John 8

 

What Jesus taught is eternal

 

1 Jesus went to the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They said to him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such be stoned: but what do you say? 6 They said this tempting him so that they might have something to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

 

  • Adultery requires two people—where was the man? He should be stoned also! Did the Pharisees set this woman up? They were desperate to trap Jesus into some error for which they could stone Him because ‘all the people came to Him’ to listen. Could the reason He wrote on the ground be because of Jeremiah 17:13, a warning to them?
  • Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.
  • Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away.

 

The Lord does not condemn but saves all who believe

 

So when they continued asking him, he lifted himself up, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And he stooped down again, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they that heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the oldest, even to the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted himself up and saw none but the woman, he said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.

 

  • Men are redeemed and declared just by the same death that condemned Satan—The death of the Son of the Almighty Son of God for the sins of the world.
  • Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
  • Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

Jesus is the light of the world

 

12  Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 13Therefore the Pharisees said to him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true 14 Jesus answered and said to them, Though I bear record of myself, my record is still true: because I know from where I came, and where I go; but you cannot tell where I come from and where I go. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no man. 16 But if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

 

  • God who knows all the facts.
  • He’s the only one with pure motives.
  • He’s the only one who has everyone’s best interest at heart.
  • Jesus was one with the Father in all that He said and did.
  • 1John 3:20 …God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

 

17  It is written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me. 19 Then they said to him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me or my Father: if you knew me, you would have known my Father also. 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour had not yet come.

 

  • The miracles were the Father's testimony.
  • The hour that had not come was the hour to bear the punishment of the wrath of God for all sins.

 

21  Then Jesus said to them again, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come. 22 Then the Jews said, Will he kill himself? Because he said, Where I go, you cannot come. 23 And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.

 

  • God made man of the dust of the ground…Genesis 2:7.
  • Jesus came from the throne of glory and was going back to the throne of glory.
  • Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and on the throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from his loins upward, and from his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

 

Jesus said and did nothing of Himself; all was from the eternal Father

 

24  Therefore I said to you, that you will die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you will die in your sins. 25 Then said they to him, Who are you? And Jesus said to them, As I said to 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 that I have heard from him. 27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.

 

  • God promised the world a Savior when Adam fell.
  • 'Lifted up' means crucified. When He was crucified they would know that He was from heaven because He would be resurrected on the third day and seen alive by many witnesses.
  • At that time it would not be too late for them to believe on Him.
  • Jesus said, If you don’t believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
  • Israel was the custodian of God’s truth but didn’t know God’s truth.
  • Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
  • Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…

 

The Father stayed with Jesus throughout His earthly life

 

29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I always do those things that please him. 30 As he spoke these words many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

 

  • Jesus is specific about this. If we continue in His word we are His disciples.
  • His words to us began in Genesis 1, because according to John 1 it was Jesus who spoke creation into being.
  • His last words to us are in Revelation 22:20 Surely, I come quickly.
  • 2 Corinthians  5:19 … God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…
  • John 15:7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
  • John 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

 

33  They answered him, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how do you say, You shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Truth, I tell you the truth, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the house forever: but the Son remains forever. 36 If the Son then sets you free, you are really free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with my Father: and you do what you have seen with your father.

 

  • What Jesus spoke was from the Father.
  • Jesus is our way to the Father.
  • Since He will always be with the Father, so will we.
  • He sets free from sin, from thinking and serving what is false and not profitable.
  • They were trying to kill him, and denying it. The devil was a murderer from the beginning (verse 44).

 

39 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth that I heard from God: Abraham did not do this. 41 You 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 to them, If God were your Father you would love me: for I went out and came from God; I did not come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand my speech? Because you cannot hear my words. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

  • Jesus said this to the religious leaders, not His followers or the common people.
  • To understand being ‘of your father, the devil’ we must look to the beginning.
  • God created Satan. Satan was the anointed Cherub that covered the throne of God.
  • He chose to be proud, rather than grateful.
  • He wouldn’t bow to God or obey God (Isaiah 14:13-15).
  • He filled his need not by God’s love and provision, but by taking things that belong to God.
  • The Pharisees were following that same pattern.

 

Jesus honored the Father and sought His glory

 

45  And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He that is of God hears God’s words: you do not hear them because you are not of God. 48 Then the Jews answered and said to him, Are we not right when to say you are a Samaritan, and have a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I do not have a devil; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.

 

  • Jesus never took an offering to the temple because He was the Savior that the offerings taught about and He never sinned. He was pointing that out to the Pharisees.
  • 1Corinthians 2:14 the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God: they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  • John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

 

51 Truth, I tell you the truth, If a man keeps my word, he will in no way see death. 52 Then the Jews said to him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead: whom do you make yourself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God: 55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I say, I do not know him, I would be a liar like you: but I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Truth, I tell you the truth, 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.

 

  • When Jesus said ‘I am.’ He was claiming to be Jehovah, JHWH, the God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush and did all the works of the Old Testament.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:19 … God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
  • Colossians 2:9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
  • John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, except by me.

 

                                                  John 9

 

Jesus makes the blind see

 

1 And as Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him saying, Master, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, or his parents: but that the works of God would be shown in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had said this he spit on the ground and made clay of the spit, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is interpreted, Sent.) So he went and washed and came seeing.

 

  • The trouble was not from sin but to show the works of God.
  • We are all born spiritually blind. God’s word is the light to open our eyes (Psalm 119:105).
  • 1Chronicles 16:23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; … 24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.

 

The neighbors and those who had seen before that he was blind said, Isn’t this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they to him, How were your eyes opened? 11 He answered and said, A man called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash: and I went and washed and I received sight. 12 Then said they to him, Where is he? He said, I do not know. 13 They brought the one once blind to the Pharisees. 14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

 

  • Instead of rejoicing with the man blind from birth who could now see, they brought him in for questioning.
  • Jesus didn’t compromise to please the religious crowd. He healed people all week long and didn’t refrain because it would provoke the leaders.
  • He directly challenged their false notions and superficial ways.

 

15  Then also the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed and see. 16 Then some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

 

  • They were so tied up in the rules that they missed the point. Only God could have done this!

 

17  They said to the blind man again, What do you say about him that he has opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But we do not know by what means he now sees; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know: he is of age; ask him: he will speak for himself. 22 His parents spoke these words because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed, that if any man confessed that he was Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.

 

  • People who were kicked out of the church (put out of the synagogue) could not do business.
  • Like evil in the book of Revelation they could not buy or sell (without the mark of the beast). This was pure evil. The leaders legislated God out of His own house.
  • Revelation 13:16 And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell unless he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

23  Because of this his parents said, He is of age; ask him. 24 Then again they called the man that was blind, and said to him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

 

  • By giving credit for his healing to Jesus, the man was giving God the praise.
  • The Pharisees called Jesus a sinner because he didn’t measure up to their standard, not God’s standard. They were the ones who were blind, sinful, and evil.

 

God does not hear the sinful but hears the God-fearing who do His will

 

25  He answered and said, Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know: one thing I know, I was blind, now I see. 26 Then they said to him again, What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and you did not hear: why do you wish to hear it again? Will you also become his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, You are his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses: as for this fellow, we do not know where he is from. 30 The man answered and said to them, This is a marvel! You do not know where he is from, and yet he has opened my eyes. 31 And we know that God does not hear sinful ones: but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he hears him. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

 

  • Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
  • Luke 16:31 And he said to him, If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.


34 They answered and said to him, You were altogether born in sins, and you teach us? And they cast him out/excommunicated. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said to him, Do you believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said to him, You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

 

  • Matthew 18:12 What do you think? if a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains, and seek the one that has is gone astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep, than of the ninety-nine which went not astray.

 

39  And Jesus said, I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see; and those that see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees that with him heard these words and said to him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains.

 

  • The Pharisees claimed to know God but were leading the people to destruction.
  • Matthew 7:23 And then I will profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
  • Luke 11:9 And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.
  • John 5:22 the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son:

 

 

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SUMMARY: John 8-9

 

  • What Jesus taught is eternal
  • The Lord does not condemn but saves all who believe
  • Jesus is the light of the world
  • Jesus said and did nothing of Himself; all was from the eternal Father
  • The Father stayed with Jesus throughout His earthly life
  • Jesus honored the Father and sought His glory

  • Jesus makes the blind see

  • God does not hear the sinful but hears the God-fearing who do His will