Bible Reading
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 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.” 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 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. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 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.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 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.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 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?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. 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. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 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 obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 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.” 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 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. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 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.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 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.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 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?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. 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. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 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 obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Devotional
Chapter 8 begins with a famous passage where a women caught in the act of adultery is brought before Jesus. It’s an incredible and heart-wrenching story which is valuable to read and study. Often the remainder of the chapter is overshadowed by the events of the beginning of this chapter. Instead of focusing on this well-known story, I want to shift our attention to the interesting conversation Jesus had with a mixed crowd of believers and Pharisees. There are many well-known individual verses in this section, but most people who quote those verses have no idea of the context surrounding them.
Jesus first directs a bold statement to those who have recently begun to follow and believe in Him. He offers them a next step, a movement from simply being believers to becoming disciples. Those who would become His disciples are described as those who abide in His Word. To abide means to live in, to dwell in and to make your home in His word. Many people find their identity in their physical home, it is reflection of who they are, and this is exactly what Jesus means with this word. We are to find our identity in the Word - which is Jesus Christ Himself. The end result of this movement is that you would know the truth, and by knowing the truth you would be set free. What does truth set you free from? From lies, deception and the bondage that always results from those believing those lies. There is nothing like the freedom we can have in Jesus. No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no works can earn it, and nothing can match it. It is a tragic thing that not every Christian experiences this freedom, which can never be found except by abiding in God’s word and walking as a true disciple of Jesus.
Some of the more religious people listening to Jesus speak reply by making an absurd claim. They claim they don’t need the freedom Jesus offers because they are not, and have never been, in bondage. Anyone with a grasp of history (which they had) would have seen this claim to be false and ridiculous. The Jewish people had been in bondage under Egypt, the Philistines, and Babylon, Persia, and Syria. Even in that very moment they were in bondage and occupation by the Roman empire. This was clearly a willful disregard of their own history, a statement born of pride.
Jesus could have refuted their statement, but instead artfully shifts the conversation to focus on the spiritual aspects of sin and what a lifestyle of sin leads to. Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin; Sin in this passage is in a verb tense indicating a habitual, continual action. The person in habitual sin becomes a slave to that sin and slavery to sin is the worst kind of slavery, because there is no escape from our self. Wherever you go, there you are. A Son must set us free, and the Son of God sets us free and brings us back into the household of God. This is where Jesus asserts His authoritative role into the conversation; He is the Son who desires to set all men free from the bonds of sin. If we are set free from our slavery to sin – set free by a Son, and set free by abiding in Jesus’ word and being His disciple – then we are free indeed, having a true freedom found only in being connected to the living Word of God. The slave of sin cannot by himself change his status. He cannot convert or liberate himself, nor can he be converted by any fellow-sinner. The liberator from our bondage must come from outside the ranks of enslaved humanity.
While many of the Pharisees who oppose Jesus focus on their physical descendancy from Abraham, Jesus once again turns to the spiritual realm and claims that they are really offspring of their father the Devil who is deceiving them and blinding their hearts with lies and deception. What a bold and potentially dangerous thing to say! Their rejection of the word of Jesus proved they were not like Abraham, and that they did not have the true and complete freedom that comes from abiding in His word.
The pharisees attempt to discredit Jesus by claiming that, unlike them, Jesus is an illegitimate child. They most likely were aware of who Jesus was and the mystery surrounding his birth. They would use whatever they could to try to discredit His message in the crowded setting, even referring to Him as a bastard with no real authority. Soon after, they would accuse Jesus of being Samaritan and being possessed by a demon. More lies from desperate men. Jesus speaks directly to the identity of His heavenly Father as well as the parentage of the Pharisees. Their father was the devil because they were attempting to do exactly what the devil does: steal, kill and destroy through lies, manipulation and deception. Satan is a deceiver from the beginning, whose first victim was himself. The Pharisees, desperate to discredit Jesus and find a way to entrap and arrest Him, jump on anything Jesus says. Jesus is aware of what they are attempting to do, but will not shy away from revealing who He is. The fuse is lit when Jesus says this statement: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The Pharisees would have been very familiar with what Jesus was saying, which is why they pick up rocks to stone Him. These were the words that God Himself spoke to Abraham from the burning bush. God revealed Himself as the great I Am. Jesus was declaring that He and His Father in Heaven were one. Jesus was also the great I AM and equal to His Father in Heaven. With this dramatic phrase, Jesus told them that He was the eternal God, existing not only during the time of Abraham, but before unto eternity past. Jesus claimed to be the great I AM, the voice of the covenant God of Israel and the authority even to all the Pharisees hearing His words. This claim gave only two options to the listener and eliminated riding on the fence as a safe option. Either you believed Jesus was from and therefore equal with God in Heaven, or Jesus was blasphemous in his assertion to be equal with God and deserved to die.
The choice for the Pharisees was easy because their hearts were already pitted against Jesus. They took up stones to kill Him, but Jesus’ hour had not yet come, so they could do nothing. The same ultimatum stands for you and I today. Jesus is either a blasphemous liar or He is who He claimed to be. Which is it?
Jesus first directs a bold statement to those who have recently begun to follow and believe in Him. He offers them a next step, a movement from simply being believers to becoming disciples. Those who would become His disciples are described as those who abide in His Word. To abide means to live in, to dwell in and to make your home in His word. Many people find their identity in their physical home, it is reflection of who they are, and this is exactly what Jesus means with this word. We are to find our identity in the Word - which is Jesus Christ Himself. The end result of this movement is that you would know the truth, and by knowing the truth you would be set free. What does truth set you free from? From lies, deception and the bondage that always results from those believing those lies. There is nothing like the freedom we can have in Jesus. No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no works can earn it, and nothing can match it. It is a tragic thing that not every Christian experiences this freedom, which can never be found except by abiding in God’s word and walking as a true disciple of Jesus.
Some of the more religious people listening to Jesus speak reply by making an absurd claim. They claim they don’t need the freedom Jesus offers because they are not, and have never been, in bondage. Anyone with a grasp of history (which they had) would have seen this claim to be false and ridiculous. The Jewish people had been in bondage under Egypt, the Philistines, and Babylon, Persia, and Syria. Even in that very moment they were in bondage and occupation by the Roman empire. This was clearly a willful disregard of their own history, a statement born of pride.
Jesus could have refuted their statement, but instead artfully shifts the conversation to focus on the spiritual aspects of sin and what a lifestyle of sin leads to. Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin; Sin in this passage is in a verb tense indicating a habitual, continual action. The person in habitual sin becomes a slave to that sin and slavery to sin is the worst kind of slavery, because there is no escape from our self. Wherever you go, there you are. A Son must set us free, and the Son of God sets us free and brings us back into the household of God. This is where Jesus asserts His authoritative role into the conversation; He is the Son who desires to set all men free from the bonds of sin. If we are set free from our slavery to sin – set free by a Son, and set free by abiding in Jesus’ word and being His disciple – then we are free indeed, having a true freedom found only in being connected to the living Word of God. The slave of sin cannot by himself change his status. He cannot convert or liberate himself, nor can he be converted by any fellow-sinner. The liberator from our bondage must come from outside the ranks of enslaved humanity.
While many of the Pharisees who oppose Jesus focus on their physical descendancy from Abraham, Jesus once again turns to the spiritual realm and claims that they are really offspring of their father the Devil who is deceiving them and blinding their hearts with lies and deception. What a bold and potentially dangerous thing to say! Their rejection of the word of Jesus proved they were not like Abraham, and that they did not have the true and complete freedom that comes from abiding in His word.
The pharisees attempt to discredit Jesus by claiming that, unlike them, Jesus is an illegitimate child. They most likely were aware of who Jesus was and the mystery surrounding his birth. They would use whatever they could to try to discredit His message in the crowded setting, even referring to Him as a bastard with no real authority. Soon after, they would accuse Jesus of being Samaritan and being possessed by a demon. More lies from desperate men. Jesus speaks directly to the identity of His heavenly Father as well as the parentage of the Pharisees. Their father was the devil because they were attempting to do exactly what the devil does: steal, kill and destroy through lies, manipulation and deception. Satan is a deceiver from the beginning, whose first victim was himself. The Pharisees, desperate to discredit Jesus and find a way to entrap and arrest Him, jump on anything Jesus says. Jesus is aware of what they are attempting to do, but will not shy away from revealing who He is. The fuse is lit when Jesus says this statement: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The Pharisees would have been very familiar with what Jesus was saying, which is why they pick up rocks to stone Him. These were the words that God Himself spoke to Abraham from the burning bush. God revealed Himself as the great I Am. Jesus was declaring that He and His Father in Heaven were one. Jesus was also the great I AM and equal to His Father in Heaven. With this dramatic phrase, Jesus told them that He was the eternal God, existing not only during the time of Abraham, but before unto eternity past. Jesus claimed to be the great I AM, the voice of the covenant God of Israel and the authority even to all the Pharisees hearing His words. This claim gave only two options to the listener and eliminated riding on the fence as a safe option. Either you believed Jesus was from and therefore equal with God in Heaven, or Jesus was blasphemous in his assertion to be equal with God and deserved to die.
The choice for the Pharisees was easy because their hearts were already pitted against Jesus. They took up stones to kill Him, but Jesus’ hour had not yet come, so they could do nothing. The same ultimatum stands for you and I today. Jesus is either a blasphemous liar or He is who He claimed to be. Which is it?