe , there was a revived interest in ancient
manuscripts in order to confirm the Bible as had been presented by the Roman
Catholic Church.
John Calvin, one of the principle figures of the Reformation, questioned this passage but ended up encouraging its acceptance:
The reason that this note appears at all actually stems from the Protestant Reformation. At that time in
John Calvin, one of the principle figures of the Reformation, questioned this passage but ended up encouraging its acceptance:
“It is plain enough that this passage was unknown anciently to the Greek Churches; and some conjecture that it has been brought from some other place [in a few manuscripts, it is found at the very end of the book of John] and inserted here. But as it has always been received by the Latin Churches, and is found in many old Greek manuscripts, and contains nothing unworthy of an Apostolic Spirit, there is no reason why we should refuse to apply it to our advantage.” (John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel of John)
(These notes summarized in large part from Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries as posted on www.NotJustAnotherBook.com .)
Therefore, I hope that this note will not be a stumbling block for you, and that you are just as confident in this passage as the ones before it and after. Before we jump into John chapter 8, let’s take a moment and pray.
Father God, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I pray that Your character, Your love and compassion, as well as Your purity and righteousness, would be evident to us. We want to know You, the real You. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to live out a perfect life before us. Thank You for Your testimony. Use the truth of this chapter to bring us into a closer relationship with You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let’s begin:
Then each went to his own home. But Jesus went to theMount of Olives .
John 7:53-8:1
Then each went to his own home. But Jesus went to the
As you may remember from last week, there was a great hubbub at the
temple, as Jesus arrived in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles and began to
teach. On the last and greatest day of
the feast, He told the people, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and
drink. Whoever believes in me as the
Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
Some of the people thought he was the Prophet, others said he was the Christ, still others did not believe. Because some of the people had already put their faith in Jesus, the temple guards were dispatched to arrest Jesus, but they returned to the Pharisees and chief priests empty handed. When questioned why they did not bring Jesus, the guards answered, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” Chapter 7 ends with the Pharisees arguing among themselves.
At the end of that tumultuous day, everyone else went to his own home, but Jesus had no place to lay his head. He instead went out to the Mount of Olives, sleeping either in theGarden of Gethsemane
Do you ever think about the things that Jesus endured? Do you ever think about the things He continues to endure? I don’t mean in a masochistic way of being crucified again and again. He paid that penalty once and for all. I’m talking about the emotional hurt of rejection that Jesus endures as many people choose not to accept Him. He stands at the door and knocks, but people do not answer or they just yell at him to go away.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. John 8:2
Rabbis would come to the temple and teach during the day. People would come and listen to their favorites. It was not unusual for a rabbi to be teaching in the temple courts.
It was also normal at that time that the teacher would sit while the listeners would stand. I guess it helps with the tendency to fall asleep. If you’re on your feet, then it’s difficult not to mention dangerous to drift off.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.” John 8:3-4
It would be shocking if someone was brought in to church this morning, screaming and yelling, protesting and trying to get away, or perhaps weeping and ashamed, hands over their face, trying to hide from the crowd. She was caught in the act. At best her appearance is disheveled, at worst; she is wrapped in only a blanket. Her very appearance testifies against her.
Shocking also, by his absence, is the man? If the woman were caught in the act, there must have been a man present. Where is he? This situation reeks of a set up job. Some have proposed that ones of the Pharisees may have known of this woman by their own illicit encounters with her.
The Pharisees bring their charge:
Some of the people thought he was the Prophet, others said he was the Christ, still others did not believe. Because some of the people had already put their faith in Jesus, the temple guards were dispatched to arrest Jesus, but they returned to the Pharisees and chief priests empty handed. When questioned why they did not bring Jesus, the guards answered, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” Chapter 7 ends with the Pharisees arguing among themselves.
At the end of that tumultuous day, everyone else went to his own home, but Jesus had no place to lay his head. He instead went out to the Mount of Olives, sleeping either in the
Do you ever think about the things that Jesus endured? Do you ever think about the things He continues to endure? I don’t mean in a masochistic way of being crucified again and again. He paid that penalty once and for all. I’m talking about the emotional hurt of rejection that Jesus endures as many people choose not to accept Him. He stands at the door and knocks, but people do not answer or they just yell at him to go away.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. John 8:2
Rabbis would come to the temple and teach during the day. People would come and listen to their favorites. It was not unusual for a rabbi to be teaching in the temple courts.
It was also normal at that time that the teacher would sit while the listeners would stand. I guess it helps with the tendency to fall asleep. If you’re on your feet, then it’s difficult not to mention dangerous to drift off.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.” John 8:3-4
It would be shocking if someone was brought in to church this morning, screaming and yelling, protesting and trying to get away, or perhaps weeping and ashamed, hands over their face, trying to hide from the crowd. She was caught in the act. At best her appearance is disheveled, at worst; she is wrapped in only a blanket. Her very appearance testifies against her.
Shocking also, by his absence, is the man? If the woman were caught in the act, there must have been a man present. Where is he? This situation reeks of a set up job. Some have proposed that ones of the Pharisees may have known of this woman by their own illicit encounters with her.
The Pharisees bring their charge:
“In the Law Moses commanded us to
stone such women. Now what do you say?”
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for
accusing him. John 8:5-6
This is it. The Pharisees have found the unsolvable problem for Jesus. What is he going to do now?
This situation has only two possible answers, “Yes” or “No.” If Jesus says, “Yes, stone her,” then the Pharisees get to run to the Romans and say, “There is a teacher who says to stone a woman, and we know that this is against your law. Come and arrest him.” Not to mention, if Jesus agrees to stone her, the crowd will be discouraged. “We thought you were different Jesus. We thought you were going to change things. Why were you hanging around with tax collectors and sinners? Were you just toying with us?”
If Jesus says, “No, let her go,” then the Pharisees can say that Jesus doesn’t believe the Law and that he speaks contrary to it. The Pharisees would then use this to drive the people away from Jesus. So what does Jesus do with the unsolvable problem?
Carl said this a couple of weeks ago, “… as Jesus often did, He drew connections, brought things together that no one ever thought about, and as He says it, it’s logic is so incontrovertible, so clear, that everyone wonders why they never thought about it that way before. I personally love how Jesus does this again and again.”
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:6-7
Have you ever been caught making a lousy argument? You thought you had it all figured out, but then you had to repeat the argument more than once. Then, the more and more you say it, the more absurd and weak it sounds. Finally, you wish you hadn’t even brought it up. Why do they expect Jesus to render a verdict? He is not a magistrate. He has no legal authority in this case.
But, they kept at it, and Jesus says the most amazing thing. He affirms the Law and yet, makes the standard of condemnation one which no one can attain. Not just the sin of adultery, but any sin. Who is without sin?
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. John 8:8-9
A lot has been made of what Jesus may have written. It is the only time in the four gospels that there is a record of Jesus writing. It is conjectured that maybe he wrote the Ten Commandments. Or, maybe he wrote about the Pharisees themselves. Did he write about their own sins? We just don’t know. If it’s really that important to you, you can ask Him when we get to heaven. Ultimately, it says, “those who heard began to go away,” not those who read.
Did you ever have someone speak truth to you, in particular, truth spoken at a decision moment? A couple of months ago, I was talking to a brother who is not a part of our church. He is going through a really difficult time. The world and many of his friends are telling him what he ought to do in the face of his circumstances. I don’t know if I was the only one, but I spoke truth to him. The truth was to persevere, to endure, and even to submit in the midst of a tough, tough situation. The Holy Spirit and the Word confirmed the truth I was sharing. I concluded by saying, “And if I’m the only person on the planet that tells you this, it’s still right.” Up until that point, I felt his resistance and feared that he was hardening his heart. It was a tough conversation. But then my friend looked up at me and said, “I know.”
They went away when they heard. Why the older ones first? Perhaps because they had the longer list of sins. Perhaps because they had fought against the influence of sin in their lives longer. Regardless, no one remained of those who accused her. There were no more witnesses to testify against her.
Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
This is it. The Pharisees have found the unsolvable problem for Jesus. What is he going to do now?
This situation has only two possible answers, “Yes” or “No.” If Jesus says, “Yes, stone her,” then the Pharisees get to run to the Romans and say, “There is a teacher who says to stone a woman, and we know that this is against your law. Come and arrest him.” Not to mention, if Jesus agrees to stone her, the crowd will be discouraged. “We thought you were different Jesus. We thought you were going to change things. Why were you hanging around with tax collectors and sinners? Were you just toying with us?”
If Jesus says, “No, let her go,” then the Pharisees can say that Jesus doesn’t believe the Law and that he speaks contrary to it. The Pharisees would then use this to drive the people away from Jesus. So what does Jesus do with the unsolvable problem?
Carl said this a couple of weeks ago, “… as Jesus often did, He drew connections, brought things together that no one ever thought about, and as He says it, it’s logic is so incontrovertible, so clear, that everyone wonders why they never thought about it that way before. I personally love how Jesus does this again and again.”
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:6-7
Have you ever been caught making a lousy argument? You thought you had it all figured out, but then you had to repeat the argument more than once. Then, the more and more you say it, the more absurd and weak it sounds. Finally, you wish you hadn’t even brought it up. Why do they expect Jesus to render a verdict? He is not a magistrate. He has no legal authority in this case.
But, they kept at it, and Jesus says the most amazing thing. He affirms the Law and yet, makes the standard of condemnation one which no one can attain. Not just the sin of adultery, but any sin. Who is without sin?
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. John 8:8-9
A lot has been made of what Jesus may have written. It is the only time in the four gospels that there is a record of Jesus writing. It is conjectured that maybe he wrote the Ten Commandments. Or, maybe he wrote about the Pharisees themselves. Did he write about their own sins? We just don’t know. If it’s really that important to you, you can ask Him when we get to heaven. Ultimately, it says, “those who heard began to go away,” not those who read.
Did you ever have someone speak truth to you, in particular, truth spoken at a decision moment? A couple of months ago, I was talking to a brother who is not a part of our church. He is going through a really difficult time. The world and many of his friends are telling him what he ought to do in the face of his circumstances. I don’t know if I was the only one, but I spoke truth to him. The truth was to persevere, to endure, and even to submit in the midst of a tough, tough situation. The Holy Spirit and the Word confirmed the truth I was sharing. I concluded by saying, “And if I’m the only person on the planet that tells you this, it’s still right.” Up until that point, I felt his resistance and feared that he was hardening his heart. It was a tough conversation. But then my friend looked up at me and said, “I know.”
They went away when they heard. Why the older ones first? Perhaps because they had the longer list of sins. Perhaps because they had fought against the influence of sin in their lives longer. Regardless, no one remained of those who accused her. There were no more witnesses to testify against her.
Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she
said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now
and leave your life of sin." John
8:11-12
The word translated “sir” in the Greek is kyrios. It is translated many other places as Lord. Its meaning is the one in authority, the owner. It’s how a slave would address their master. The woman has submitted to Jesus’ authority. There is no one holding her any longer. She is not restrained. She is free to leave, to run, to hide, and yet she stays.
Jesus is interested in our choices. He is interested in the purity of our lives. He does not condemn us, but he does not want us to remain in our sins. And so, he tells the woman, “Go and sin no more.” He set her free.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "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
The previous situation demonstrates clearly that Jesus is the light of the world. He took a bleak and impossible situation, and left the people hopeful and encouraged. He wants to do the same thing with your circumstances. If things are bleak for you, come to him for light. Follow after him, and you will not walk in darkness. Seek a relationship with him, talking to him in prayer.
Another cool thing about this word picture is its connection to the Feast of Tabernacles. The picture at the top of this post is the view of the temple from the Court of Women. Based on the description in verse 20, this is more or less the view a person would have from where Jesus was teaching. On the right and left, you see the two large poles. These were 50 foot poles with giant lamps on top. They were loaded up with oil and then the priests’ old garments were wrapped up and used as giant wicks. The symbolism was to commemorate the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites in the desert. Young priests or Levites had to carry oil up 50 feet and add it to the basins. How’d you like that for a job? Makes mowing the grass seem a little easier doesn’t it?
It is now the day after the feast. It is likely that the poles have not yet been removed, but since the feast is over, they are no longer lit. Now Jesus stands before the people and declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light on the giant poles was temporary. It had gone out. Whoever follows the light of the world will never walk in darkness.
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” John 8:13
You may have the tendency to think, as I did, didn’t the Pharisees just leave after Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone?” Josephus records the number of Pharisees as 6,000 at the time of Christ. It was a finite number, but more than enough for there to be some who had left and others who were not among the accusers.
And, these guys are relentless. They’re going after Jesus on a technicality. It is interesting because the conversation in John 5 is eerily similar. In that case, Jesus offers 4 witnesses: John the Baptist, the works He was doing, God the Father, and the Old Testament Scriptures. Now, he will offer only two. The tension is ratcheting up.
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.” John 8:14-16
The word translated “sir” in the Greek is kyrios. It is translated many other places as Lord. Its meaning is the one in authority, the owner. It’s how a slave would address their master. The woman has submitted to Jesus’ authority. There is no one holding her any longer. She is not restrained. She is free to leave, to run, to hide, and yet she stays.
Jesus is interested in our choices. He is interested in the purity of our lives. He does not condemn us, but he does not want us to remain in our sins. And so, he tells the woman, “Go and sin no more.” He set her free.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "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
The previous situation demonstrates clearly that Jesus is the light of the world. He took a bleak and impossible situation, and left the people hopeful and encouraged. He wants to do the same thing with your circumstances. If things are bleak for you, come to him for light. Follow after him, and you will not walk in darkness. Seek a relationship with him, talking to him in prayer.
Another cool thing about this word picture is its connection to the Feast of Tabernacles. The picture at the top of this post is the view of the temple from the Court of Women. Based on the description in verse 20, this is more or less the view a person would have from where Jesus was teaching. On the right and left, you see the two large poles. These were 50 foot poles with giant lamps on top. They were loaded up with oil and then the priests’ old garments were wrapped up and used as giant wicks. The symbolism was to commemorate the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites in the desert. Young priests or Levites had to carry oil up 50 feet and add it to the basins. How’d you like that for a job? Makes mowing the grass seem a little easier doesn’t it?
It is now the day after the feast. It is likely that the poles have not yet been removed, but since the feast is over, they are no longer lit. Now Jesus stands before the people and declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light on the giant poles was temporary. It had gone out. Whoever follows the light of the world will never walk in darkness.
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” John 8:13
You may have the tendency to think, as I did, didn’t the Pharisees just leave after Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone?” Josephus records the number of Pharisees as 6,000 at the time of Christ. It was a finite number, but more than enough for there to be some who had left and others who were not among the accusers.
And, these guys are relentless. They’re going after Jesus on a technicality. It is interesting because the conversation in John 5 is eerily similar. In that case, Jesus offers 4 witnesses: John the Baptist, the works He was doing, God the Father, and the Old Testament Scriptures. Now, he will offer only two. The tension is ratcheting up.
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.” John 8:14-16
Jesus is qualified to testify because he knows. The Pharisees don’t. They judge by what they see, external things, human standards.
“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.” John 8:17-18
In chapter 5, Jesus did not take that opportunity to testify about himself. Since then, He has openly proclaimed He is the living bread that comes down from heaven, He is the river of life, and He is light of the world. Those who partake of him live forever. Those who drink of him never thirst. Those who follow him never walk in darkness.
His second and only other cited witness here is the Father.
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. John 8:19-20
Their question appears to be a veiled reference to suspicions at that time regarding the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. The story was not clearly told or understood. At the end of chapter 7, we saw the people were asking whether or not the Christ would come from David’s family and be born in Bethlehem. These things were true, but the people did not know it, nor did they ask.
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.”
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” John 8:21-22
Jesus tries again to speak in a way which they can understand. Look, my time is short. Once I am gone, you will look for me. If you don’t get it now, you will die in your sin. But again, they miss the point. They fixate on the last phrase, “Where I go, you cannot come.” Jesus had told them in chapter 7 that he was going away. At that time the Pharisees asked, “Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?” The main point is “you will die in your sin.” Rather than focus on that point, they are focused instead on what he says they cannot do.
But he continued, “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.” John 8:23-24
Let’s try again. I came down out of heaven; you did not. You are of this world. It is all you have ever known. I am not of this world. I told you before and I’m telling you again, if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, literally, I am he, you will die in your sins.
Jesus makes it plain to the crowd:
Belief in me is the way to eternal life.
Why can’t Jesus just say, “I am the Christ. I am the Messiah”? Well, once he says that, they will want to try him for blasphemy. It was that testimony about himself which ultimately brought him to the cross. “Yes, it is as you say. I am the Son of God.” Jesus’ time has not yet come, so he speaks plainly but without saying the phrase which will bring him to the cross.
“Who are you?” they asked. John 8:25
It’s like they can’t hear what he’s saying. Ears ever hearing but never understanding. (Isaiah 6:9)
Did you ever have something plainly before your eyes, but you couldn’t see it?
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” 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.” John 8:25-26
Jesus has made his claims. We’ve talked about them already. The amazing things he has said are known to the listeners. Now, Jesus mentions the judgment against them. They have the testimony. They have the truth, but they have not believed.
Jesus’ message is not just for the Jews. It is for the world.
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So 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 alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:27-29
When will Jesus be lifted up by them? On the cross. That day filled with darkness and the earthquake and the dead people coming out of the tombs and the veil, the curtain of the temple the thickness of a man’s wrist ripped 60 feet from top to bottom. Among those signs, they will know Jesus is who he claims to be. Only ones who hardened their hearts would not believe. Unfortunately, there would be many who did harden their hearts. And yet, on this day …
Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. John 8:30
Some got the message. Some would not die in their sins. Jesus’ words though a teeny bit veiled were enough to bring people to believe in him.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus 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
The foundation of Jesus’ teaching is to believe in Him. He is everything. In him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) whether we recognize it or not. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17) “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)
It is not by knowing about him that we are saved. It is by knowing him. We must cultivate a relationship with him based on truth of who we are and our total dependence on him. And yet, even though we are totally dependent, it is in him that we are set free.
Remember that Jesus is addressing those who believed. It’s quite disturbing how they respond.
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?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” John 8:33-34
This is an extremely ironic answer. Abraham’s descendants have collectively been slaves of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and currently the Romans. Maybe they are thinking of their spiritual freedom. “We believe we are free because we are descended from Abraham.”
Jesus sets that straight in a flash. “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” No ifs, ands, or buts. We are all slaves to sin apart from Christ.
Occasionally, we share quotes from G.K. Chesterton. He is a Christian writer from the early 20th century. It turns out, he also wrote some fiction. I’ve been reading some of his short stories about Father Brown. He was a Christian answer to the detective stories that were popular at that time, most notably, Sherlock Holmes. I wanted to share a quote from Father Brown:
“No man's really any good till he knows how bad he is, or might be; till he's realized exactly how much right he has to all this snobbery, and sneering, and talking about 'criminals,' as if they were apes in a forest ten thousand miles away; till he's got rid of all the dirty self-deception of talking about low types and deficient skulls; till he's squeezed out of his soul the last drop of the oil of the Pharisees; till his only hope is somehow or other to have captured one criminal, and kept him safe and sane under his own hat."
As we finish the remainder of the chapter, it’s easy to kind of get on your high horse and look down on the Pharisees. We want to laugh at them as Jesus fillets their pretensions and pretenses. “Boy, I’m glad I’m not that stupid.” It is easy to think. Finally, when they begin blurting out epithets and slander, we think, “Look at how they’ve lost it. Pitiful.”
But, before we turn down that path, I want to remind you that Jesus is addressing those who had believed in Him. No, I’m not questioning the validity of your salvation. Neither am I trying to add some additional requirement to prove that you’re really saved.
Why can’t Jesus just say, “I am the Christ. I am the Messiah”? Well, once he says that, they will want to try him for blasphemy. It was that testimony about himself which ultimately brought him to the cross. “Yes, it is as you say. I am the Son of God.” Jesus’ time has not yet come, so he speaks plainly but without saying the phrase which will bring him to the cross.
“Who are you?” they asked. John 8:25
It’s like they can’t hear what he’s saying. Ears ever hearing but never understanding. (Isaiah 6:9)
Did you ever have something plainly before your eyes, but you couldn’t see it?
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” 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.” John 8:25-26
Jesus has made his claims. We’ve talked about them already. The amazing things he has said are known to the listeners. Now, Jesus mentions the judgment against them. They have the testimony. They have the truth, but they have not believed.
Jesus’ message is not just for the Jews. It is for the world.
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So 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 alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:27-29
When will Jesus be lifted up by them? On the cross. That day filled with darkness and the earthquake and the dead people coming out of the tombs and the veil, the curtain of the temple the thickness of a man’s wrist ripped 60 feet from top to bottom. Among those signs, they will know Jesus is who he claims to be. Only ones who hardened their hearts would not believe. Unfortunately, there would be many who did harden their hearts. And yet, on this day …
Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. John 8:30
Some got the message. Some would not die in their sins. Jesus’ words though a teeny bit veiled were enough to bring people to believe in him.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus 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
The foundation of Jesus’ teaching is to believe in Him. He is everything. In him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) whether we recognize it or not. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17) “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)
It is not by knowing about him that we are saved. It is by knowing him. We must cultivate a relationship with him based on truth of who we are and our total dependence on him. And yet, even though we are totally dependent, it is in him that we are set free.
Remember that Jesus is addressing those who believed. It’s quite disturbing how they respond.
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?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” John 8:33-34
This is an extremely ironic answer. Abraham’s descendants have collectively been slaves of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and currently the Romans. Maybe they are thinking of their spiritual freedom. “We believe we are free because we are descended from Abraham.”
Jesus sets that straight in a flash. “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” No ifs, ands, or buts. We are all slaves to sin apart from Christ.
Occasionally, we share quotes from G.K. Chesterton. He is a Christian writer from the early 20th century. It turns out, he also wrote some fiction. I’ve been reading some of his short stories about Father Brown. He was a Christian answer to the detective stories that were popular at that time, most notably, Sherlock Holmes. I wanted to share a quote from Father Brown:
“No man's really any good till he knows how bad he is, or might be; till he's realized exactly how much right he has to all this snobbery, and sneering, and talking about 'criminals,' as if they were apes in a forest ten thousand miles away; till he's got rid of all the dirty self-deception of talking about low types and deficient skulls; till he's squeezed out of his soul the last drop of the oil of the Pharisees; till his only hope is somehow or other to have captured one criminal, and kept him safe and sane under his own hat."
As we finish the remainder of the chapter, it’s easy to kind of get on your high horse and look down on the Pharisees. We want to laugh at them as Jesus fillets their pretensions and pretenses. “Boy, I’m glad I’m not that stupid.” It is easy to think. Finally, when they begin blurting out epithets and slander, we think, “Look at how they’ve lost it. Pitiful.”
But, before we turn down that path, I want to remind you that Jesus is addressing those who had believed in Him. No, I’m not questioning the validity of your salvation. Neither am I trying to add some additional requirement to prove that you’re really saved.
It’s just that I’d like for us to be sensitive to the “oil of the Pharisees” that resides in our hearts. As long as we live in this flesh, there will be a tendency toward pride. And pride is completely contrary to the things of God. Pretty much the minute we think that we’re something or somebody, we’re in trouble.
If you’ve got a strong natural propensity to think you’re nothing, don’t start patting yourself on the back too quickly either. Continually deriding yourself can be a kind of false modesty. “I know I’m nothing but at least I’m better than you.” False modesty can be a sort of pride, too.
Self-abasement is not right thinking either. Honestly, I think our goal needs to be to not think about ourselves. Do you remember the old saying, “Don’t worry what others think about you. They don’t think about you at all.” I think that’s more or less how we have to think of ourselves after we come to Christ. Paul said he counted all his accomplishments as garbage compared to knowing Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
The end of that quote is kind of how it is, right? We don’t wear hats as much as people used to, but that’s our job, right? We have to keep the criminal within under control, but not under our control. I’ve met people who try to keep the criminal within under control by themselves. They may keep the criminal safe for a time, but they can’t keep themselves sane. It tears them apart. They either become a nervous wreck or they become relationally distant.
On the other side, you may keep the criminal sane, but you can’t keep him safe. Maybe you are prone to outbursts, lashing out in anger. Especially perverse (I speak from experience) is lashing out while trying to control others.
We have to come to Christ and submit to Him. We have to eat his flesh and drink his blood actively partaking of the forgiveness that he gives. Then, as we follow Him, we will no longer walk in darkness. By His Spirit, Jesus will keep our criminal under control. More than that, he will reform the criminal inside of us and “perfect him until the day of” his return. And as a result, we will be focused outward to rescue others and not inward. Let’s get back to the text …
“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 no 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.” John 8:35-38
Praise Him; it is the Son who sets us free. If we let Him set us free, we will be free indeed.
Their claim to Abraham does not change their hearts. They want to kill Jesus, an act that is clearly against the Law. Why? They have no room for his Word. Let us make room for His Word. If that means we have to put aside some things, TV, internet, magazines, activities, then so be it. Let’s make room for His Word.
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham's children,” said Jesus, “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.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” John 8:39-41
What were the things that Abraham did? He followed God’s leading to the land of Canaan. He obeyed God, including circumcision. He rescued his nephew twice. He pleaded with God for Sodom. He passed the test with Isaac. He believed God. His belief was that one thing that is mentioned which was credited or counted for his righteousness.
They started with a claim to Abraham as his descendants. Then, they claim Abraham as their father. Finally, they are claiming God as father. This is again ironic for they have wanted to kill Jesus for claiming God as Father, but now they do it without hesitation. This is not going to end well.
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.” John 8:42-43
Another hint for us, do we love Jesus? If we are children of God, we will love Jesus.
“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.” John 8:44
Whew! This was our destiny apart from Christ. Without Him, we too would belong to the devil. May this stir us to compassion for those who mistreat us and persecute us because of Jesus. They do not know what they are doing. They are tied up in lies.
The other thought I have from these verses is affirmation that we need to continually be fed from the Word of God. We can get encouragement and fellowship with other believers, no doubt. But, all the other sources where we go for understanding and satisfaction, all forms of media, in large part are influenced if not under the outright control of the father of lies. Most of the time, where do you choose to get fed?
“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.” John 8:45-47
Jesus gives them the chance. Can they prove him guilty of sin? If they could, wouldn’t they jump at the chance?
The Jews answered him, “Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “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.” John 8:48-51
Now, they’ve succumbed to low blows and slander. In the midst of this response, Jesus throws another lifeline. “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” There is hope even in the middle of resisting Jesus.
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?” John 8:52-53
Another hint for us, do we love Jesus? If we are children of God, we will love Jesus.
“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.” John 8:44
Whew! This was our destiny apart from Christ. Without Him, we too would belong to the devil. May this stir us to compassion for those who mistreat us and persecute us because of Jesus. They do not know what they are doing. They are tied up in lies.
The other thought I have from these verses is affirmation that we need to continually be fed from the Word of God. We can get encouragement and fellowship with other believers, no doubt. But, all the other sources where we go for understanding and satisfaction, all forms of media, in large part are influenced if not under the outright control of the father of lies. Most of the time, where do you choose to get fed?
“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.” John 8:45-47
Jesus gives them the chance. Can they prove him guilty of sin? If they could, wouldn’t they jump at the chance?
The Jews answered him, “Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “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.” John 8:48-51
Now, they’ve succumbed to low blows and slander. In the midst of this response, Jesus throws another lifeline. “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” There is hope even in the middle of resisting Jesus.
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?” John 8:52-53
They are focused on what they can see with their eyes. They see Jesus standing there. Likely, Jesus is dressed like the poor
itinerant that he was. They know he is
from Galilee. Likely, Jesus has a
Galilean accent. The elitists from
Jerusalem tend to view him as a kind of bumpkin. Isaiah wrote that Jesus would have no stately
form or majesty that we should be drawn to Him.
He did not have a visible aura like movies sometimes portray. He was not a pretty boy or effeminate in
appearance. He was also likely not even
very clean, especially not by our standards.
Remember, he had spent the night on the Mount of Olives.
“Who do you think you are? How can you look like that and say those things? How can you hang out with those people and talk like that? Your inner circle is made up of a bunch of nobodies, and you make promises about not tasting death. Everyone we’ve ever put our hope in is long dead, and you want us to believe in you. Who do you think you are?”
“Who do you think you are? How can you look like that and say those things? How can you hang out with those people and talk like that? Your inner circle is made up of a bunch of nobodies, and you make promises about not tasting death. Everyone we’ve ever put our hope in is long dead, and you want us to believe in you. Who do you think you are?”
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.”
“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” John 8:54-57
Jesus is telling them, "Don’t be deceived by this inglorious appearance. Even if I dressed different and associated with different people, that would mean nothing. The only thing that matters is the glory that comes from God."
Abraham saw many things which would point to Jesus’ day: meeting Melchizedek, meeting God on the plain at Mamre, seeing the angel on Mount Moriah, and receiving the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:13 says he did not receive the things promised but “saw them and welcomed them from a distance.”
Again seeing with physical eyes and not hearing what Jesus has said, they interject, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!” That’s impossible. The next phrase is the climax. It is the equivalent of a cannon going off. The original “shot heard round the world.”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. John 8:58-59
“I am” is the name of God. Yahweh. Jehovah. God told Moses at the burning bush, “I am that I am. Tell the people, ‘I am’ has sent you.” When Jesus says, “before Abraham was born, I am!” There can be no confusion about his claim to deity. “Before Abraham” was 2000 years earlier. And then, to use the expression “I am” leaves no doubt. Jesus is saying, “I am God.”
“At this, they picked up stones to stone him …” It was not yet Jesus’ time. He was hidden from them, and he slipped away.
Simply put, Jesus brings the hearers then and readers now to critical decisions about Him. The basis is all the gospel accounts and either Jesus is who He says He is, or He’s deluded or crazy, or He’s something worse. I hope you hear from the words of Jesus, he is making very definite claims about Himself. There is no wiggle room for thinking Him a great teacher or a good man alone. He is bringing everyone to the decision point. We each must decide: Do we accept Jesus as whom He says He is or do we reject Him? He is Lord and God. May we always worship Him.
“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” John 8:54-57
Jesus is telling them, "Don’t be deceived by this inglorious appearance. Even if I dressed different and associated with different people, that would mean nothing. The only thing that matters is the glory that comes from God."
Abraham saw many things which would point to Jesus’ day: meeting Melchizedek, meeting God on the plain at Mamre, seeing the angel on Mount Moriah, and receiving the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:13 says he did not receive the things promised but “saw them and welcomed them from a distance.”
Again seeing with physical eyes and not hearing what Jesus has said, they interject, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!” That’s impossible. The next phrase is the climax. It is the equivalent of a cannon going off. The original “shot heard round the world.”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. John 8:58-59
“I am” is the name of God. Yahweh. Jehovah. God told Moses at the burning bush, “I am that I am. Tell the people, ‘I am’ has sent you.” When Jesus says, “before Abraham was born, I am!” There can be no confusion about his claim to deity. “Before Abraham” was 2000 years earlier. And then, to use the expression “I am” leaves no doubt. Jesus is saying, “I am God.”
“At this, they picked up stones to stone him …” It was not yet Jesus’ time. He was hidden from them, and he slipped away.
Simply put, Jesus brings the hearers then and readers now to critical decisions about Him. The basis is all the gospel accounts and either Jesus is who He says He is, or He’s deluded or crazy, or He’s something worse. I hope you hear from the words of Jesus, he is making very definite claims about Himself. There is no wiggle room for thinking Him a great teacher or a good man alone. He is bringing everyone to the decision point. We each must decide: Do we accept Jesus as whom He says He is or do we reject Him? He is Lord and God. May we always worship Him.
Let’s pray.
Jesus, we see that You boldly proclaim who You are. You knew who You are and where You came
from. You knew the Father’s will and You
submitted to it. You told the people how
to have eternal life. You did not hide
the way of salvation from anyone. I pray
for anyone here who has not believed in You.
May the Father draw them to You.
I pray for those of us who know You.
Keep us “safe and sane” in You.
May we not go wandering, trying bread and water from different
places. Instead, keep us in Your light
that we may never walk in darkness. All
this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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