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| Chapter 8 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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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 said 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 testing Him, that they might have cause 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 Himself up 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 who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the eldest even unto the last, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted Himself up 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." 12 ¶ Then spoke 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 they said 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 spoke 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 Jesus said 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 they said unto Him, "Who art thou?" And Jesus said 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 spoke 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 spoke those words, many believed in Him. 31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed in 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 are 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 said 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 from God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We are 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 convicteth 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 the Jews answered 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 honor My Father, and ye do dishonor 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, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom makest thou thyself?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father that honoreth 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 they took 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. |
v1-11 The woman taken in adultery. This story does not appear in all of the original manuscript copies and where it does appear it is not found in this position, some Bible experts therefore wonder if it was in the original John’s Gospel, however, the story is obviously true and is felt that it is inspired Scripture. This is a sad story as the Jewish leaders are out to trap the Messiah and give them more evidence that He was not the Messiah, they thought that if He told them to stone the woman it would show He was heartless, if He said "let her go" then He would not be obeying the Laws, but they did not know He knew their hearts or the heart of God and His grace. All it does is show the wickedness of all men. v1-11 Jesus came into the temple to teach but was interrupted by the Pharisees and scribes. They had brought a woman who had been ‘caught in the act of adultery.’ If the Pharisees had really wanting true justice then they would have also brought the man involved in the adultery, it would be doubtful if one would have been caught without the other, possibly the man was part of the plot. The Law required both parties to be stoned. (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). The ministry of Jesus was showing that He was "friend of sinners," if He said "stone her" would show He did not really have a message of forgiveness. If He said "Let her go," then He would be breaking the Law. v6 It is a waste of time to guess what Jesus wrote in the sand, because of what happens next some Bible students feel that He was writing a list of sins, but we are not told. What He said is really the point that convicted them. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,"v7. It moved the attention from Jesus to the Pharisees, "without any sin," not necessarily the sin in question. The words of Jesus were soon having an effect, the Pharisees conscience began to work, the eldest having more things on their conscience left first. Only two people were left, the sinner and the Friend of sinners. Jesus could have cast the stone as He was sinless but He was more concerned with the future of the sinner than seeing that the law was satisfied. "Neither do I condemn you," may sound wrong but "go, and sin no more." shows that He had read her heart and it was full of sorrow for her action. Instead of judging the woman He passed judgement onto the judges. There actions showed how much they were hypocrites, willing to condemn others but not judge themselves. The Law was given to show our sin Rom 3:20, then we can claim God’s Grace and forgiveness. Conviction comes before conversion. v12- 20 The Light of the world. This passage contains the second "I AM" statement "I am the Light of the world." Life in this world is very dependant upon light, the Jews thought of the sun as a symbol of God, the center and source of life. "God is light," 1 John 1:5, the presence of God’s light shows man’s wickedness. If we believe (follow) we will have the light of the world and life. Those who do not believe walk in darkness. John 3:15ff. v13-16 There must have been other Pharisees than those with the woman, they now challenge Jesus,"You cannot be a witness for yourself by claiming to be the light of world," by making this statement they knew He was claiming to be God. In a Jewish court a person is not allowed to be a witness to themselves. Jesus replied that He could be a witness for Himself as He knows and controls where He came from and where He is going, you are still judging as a man, though I do not judge people if I did my judgement is perfect for the Father helps with the Judgement. v17-18 Your law calls for two people to act as witnesses Deut 17:6 Deut 19:15; Num 35:30, I and my Father are two witnesses. v19 The leaders still could not grasp what He was saying, "Where is your Father?" Jesus replied "You do not recognize who I am so you will not recognize my Father or know Him." It is so sad that the so called experts of the Law did not know the originator of this Law, did not know His Word, His love or His Son Jesus The Christ. John 5:38. Only blind people cannot see the ‘light.’ v20 The Father is still protecting His Son, ‘His hours was not yet come.’ v21-30 They still do not understand. Jesus had previously mentioned that He was to leave soon John 7:33-34 but they had not understood. Once again He repeats the warning, he was soon to leave and they will not be able to follow. He told them that they were wasting their time arguing with Him when they should be trusting Him and learning what it is all about. "All that is going to happen is you will die in your sins." v24. v25-27 "Who are you?" It is sad that these religious ‘experts’ should ask this question, they had seen Him at work, had seen plenty of evidence as to who He was, that’s why he responded "I am who I say I am. I have given you all the proof you need." They could not even understand when He spoke about God the Father, their eye’s were totally blind to the God they were supposed to be worshipping. v28-29 Jesus now talks about His future, His own death, when He would be ‘lifted up’ on a cross. ‘Lifted up’ can have two meanings, ‘to die on the cross, to suffer’ or ‘to be glorified and exalted.’ Jesus said that this will show who He is. He also made two claims that God the Father was with Him and that He was doing what the Father wanted Him to do. There was something about what He said that made many believe. Yet the following verses show that it may not be a full belief. v31-47 Free or not. v31,32 Jesus tells those who believe that they must continue in His teaching, to continue in ‘His Word,’ then they will really be His disciples, know the truth and be free. v33-34 Was it the new believers who misunderstood ‘freedom,’ because they were thinking of their physical and not their spiritual condition or were other Jews taking over?. "We are Abraham’s descendants (physical) and have always been freemen." but Jesus was talking about spiritual freedom. If you are born of God then you will share God’s nature 2 Peter 1:1-4. If Satan is your father, then you share his evil nature. Abraham’s descendants were actually not free men at all. The Old Testament records show that for many times they were either captive or slaves of other nations, for example, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and right then the Romans. v31,36 and also v38-43. Note that the ‘freedom’ comes from the Word of the Son. v35 A servant does not become part of the family, they may live in the house but do not have the rights or future of a son of the family. v37-40 The Jewish leaders, claimed freedom and be descendants from Abraham, but Jesus tells them that as they wanted to kill Him then they cannot be like Abraham who was a "Friend of God," they were rejecting the truth. v41-47 The behaviour of the religious leaders showed that their father was in fact Satan, they rejected the truth v40, did not love God, v42, could not understand the words of Jesus, v43,47. They may have been getting at what they believed was the birth of Jesus "We are not born of fornication." Satan was a liar and murderer from the beginning, it was his lies that made Adam and Eve disobey God and was now blinding the Jewish leaders to the truth. v48-59 Personal attacks. v48 The Jews now turned to personal insults, to be called a ‘Samaritan’ was a big insult, and further say "he was demon controlled" added to this insult. v49 Jesus chooses to ignore the racial insult. "I am here to honour the Father." Often religion becomes an ‘admiration group’ for one person, seeking the praise of men only, Jesus aim was to give glory to His father. Christ must be the center of all faith, "if a man keep My saying, he shall never see death." What an invitation to these people who were so insulting to Him. He had said this before yet still they could not understand or accept the words. v52-54 "Abraham and all the prophets are dead, are you greater than these?" By claiming that He had power over death Jesus was claiming to be God, making this claim they consider blasphemy and worthy of death, Jesus did not claim honour for Himself, it was being given by His Father. They should have been full of joy to know that He had this power over death, but they rejected Him and His Father, their religious behaviour did not even give honour to the Father. v55-59 They accused Jesus of being a liar but He was keeping God’s commandments, it was them, who did not know the Father, who were the liars. v56 Abraham was not given a special vision but he was involved in God’s plan, the miraculous birth of Isaac. He saw ‘Calvary’ when he offered Isaac and God provided the lamb as a substitute for the sacrifice(Gen 22). Abraham was happy to see the day. v57 "How can you have seen Abraham when you are not even 50 years old?" Jesus reply is another ‘I AM,’ the title the Jews knew was God’s. "Blasphemy" was on their lips as they reached for stones to stone Him, but they could not find Him. Who is your Father? Whose child are you? God or Satan? your choice means life or death. |
Easy English Translation
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