CHAPTER 8

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.

The Mount of Olives is East of Jerusalem, about 1 mile.
Jesus often went there when He was staying in Jerusalem.
On the East side of the Mount of Olives was Bethany, where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived.
On the West side of the Mount of Olives was the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus often prayed.

Jesus came to the temple early in the morning, and sat down.
People would naturally gather round Him, and He always taught them.

When one comes close to Jesus, He will TEACH!

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 say 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, tempting him, that they might have 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 up himself, 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 which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, 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.

This incident shows the despicable lowness of those who proudly called themselves leaders of Judaism!

First, notice they rudely interrupted a lesson Jesus was teaching with a graphic demonstration of prejudicial treatment.
Here, they brought the woman caught in the act of adultery; but where was the man with whom she was caught?!?
The law of the Old Testament stated that BOTH were to be stoned!! (See Leviticus 20:10)
This is an indication of the manner in which women were treated in that day.

Women were mostly considered as property!
And, THAT, is exactly WHY God gave Moses the law of divorce!
When God gave Moses the law, men were being boorish toward their wives.
If they displeased them, in any way, then they would just throw the wife's clothes out.
Or, some men would just make life so hard at home, the woman would have to leave.
She then would be left at the mercy of others.
If her father wouldn't take her back, she was in big trouble.
Work was hard to find for a divorced woman.
And, since there was no clarification by a "bill of divorce," then she could not marry again.
The woman literally became the "scourge" of society.
God knew this treatment of women was unfair!
And the whole reason for the "bill of divorce" was to give the woman a fair chance in society.

And, see here, they wanted to put the woman to death; but didn't even BRING the man!

Jesus stooped and wrote with His finger.

Then, He said, "Whoever of you is WITHOUT sin, let HIM cast the first stone!"
This opens a whole new discussion of "the law!"
Sins are categorized and detailed as to severity of punishment in the Old Testament.
Some were punishable by DEATH! Others weren't.

However, IS one sin greater than another?
From where does sin stem?
From disassociation with and disobedience to God!
No amount of self-righteousness can repay ONE sin before God!!
Isaiah said, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; ( Isa 64:6).

From this perhaps comes the old adage of "the pot calling the kettle black!"

The scribes and Pharisees "continued" to ask Jesus if the woman shouldn't be stoned.
AGAIN, Jesus stooped and wrote with His finger.
Take particular notice of the word "ground."
It is derived from the Greek ge, prounounced ghay.
This word can mean soil, ground, or - it can mean - the whole extension of the earth.

Here's where I somewhat differ from most commentators.
You can choose to differ with me, and that's ok.

But, at this time, the Scripture has already noted that Jesus was in "the temple" (See verse 2 above; also see verse 20 below).
The "extension" of the ground in the temple was MARBLE!
And that marble was cleanly swept each morning!

There has been much conjecture about WHAT Jesus wrote.
I contend that the major thing here is that Jesus WROTE!!
This is the ONLY time in Scripture that Jesus wrote anything.
Now, since He wrote in the floor of the temple, would He not be SHOWING them that He was God in flesh?
Remember, God wrote, with His finger, the tables of stone for Moses (See Deuteronomy 9:10)

I just can't help but think this writing is what caused the accusers to be "convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."!!
It was not that they were ashamed because He wrote their sins;
But that they feared, seeing Him write WHERE He wrote!

Jesus indeed knew that what the woman had done was SIN, for He told her, "Go, and sin no more."
Jesus also knew that men are prone to point publicly at someone else's sin while excusing their own sin.

But, more importantly, Jesus knew how to use the Word of God to thwart attempts of His enemies, and grant mercy to sinners!
After all, Jesus IS the "Living Word" of God; and, it is HE Who grants mercy to sinners!

12 Then spake 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.

The rude interruption by the calloused scribes and Pharisees over, Jesus continued His teaching.

Christ is our "Light" because He alone can show us REAL LIFE!
REAL LIFE is ONLY found in a genuine and intimate relationship with God!
Our very life (being) comes from God.
Jesus is the "light" Who shows us the way of life with God!

Man! Those Pharisees were ALWAYS around chiding and deriding!
They wanted to hear someone else with authority say the same as Jesus.
The law did require that, in criminal cases, one witness was not enough.
But this was no criminal case!

Jesus answered that He KNEW "whence" He came (from where He came)!
He also knew where He was GOING!
But those Pharisees didn't have a clue about that!
They weren't qualified to judge Jesus on where He had come from, or what His mission on earth was. (See John 6:38 and John 3:11)

They had not seen God, and obviously they did not KNOW Him - or they would have known Jesus!
They judged people by appearances and preconceived opinions.

Jesus said, "I judge no man."
His entrance into the world THAT time was to offer the payment for forgiveness, and thus offer eternal salvation through Him. (See John 3:17)
Jesus did not, at that time, come for the purpose of determining the final place of any person.

HOWEVER, if in case He DID judge a man, that judgment would be absolute!
The reason is because Jesus is constantly IN the Father, and the Father is constantly IN Him! (See John 10:30)

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 said they 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.

The unimpeached witness of two men (according to Old Testament law) is enough proof for conviction.
Since this is the case, then Jesus HAD another witness!
God, the Father, had "witnessed" (testified to) Jesus' authority and power because God had worked in and through Jesus to heal the lame, blind, withered, and even to raise the dead!!

But, just as Jesus had said previously, these men determined by "flesh" (appearances).
They LIVED by the flesh, and did not know how to THINK spiritually!
If they truly knew God, they would have KNOWN that God's Spirit was testifying to the truth Jesus spoke!
God had even spoken aloud at Jesus' baptism (See Matthew 3:17)

Where was Jesus' "Father?"
Perhaps an appropriate "lighter-side" thought.
Two boys were sitting on the steps, next to the sidewalk, talking about God.
A man heard them, and stopped.
He said, "Son, I'll give you 25cents if you can tell me where God is."
The boys thought a moment.
Then, one of them answered, "Mister, I'll give you $5 if you can tell me where God AIN'T!"

20 These words spake 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 said Jesus 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.

As stated before (See discussion above on verses 3-11), Jesus was in "the temple;" and more particularly, verse 20 points out He was in the "treasury."
At that particular time, the temple was Herod's temple.
And, the "treasury" was a substitute for "court of the women."
It was the place where thirteen trumpet-shaped boxes were used to collect worshippers offerings.
It was in this place Jesus observed the woman drop in her "two mites." (See Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4)

Again, John points out (verse 20) that no one arrested Jesus because "...His hour was not yet come."
Jesus spoke and taught very boldly, no matter who was listening!
His teachings sometimes infuriated the leaders, but they were AFRAID to arrest Him. (See Matthew 21:4-6)
Later, God's Holy Spirit would allow that fear to be taken away, and they would arrest and crucify Jesus.
Which brings us to the next statement.

Jesus' "way" was through the cross and grave back to heaven!
About 30 years after He was crucified and resurrected, Jerusalem would be surrounded, burned, and torn apart.
They would "seek" the help of Messiah, but would not FIND Him, because they REJECTED Him!!

Note the double statement in verse 23.
Man is born IN sin, and remains constantly a sinner as long as he is in this world.
The only salvation from that sinful state is to be RECONCILED with God.
The only reconciliation a person can have with God is through surrender to Jesus as LORD!
I'm going to quote a pastor friend of mine from a devotion he did just recently.

"The most terrible and devastating fact in the universe is sin.
The cause of all trouble, the root of all sorrow, the dread of every man lies in this one small word—sin.
It has crippled the nature of man.
It has destroyed the inner harmony of man’s life.
It has robbed him of his nobility. It has caused man to be caught in the devil’s trap.
All mental disorders, all sicknesses, all perversions, all destruction, all wars find their original root in sin.
It causes madness in the brain, and poison in the heart.
It is described in the Bible as a fatal disease that demands a radical cure.
Sin is a tornado on the loose.
It is a hurricane gone wild.
It is a cancer eating at man’s soul.
It is a cesspool of corruption contaminating every idea of life.
So, why did Jesus come…?
“The Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10"
((Taken from Bro. James Prince, devotion September 23, 2011, WHY DID JESUS COME))

If they did not surrender to Jesus as the only viable means of ESCAPE from the slavery of sin,
Then, they would surely "die IN" their sin.
To die "IN" sin, and not be forgiven, is to face eternal condemnation!

Many today do not comprehend that Jesus is the ONLY way to escape the eternal slavery to sin!
Listen! Jesus not "a" way, or "one" way, He is the ONLY way!! (See John 14:6)(See also Acts 4:12)
Budda is DEAD, and his bones can be found; he did NOT ascend to glory!
Muhammad is DEAD, and his bones can be found; he did NOT ascend to glory!
And, no "cow" is gonna get ANYONE into heaven!

Jesus was crucified, placed in a tomb, and BODILY resurrected.
THEN, He BODILY ascended into glory!!
He is the ONLY One Who KNOWS the way!
And He's the ONLY One Who can forgive us and lead us into glory!

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith 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 spake 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.

The reason for the question, "Who art thou?" was to get Jesus to openly state that He was Messiah.
It was also a derogatory question.
If Jesus did NOT state openly that He was Messiah, then they would claim He had no authority to discredit them!

Now, Jesus said, "Even the same that I said unto you, from the beginning."
"THE BEGINNING" is translated from the Greek: ho arche.
Those words can be translated: the first, the majistrate, the beginning.
As you can see, Jesus READILY and OPENLY stated WHO He was!!

Jesus could have spoken many things to expose their sinfulness (verse 26a).
But He was sent into the world by the Father (verse 26b), and would only speak things leading to salvation (vs 26c).
The reason they did not understand that Jesus was sent by the Father (verse 27) was they refused Jesus as Messiah!

Later, when they had crucified Him, His resurrection would prove that He was Messiah.

Again (verse 29), Jesus verified that though He and the Father were separate in entity, they were unidivided and ONE with each other!

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on 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.

The manner in which Jesus spoke caused many to believe that He was indeed the Messiah.
So, he turned to those who believed and made a statement.
This statement encompasses a very foundational point about being saved.

The statement is: "IF ye CONTINUE in my Word, THEN are ye my disciples indeed."
The fact is: if a person is truly saved, they WILL "continue" in God's Word!!
The tree is known by its fruit!
When a person is saved, that person is "sealed" in the Holy Spirit of God (See Ephesians 1:13)
((At this point, you are invited to read a short book on this subject: SEALED IN HIS SPIRIT))

It is important to know, that once a person is saved, God's Holy Spirit moves in and takes up residence in the believer.
From that point on, the believer has an intense desire to study, learn and apply the Word of God to his/her life.

The Word of God IS truth!
And the truth of the Word of God leads one to know more deeply the Living Word of God, JESUS!
And Jesus is TRUTH!!

Jesus was telling the believers that if they were truly saved, their salvation would be demonstrated by continuing in the Word of God!
They would study, and learn that Jesus is the ONLY means of salvation!!
And, it is the same today!!

33 They answered him, We be 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 saith 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 of God: this did not Abraham.

AH! NOW we see why they had such difficulty believing Jesus was Messiah!
They believed that they were ALREADY spiritually saved because they were physical descendants of Abraham!
The only reason they believed in a Messiah was for PHYSICAL salvation from the rulers of the world!

But Jesus told them that if they EVER HAD sinned, they were SERVANTS of sin (verse 34).
And, no servant of sin can reside in God's house! (Verse 35a)
Only the SON OF GOD resides in the house of God eternally! (Verse 35b)

Therefore, all eternal judgment is left to the SON! (Verse 36a)
And, ONLY He can make a person spiritually free forever! (Verse 36b)

The fact of them being descendants of Abraham afforded them only a physical heritage.
And that heritage was corrupted by sin.
They had just ADMITTED sin!!
They told Jesus they had NEVER been in bondage!!
They were in bondage right then!
They were under the rule and power of the Roman government!

Here they were, descendents of Abraham and supposedly believing in Messiah to come.
But when He came, they just wanted to KILL Him!! (Verse 37a)
The REASON they wanted to kill Him was because they never allowed the written Word of God to lead them to the LIVING WORD of God! (Verse 37b)
Now Jesus puts them on a totally spiritual plane. (Verse 38)
His Father is God Almighty; their father is the DEVIL!

AGAIN, they referred to their physical lineage. (verse 39a)
But Jesus reminded them that Abraham "believed God!" (See Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; and James 2:23)
Once Abraham "believed God," he was surrendered to God, and did whatever God said!!

But these folk, didn't believe God about a Messiah coming to save them from the condemnation of sin.
They believed they were saved by physical lineage!
Jesus came, calling people to REPENTANCE, and showing they needed a Savior from spiritual sin!
And they refused to follow Him Who is God in the flesh!

Often, when I'm sharing the Gospel with a person who has never surrendered to Jesus, they will say:
"I don't need saving. I'm a good person. I've never stolen, committed adultery or murdered anyone. I treat people with respect."
But the Bible says "ALL have sinned..." (Rom. 3:23)
We ALL need a Savior Who will forgive our sins, and count us as His child!
And, when we BELIEVE that, then we'll "do the works of Abraham": FOLLOW JESUS!

Remember this: The God of the Old Testament (Jehovah, YHWH) is the Jesus of the New Testament!
See Isaiah 43:11)

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be 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 convinceth 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.

Jesus accounted their "deeds" (of wanting Him killed) as works of their "father," which was the devil! (See verse 44 )
They avowed they had only ONE Father -- God.

But Jesus told them that if they really loved God, if they really were aligned with God, they would LOVE the Son -- not HATE Him!!
Even now, Jesus was telling them TRUTH, yet they would not believe.
They could find no sin in Jesus' life!
Yet, they refused to believe Him.

Can ANYONE find sin in the life of Jesus? NO!
Then, why doesn't the whole world BELIEVE Him!
Because they don't want to surrender their lives to Him!!

If any person is truly a believer in God, He will LISTEN to the Word of God.
The reason they were not listening, is because they were not "of God!"

If any person truly believes in a Holy God, when he/she hears the Gospel of Jesus, they will SURRENDER to Him gladly!
Jesus is the truth of God, the love of God, and the life of God.
He is also the ONLY salvation of God to mankind!

48 Then answered the Jews, 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 honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Now they were REALLY angry!
Jesus had said they were "of" the devil!
So, they returned the compliment!
They called Him a "Samaritan" (despised by the Jews of that day).
And, they said He "had" (held in inhabitance) a devil--demon.

But Jesus simply countered with truth.
He told them He was HONORING God, as a Son.
They should have then honored Him.
But they didn't!

Jesus was not seeking self-glory.
He was only giving glory to God.
And, He told them there IS "One" Who sought to glorify Jesus -- meaning the Father.
And that would also lead to their judgment!

The world LISTENS according to social standing and status.
Well, here's a few facts about Jesus that might enhance His STATUS in someone's eyes.
1) He never traveled more than 300 miles from His own home,
2) He was relatively poor, and traveled on foot,
3) People gathered round Him because He taught TRUTH,
4) He ALWAYS upheld the Word of God, and exalted the Father,
5) He promised and prophesied that He would be hated, despised, rejected, scorned, and crucified - and He was,
6) He also promised He would rise on the third day, and He did,
7) And, He promised He would return to His Father, and He did.

God provides GLORY to Jesus.
And, God will judge all the world by the Person of Jesus!

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, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth 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.

The word "death" means separation from the living.
Those who SEE death are the ones separated from the Living God!
Physical death is only a transition into eternity.
And in eternity, there are only two things to see: LIFE or death!

Those leaders of sarcasm and belligerance still were stuck on the physicality of a person.
They said "Even ABRAHAM is DEAD!"
Yes! But Abraham saw LIFE!

The leaders asked, "Whom makest thou thyself?"
He had already told them He was the SON of GOD!
He had already told them He was "of" God, and that God was "in" Him.
He had already told them He was Messiah.

But Jesus calmly said, "I'm not going to honor myself, God is already honoring me!"
And, He said, "But YOU don't KNOW Him, because you don't DO what He says!

The truth of KNOWING God is to yield fully to the Lordship of the Son!

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 took they 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.

Abraham LIVED in the hope of seeing the incarnate God!
And Abraham DID see that! (See Genesis 18:2-6)
That visit to Abraham and Sarah was by none other than the preincarnate Jesus!
Abraham RECOGNIZED the preincarnate Jesus as JEHOVAH, or GOD!

The leaders were incredulous.
Still, they were looking in the flesh, and not in the Spirit.
They asked Jesus, "Since you're not even 50 years old, how could YOU see Abraham?"

Now Jesus REALLY infuriated them.
He made one simple statement that claimed His deity!
"Before Abraham was, I AM!"

In other words, He IS the "Great I Am!"
He was before all things, and exists eternally! (See John 1:1-4)

That was IT!
The leaders "took up stones!"
They intended to stone Jesus to death right there!

But John records and incredible thing.
Jesus "hid Himself!"

Remember, they were in the "treasury" of the temple.
Probably there were no stones available.
Perhaps they rushed outside to get some.
And Jesus was gone before they got back.

He who had "appeared" to the believing Abraham, "disappeared" from the unbelievers!

And, this is the manner of salvation.
To them who BELIEVE, Jesus is always near.
To them who REFUSE, He is always afar.

Which is He to YOU?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.