“A Journey with John” Day 16: No one else is without sin (John 8)

“A Journey with John”

Day 16: No one else is without sin (John 8)

Last time, our guide led us with Jesus to His appearance at the Feast of Tabernacles where Jesus explained the authority of His message as coming from the Father. As well, we saw Jesus proclaim concerning the Holy Spirit and how that through Jesus, we would be able to receive the Holy Spirit into our innermost being.

Before heading out on today’s excursion, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

>Jesus’ brothers - Although we heard mention of Jesus’ brothers on “Day 4” of our journey with John, last time, we had the opportunity to hear them speaking, and we came to understand that even they did not believe in Jesus

> The Holy Spirit of God - although there are several references to the Holy Spirit throughout the Book of John, here we see a direct reference by Jesus to the fact that He is the dispenser of the Holy Spirit to us

> Temple officers - sent by the religious leaders to bring Jesus in, although they did not do so at this time

Well, let’s head out with our guide and rendezvous with Jesus. It seems that the scribes and Pharisees have cooked up a plan to be able to accuse Jesus:

After the incident of Jesus teaching in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, we see that Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives. However, He returns back to the temple early in the morning, and begins to teach. Suddenly, we see the scribes and the Pharisees, bringing a woman before Jesus, saying that she has been caught in the very act of adultery. They present Jesus with the fact that Moses said that she deserved to be stoned and asked what He thinks should be done. Rather than Jesus answering their question directly, He simply instructs that the person there who has no sin, should be the first one to throw a stone. We watch, as one by one, all of the accusers walk away. Jesus then tells the woman that He will not condemn her either, and that she should go and not sin any more. Jesus went on to teach the people about the fact that He is the light of the world and those who follow Him will never walk in darkness. At this point, the Pharisees accuse Him of bearing His own witness. Jesus says that it is appropriate that He bears witness of Himself, and that the Father also bears witness of Him. He tells the people that their problem is that that they don’t know Him or His Father, at which point, an argument breaks out about whether they are free or are slaves. Jesus reminds them that a person who sins, is a slave of sin. The people seem to be very arrogant about the fact that they are Abraham’s seed; but Jesus tells them that if they were Abraham‘s children, they would believe in Him. He tells them that they don’t know His Father and that they are doing the work of their father: the devil. They accuse Jesus of having a demon, to which Jesus answers that He honors His Father and that they are dishonoring the Father. Jesus then tells them that if anyone keeps His words, they will never see death. The Jews challenge him with the fact that Abraham indeed saw death. So, how could He say that He would not see death? Then Jesus says something that leads them to try to stone Him again. He says: “Before Abraham was, I Am.”

Our highlighted verses for today:

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬, ‭19‬, ‭21‬, ‭28‬, ‭31‬-‭32‬, ‭34‬, ‭36‬, ‭44‬-‭45‬, ‭47‬, ‭49‬, ‭51‬, ‭57‬-‭59‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

Why did Jesus say that the religious leaders did not know His Father, but were of their father the devil?

Next time, our guide will take us to see another miraculous sign that causes yet even more confusion to break out.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!