John 8

The Woman Caught in Adultery

1-11 Early in the morning Jesus is teaching people at the temple

Scribes and Pharisees:[As a test, bringing in a woman caught in the act of adultery]: Should she be stoned according to the law?

Jesus [After bending down to write on the ground and standing back up.] Let him without sin throw the first stone.

Jesus bends down again. When he stands again, they are all gone. With none there to condemn her, he tells the woman to go her way and stop sinning.

Jesus the Light of the World

12-14 Jesus: I have the light of life,

The Pharisees: You’re testifying on your own behalf.

Jesus: My testimony is valid because I know better than you do where I have come from.

15-19 Jesus: My judgment and testimony are valid, because my Father judges with me and testifies on my behalf.

Pharisees: Where is your Father?

Jesus: If you knew me, you would know my Father.

20 This conversation takes place in the treasury of the temple. They don’t arrest him because his time has not yet come.

Jesus Foretells His Death

21-29 Jesus: I go away. You may search, but you will die in your sins, because you cannot come where I go.

Jews: Will he kill himself?

Jesus: You are worldly, and I am not. You will die in your sins because you refuse to believe that I am He.

Jews: Who are you?

Jesus: Why do I bother with you? There is so much about you I could condemn, but I will speak only what I have been sent to say.

Jews: Who sent you?

Jesus: After you have lifted up the Son of Man, you’ll know that I am He, that the Father has instructed me, that He has not left me alone, that I do what pleases Him.

30 This conversation causes many there to believe in Him.

True Disciples

31-38 Jesus [to Jews who believe]: If you continue, you are true disciples. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Jews: But as children of Abraham, we are already free! They seem to have no concept of the spiritual dimension.

Jesus: When you sin, you become a slave to sin. As in a physical household, only the Son can free you. You want to kill me because my word has no place in you. I declare the Father to you; you should do what your Father has told you.

Jesus and Abraham

39-58 Jews: “Abraham is our father.” They saw not God but Abraham as their father, viewing their physical heritage as most important. As far as they were concerned, they were doing everything – and more – required of their Jewish traditions.

Jesus: Abraham wouldn’t try to kill me. But you’re right. You are doing what your father does.

Jews: We are not illegitimate; God is our father.

Jesus: If that were true, you would love me, because He sent me. You don’t understand nor accept me, because your real father is the devil, who is a liar and a murderer. That’s why you don’t believe me, even though I tell the truth. None of you can convict me of any sin.

Jews: You are a Samaritan and a demon.

Jesus: I don’t have a demon; I honor my Father. Though you dishonor me, I don’t seek my own glory; the one who does seek it will be the judge. Whoever keeps my word will not die.

Jews: You do have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died. Are you greater than they are? “Who do you claim to be”?

Jesus: My Father – the One you claim as your God -- will glorify me. Unlike you, I do know Him. If I were deny that, I would be a liar like you. “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day.” In this confrontation, Jesus is ensuring that the ultimate will of God – his death and resurrection – will take place.

Jews: You’re not even fifty years old! And you saw Abraham?

Jesus: “Before Abraham was, I am.” This is clearly a claim of divinity. Coffman’s comment:

The majestic "I AM" with which Jesus concluded this confrontation suggests God's "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14), and there can be no reasonable denial that Jesus here claimed equality with God.… A check of the teachings in this chapter reveals that Jesus presented himself as one with Almighty God no less than a dozen times. Fittingly, it should be concluded with the greatest of John's "I am's," but which, for some incredible reason, is never listed in the "seven"!

59 They try to stone him, but he hides and leaves the temple. They clearly understand his claim and would consider it blasphemy.