John 8 - Jesus Addresses the Woman Caught in Adultery and Confirms His True Nature

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Woman Caught in Adultery

This story is another reason I like the gospel of John so much. Without John's gospel, we would not have this story about the woman caught in adultery. If you look at textual notes there is some disagreement on whether it should be included in the bible. Most early manuscripts do not include it, but other versions do including the Textus Receptus, which was used to write the King James Version and also Luther's German Bible.

“If we cannot feel that this is part of John’s Gospel we can feel that the story is true to the character of Jesus.” (Morris)

Bottom line is that everything in this passage is consistent with the way Jesus has dealt with sinners before like the woman at the well.  The context is the teachers of the Law and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus to try and test him. If he excused her, they said he would be disobeying Old Testament law. If condemned her, they would say he was heartless.

But Jesus called their bluff by telling them that the one without sin should be the first person to stone her. Jesus was writing on the ground with his finger, as he awaited their reply. Some think he might have been suggesting that he was writing down their sins one by one. Interestingly the men started walking away one by one starting with the oldest, presumably because he would have known his sinfulness more than the others. 

When Jesus was left alone with the woman, she may have been thinking, "Wow he is really going to let me have it now!" But instead he asked where her accusers went. Were there any left to condemn her? She replied, "No one sir".  Then he says, "Then neither do I". Later Paul will write in Romans, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ!"  Romans 8:1

Jesus was the only one who could have condemned her, but instead he offered her grace. But notice he did not stop there. He closed by saying, "Go and leave your life of sin!" 

Notice it was Jesus' grace that saved her, but her response to his grace would be to turn from what she knew was wrong. By grace she was forgiven, but it was not meant to enable to continue to live the same life of sin

Jesus says the same to us today. Whatever sin we struggle with, he forgives us by his grace. But that is not so we can return to sin more knowing he will continue to forgive us. This would be to take God's grace in vain. Paul addresses this in Romans when he says,  

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Roman 6:1-2

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

Jesus just proclaimed he was the light of the world, but they couldn't see it because they were caught up in the darkness. Normally Jesus would agree that a person's testimony about themselves could not be established as true, but he is not just any person. 

"Jesus can testify about Himself because He (and not they) had a view of eternity: I know where I came from and where I am going" - Guzik

He must give witness about Himself: no one else is qualified to give witness about His nature and about His essential work.” (Trench)

I am with the Father who sent Me: Though the religious leaders protested, Jesus was absolutely settled and secure in His identity, despite all the voices that told Him otherwise. This place of being settled and secure in one’s identity is a wonderful pattern for believers today. - Guzik

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

Jesus continued by telling them that where he was going they could not come. He told them they would die in their sins. Then, he moves to saying that if they won't believe in him, they will die in their sins. Next, he points to the fact everything he says is from the Father and that is why his judgment of the world is correct. 

If we follow Jesus on earth, we will follow Him to heaven. If we express no desire to follow Him on earth, what would make us think we would follow Him to heaven? - Guzik

 It is easy to say, “I always do the will of the Father” when you only debate theological points. It is another thing entirely to “always do the will of the Father” when it means going to the cross. The cross would prove the perfect obedience of Jesus. - Guzik

This section ends with the words, "Even as he spoke many believed in him." 

Jesus’ message of His unity with the Father was so well received by some because His life was consistent with the message. Unlike the Pharisees, one could see that Jesus was close to God. The Pharisees cultivated an image of intimacy with God, but it was evident they were not actually close to God. - Guzik

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

This is a great verse worthy of memorizing.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

It gets at the core of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. If we follow Jesus, we should live by his teachings. Though Jesus taught publicly, like in the Sermon on the Mount, a lot of his lessons happened as he lived his life. His life was a textbook on how to live the life you've always wanted. Importantly as we listen to and obey how Jesus teaches how to live, we are set free. Jesus is not teaching us slavish obedience to rules, he teaches principles on how to love God and love others as greater than ourselves. 

Do you hold to Jesus' teaching? If someone were to watch your life on a regular basis would they come to this conclusion? None of us our perfect that is for sure. This is not saying you live a sin free life, but does the basic pattern of your life show you to be a Christ follower? 

Along with this you might ask yourself, "Am I living in the freedom Jesus has given me as I obey his teaching?" When we buy into the lies of our enemy it keeps us trapped into old ways of thinking and old lies and tapes we play over and over in our head like, "I'm not good enough" Or, "I always mess things up". The devil wants to keep us in bondage even if we are a Christian, and maybe even more so to keep us from drawing other people to Christ. 

Jesus confirms this thought, when he says,  “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

This is when Jesus gets into a "back and forth" with the Jews about being descendants of Abraham. Instead of accepting Jesus as the One who was a fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham, they were using this argument as a way of resisting Jesus. 

At the root of their resistance is the spiritual battle they are undergoing, which they don't even realize. Jesus says, 

"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,"

Note Jesus is explicity teaching on the nature of the devil and his lies. Nowhere else in the gospels is he is so explicit. 

“This verse is one of the most decisive testimonies for the objective personality of the devil. It is quite impossible to suppose an accommodation to Jewish views, or a metaphorical form of speech, in so solemn and direct an assertion as this.” (Alford)

Jesus gives us some insight into the character of Satan. The lie is core to the devil’s character, and he is the deceiver most dangerous of all – the deceiver who has deceived himself. - Guzik

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

Then the Jews try to go "tit for tat" with him and accuse him of being demon possessed. When he refers to Abraham as rejoicing in him, they say, "You are not yet fifty years old and you say you have seen Abraham?" 

Then Jesus says something which clearly shows his belief that he is not only human but God.

He says, "Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Once again, as we noted a couple of chapters back when Jesus says, "I am", he is using the Greek words "ego eimi", which is the same word in Hebrew which means "Yahweh", or the "Lord". It is the divine name, which is why the Jews picked up stones to kill him. The gauntlet has been laid down!

I AM: This is the third time in this chapter Jesus uses the phrase I AM (John 8:24, 8:28), and here in John 8:58. The ancient Greek phrase is ego emi, which was the same term used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Jesus’ day to describe the Voice from the burning bush. “All the previous lightning flashes pale into significance before the blaze of this passage.” (Barclay)