John - Week 23

The Woman Caught in Adultery 

READ 

John 8:1-5 

1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 

Jesus was quick to teach at every opportunity. Here He is again in the area where people were allowed to congregate and was teaching the crowd who gathered. Notice especially those who came to oppose Him: “the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees.” The common people seemed to welcome Him, but not the religious leaders. Think of how the crowd must have been shocked when these “leaders” put this adulterous woman in front of them. They wanted to know if Jesus agreed with the law given through Moses that she ought to be stoned to death.  

REFLECT 

What do you think when someone’s open sin is talked about? Are you embarrassed or are you reminded that all are sinners in need of the grace of God? 

RESPOND 

Spend time in prayer dwelling on your own short comings and remembering that any sin is horrible before a holy God. 

The First Stone 

READ 

John 8:6-8 

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 

This passage points out the true motives of these religious leaders. They were not really as concerned about the law of Moses as they were for finding a reason to defame Jesus in front of the crowd. The Bible never records what Jesus wrote that day while these leaders kept demanding He answer them. While they were confronting Him He wrote in the dust twice. Whatever He wrote was convicting for the religious leaders as the following verses in John indicates. 

REFLECT 

Some misuse the statement of Jesus about only those being without sin can throw the first stone. Other Scripture reveals that leaders in local churches are to exercise discipline when someone is living in open unconfessed sin. Although their motives are not to be judged; their actions are. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 that tells about the overseers in a local church. Because they will need to handle discipline problems it is important they themselves be of the highest character. It is noble to desire to be a church leader with these qualities. Is this your desire, whether now or in the future? 

Go And Sin No More 

READ 

John 8:9-11 

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” 

Although it is not known what Jesus wrote on the ground, it was convicting to the accusers and they began to leave. Note that the Gospel writer John indicated their departure began with the oldest. At last Jesus was the only one left with the woman. Some might think Jesus was not harsh enough with her about her sin, but notice He told her not to sin anymore.   

REFLECT 

How would you react if you, as the woman was, were left alone face-to-face with Jesus? What do you think He would say to you? Someday every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give account. It should not be thought of as a kind of protestant purgatory, but a time of being rewarded for your service for Him 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 and observe carefully what it reveals about whether the person before the Judgment Seat of Christ is saved or lost. What is specifically rewarded or not rewarded? 

The Light of the World 

READ 

John 8:12-13 

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 

13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” 

The unbelieving Pharisees were always anxious to accuse Jesus of not being the Messiah sent from God. This is another example of when He used the expression, “I am. . . .” In this case it had to do with His claim to be the light of the world. Observe a contrast the Pharisees would not like: those who don’t follow Jesus are actually walking in darkness. No self-respecting unbelieving Pharisee would like that statement. 

REFLECT 

The light and darkness have to do with spiritual light and spiritual darkness. Think about how when you trusted Jesus as your Savior that spiritual matters became more understandable. Give a couple of examples of what you understood when you came out of darkness into the light. 

RESPOND 

Read John 1:1-5 that tells about the Lord Jesus Christ regarding what He has done. How can you relay this to someone to whom you are witnessing? 

Witnesses 

READ 

John 8:14-18 

14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” 

The Pharisees thought that the claims of Jesus could not be true. Now Jesus responds to them by quoting from the Old Testament that they claimed to know so much about. Jesus had two witnesses as the law required: His heavenly Father and Himself. This would only further anger the unbelieving Pharisees, but Jesus answered those who boasted in their knowledge of the Scripture by referring to the Scriptures to prove His point. 

REFLECT 

Think about the times you have met those who claimed to discount what you were saying about Jesus by quoting some Scripture to you. Give some examples. 

RESPOND 

Focus on the examples you cited above and then write out an answer to those objections. This will prepare you for the next time someone misuses the Scripture to disprove what you are saying about Jesus.