John
© copyright 2008 Darroll Evans, all
rights reserved
Chapter 8
John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in
the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him;
and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the
scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they
had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery,
in the very act.
5 Now Moses in
the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest
thou?
6
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But
Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as
though he heard them not.
7 So when they
continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone
at her.
8 And again he
stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which
heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one
by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left
alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus
had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine
accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn
thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus spent that night at the Mount of Olives and then early
the next morning went to the Temple.
The people came to hear him teach.
The scribes and Pharisees dragged a woman in Him.
They say, “Master, this woman was caught in the very act of
adultery.”
Even His enemies called Him “Master,” although most of them
had no idea to whom they were speaking!
Their position was that Moses commanded them to stone the
woman, and they wanted to know what Jesus thought.
That question was bogus because it was a deliberate trap Him
in expressing an opinion that was illegal under the Jewish works only/Law only
government!
However, Jesus (knowing the intentions of their hearts)
stooped down, and wrote on the ground as if ignoring them.
As they continued to ask, he stood up, and said, “Let the one without sin cast a stone at her.”
Tradition said that the accuser should throw the first
stone, but since that was not clear within the law, Jesus went against
tradition without breaking the Law of Moses!
Please notice that Christ did not argue with the mob
decision to kill the woman! He just made
some adjustments in the carrying out of that decision.
As He again stooped down, each none of the mob left. The eldest and most mature among them left
first since they did not qualify as being sinless, and they knew it.
The Jews in spiritual diapers left last!
Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left!
At that point, Jesus looked up and asked, “Where are your accusers?”
It was obvious that none was left!
So, Jesus said, “Neither do I
condemn you! Go, and sin no more.”
Jesus came to save, and not to condemn!
John
3:17 “For God
sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved.”
As we shall see later, Judgment shall be turned over to the
Son!
John 8:12-59
12 Then spake Jesus again unto
them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life.
13 The
Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest
record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus
answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of
myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I
go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone,
but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men
is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of
myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness
of me.
19 Then
said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered,
Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me,
ye should have known my Father also.
20 These
words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in
the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then
said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall
seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot
come.
22 Then
said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot
come.
23 And
he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I
am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:
for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then
said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same
that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent
me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They
understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then
said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I
am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath
taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me
alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As
he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They
answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in
bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made
free?
34 Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the
house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me,
because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that
which ye have seen with your father.
39 They
answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith
unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of
Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the
truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him,
We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even
God.
42 Jesus
said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love
me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came
I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even
because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin?
And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God's
words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then
answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a
Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus
answered, I have not a devil; but I honour
my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a
man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then
said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a
devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest,
If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of
death.
53 Art
thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and
the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus
answered, If I honour myself,
my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should
say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep
his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it,
and was glad.
57 Then
said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham?
58 Jesus
said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.
59 Then
took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid
himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so
passed by.
Then, Jesus told them bluntly, “I am
the light of the world! He that follows Me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
The Pharisees accused Christ, “You witness to Yourself and so what You say is not true!”
Jesus did not challenge their assessment, but He did deny their
conclusion!
Jesus responded, “Although I bear
witness of Myself, my witness is true! I know where I
came from and where I am going! You don’t!
“You all judge according to the
flesh! I judge no one!
“However, if I judge, My judgment is accurate!
“I am not alone in My judgment! I judge according to the judgment of the Father
who sent Me!
“It is written in your law that the
testimony of two is accurate!
“I bear witness of myself, and the
Father who sent me also bears witness of Me!”
So, they asked, “Where is Your Father?”
In asking that they assumed that Joseph was his biological
father!
Jesus replied, “None of you knows Me or My Father!
“If you had known Me,
you would have known My Father!”
In saying that “known” implied personal intimacy!
They knew about God, but did not know God!
The years have not brought much change.
Many who claim to know God only know about God!
Jesus said all that within in the Temple treasury area as He
taught in the Temple.
None laid a hand on him, because His hour had not yet come.
Then Jesus said, “I am departing!
“You all shall seek me and shall die
in your sins!”
Many Jews are still looking for their Messiah with no
understanding that He came and they rejected Him!
Jesus’ statement was a powerful condemnation of all who
attempt to live by the Law, any law!
The Scriptures tell us explicitly that the just SHALL live
by faith (Romans 1:17)!
None shall live by means of the Law!
Even Christ Jesus lived by faith!
John
10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have
I received of my Father.”
The resurrection happened due to the
Son’s faith in the Father’s!
Jesus further said, “Where I am
going, and none of you is able to come!”
Then said the Jews, “Will He kill
himself? After all He said, ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.’”
“And Jesus further told them, “You
all are from beneath---here on earth! I am from above---from Heaven! You all
are of this world! I am not!
“I said that you all shall die in
your sins, because if you do not believe that I am the Special God sent One, you shall die in your sins!
Then they asked, “Just Who are
You?”
Jesus retorted, “I told you that
from the beginning.
“I have many things to say and to judge
of you, but He that sent Me is true, and I speak to
the world only those things which I have heard of Him.”
They did not understand that Jesus was speaking about the
Father!
We cannot make those who have not had their ears opened by
the Holy Spirit understand things of the Spirit!
Many are spiritual
without being Spiritual!
Then Jesus told them, “When you all
have lifted up the Son of man you shall know that I am He, and that I
do nothing of Myself, I speak of only those things My Father taught me!
“And, He that sent Me is with Me!
“The Father has not deserted Me!
“I always do what pleases him!”
As Jesus spoke, many believed on him!
Then Jesus told those Jews which believed on Him, “If you continue in my word, you are indeed my disciples!
“And as a consequence, you shall
know the Truth, and the Truth shall liberate you.”
That was not speaking of understanding simple truth! It was a reference to personal intimacy with
THE TRUTH, Christ Jesus!
Later, Christ will tell them bluntly that He is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)!
They, those who believed on Him had no understanding!
It was His followers who said, “We are Abraham's seed, and
were never in bondage to any man!
“How can You say, ‘You all shall be
liberated?’”
Many miss the point that it was His followers who said that!
So, Jesus told them, “Truthfully I
tell you all who commit sin are servants of sin!
“And, the servant does not live in
the house for ever, but the Son does!
“If the Son makes you free, you
shall be free!
“I know that you all are Abraham's
seed, but you are looking to kill me, because my word is not acceptable to you.
“I tell you what I have seen with my
Father, and you do what you have seen with your father!”
At that they said, “Abraham is our father!”
And, Abraham was indeed their physical father!
So, Jesus spoke up, “If you were
Abraham's (spiritual) children, you would do as
he did!
“But, you are seeking to kill me!
“I am a man who told you the very
truth I have heard of God!
“Abraham did not do as much!
“You are doing the deeds of your
father!
At that they accused Christ, “We were not born of
fornication! We have one Father, God!”
Jesus come back with, “If God were your Father, you would love me! I came from God,
not from Myself! He sent me!
“Why don’t you understand? You
cannot truly hear what I am saying!”
(Biblical hearing demands a positive response! If the
response is negative it is because the listeners cannot truly hear!)
He continued, “You are of your father the devil!
“You will carry out his lusts!
“He was a murderer from the
beginning, and doesn’t know the truth because there is no truth in him.
“When he speaks, he lies, and speaks
on his own, because he is a liar, and the father of lies!
“And, because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe Me!
“Which of you accuses me of sin?
“And, if I say the truth, why don’t
you believe Me?
“He that is of God hears God's
words!
“Therefore, you don’t hear, because
you are not of God!
At that the Jews further condemned the Christ, “You are a
demon filled Samaritan!”
Jesus answered back, “I have not a
devil! I honour my Father, and you dishonour Me.
“I do not seek my own glory not mine
own glory!
“There is One
who seeks glory, and He also judges!
“If a man keeps My
sayings, he shall never die!
Here, we are reminded that Christians shall put on
immortality (1 Cor 15:53)!
The Jews continued to accuse Christ Jesus, “Now we know that
You have a devil!
“Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets, but You tell us that if a man keeps Your sayings, he shall never
taste of death?
“Are You greater than Abraham and
the Prophets, who are dead?
“Who are You claiming to be?”
If they had been listening, they would not have asked that
question!
Instead, they would have bowed and worshipped!
So, Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself it means nothing!
“My Father honors me! And, you claim
that He is your God!
“And yet you do not know Him!
“I know Him, and if I should say I
don’t know Him I shall be a liar like you!
“But, I know Him and keep His
saying.
“Your (physical) father, Abraham, rejoiced to see My
day!
“He saw it, and was glad!”
Then the Jews said, You aren’t yet
fifty years old, and yet You say that You have seen Abraham?”
Christ Jesus responded, “Truthfully
I tell you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
At that they picked up stones and perapre3d to throw them at
Christ, however Jesus hid Himself, and left the temple area going directly
through their midst!