John 8:48-59

 John 8:48-59

In many ways John 8 is a pivotal chapter in the gospel.  On Jesus’ next  trip to Jerusalem He will die.  Between now and then He will have only a short retreat beyond the Jordan.  The final section of John 8 is, if you will, the final break between Jesus and the Jews. In verse 58 Jesus claims for Himself the personal name of God:  “…before Abraham was born I Am”.  That statement if not true would be blasphemous, and deserving of death.  It is this statement that makes Jesus dangerous to the powers that be.

But there is a less obvious lesson in this passage that deserves our attention.  In verse 55 Jesus uses two different words that are both translated “know”.  The first word is the word that describes knowledge derived from experiment, study or learning.  Jesus tells the Jews that despite all of their efforts they have failed to gain even this academic kind knowledge.  The second word is knowledge that comes from an intimate relationship.  The first word is ‘to know about’ the second word is to ‘know’.  Both of these words were true of Jesus the man, God made flesh.  Neither were true of the Jews.

The first is essential for us to move toward the second.  But if the first, an academic knowledge, is all we possess, we will never have the second.  At the same time as we grow in our intimate knowledge of God that knowledge will enhance and shape our academic knowledge.  It is a sort of symbiotic relationship.  Each enhances and feeds the other.   If we seek intimacy with God we will begin with academic knowledge of God not as an end in itself but as a means.  To know scripture for the purpose of knowing scripture is no great thing.  To know scripture in order to know God is the only real purpose to know scripture.

“Lord, help me be ever growing in both kinds of knowledge of You. AMEN”

John 8:31-47

 John 8:31-47

John 8 is perhaps one of the deepest and most profound passages of scripture. This is especially true of this passage.  One general theme is that of truth and falsehood. Jesus says those who believe Him "If you abide in My word then you are truly Disciples of Mine and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."   That phrase “the truth shall make you free” has become co-opted by political and social organizations, taken out of context and badly miss used. To understand that phrase we must take it in context and progression. 

First we abide or live in the word or teaching of Jesus. This is more than His teaching about moral conduct. Following His teaching about moral conduct does set us free from the great many evils of sin’s consequences. But to live in His teachings or word is to believe who He is. When we believe in who He is then we become Disciples of Jesus. Being a disciple of Jesus is more than an intellectual exercise.  Being a disciple is impossible without the truth of who He is. A person who denies the truth of Jesus's teachings about Himself is not a Christian or disciple no matter what they claim. 

The conjunction “and” is critical. Truth cannot be known, in the experiential sense of the word, by the non disciple. Being a disciple and “knowing the truth” are inseparable. It is that truth that Jesus is who He says He is and our believing that makes us a disciple, and that sets us free. It is not freedom in a political or social way but freedom in a liberty from sin. Knowing and believing Jesus is freedom, a freedom that transforms the person no matter their personal or political status.

“Lord, grant that I will both know what Jesus teaches but also know Jesus.  AMEN”

John 8:21-30

 John 8:21-30

Jesus says in verse 21 “you…shall die in your sin” then in verse 23 He says “you…shall die in your sins”. That shift from singular to plural is subtle but important. What is the difference between sin and sins? The multitude or plurality of sins is a mere reflection or an expression of the great sin. That singular great sin is rejecting Jesus “the Water of Life”, Jesus “the light of life”. While individual acts of sin are horrible they are but symptoms of a deeper root and core problem. Individual sins are acts of rebellion; they move us toward deeper darkness and add momentum to our downward spiral. But rejecting Jesus is even more serious. This sin, note the singular, is beyond rebellion.  It has settled the question of Jesus with a negative answer. It is not moving toward darkness, it is the darkness. It is not part of the downward spiral, it is the end and bottom of that spiral. It all comes down to One singular point: belief in Jesus as the “I AM”, or live in disbelief.

The death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus is the evidence or the proof of His claims. As we look at that proof, what we do with Jesus is the simple most important issue we have to face. We end up at CS Lewis's tri-lemma. To make the claims Jesus made He would have to either be a liar of extreme proportions. Or a lunatic on the order of a man who thinks that he is a poached egg. Or He was who He said He was: I AM. 

All the other sins, lust, cruelty, pride, etc. are important; but they are not the main issue. These can be dealt with by Grace but only if we do not reject the One who can grant Grace. The Eternal sin is rejecting the One who can forgive every sin.

“Lord, forgive me of my sins.  Help me never to reject the One who can save me.  AMEN”

John 8:12-20

 John 8.12 - 20

How do I find meaning and purpose in life? That's the first question. Even before “What is the meaning and purpose of life?” we have to ask “how?”. We find everything by means of light.  Looking for something in a dark room is generally an exercise in futility. But when we bring in the light, looking for something becomes a possibility. For someone who is searching, what is the first priority?  How do I find a meaningful life?  I must begin by finding the light that will reveal it.

For Jewish people light was the law, it showed God's character, holiness and will. Also in Jewish thought light was wisdom, which was, personify and by which creation occurred. The pillar of fire during the desert wanderings was identified as the imperishable light of the law. During the Feast of Tabernacles four lamp-stands in the Temple Court were lit.  They illuminated the procession for the water ceremony and it is said that all of Jerusalem reflected their lights.

In this context Jesus says, “I am the light of the world”. He shows God's character, holiness and will. He is the source creation of life. He guides people out of the darkness of spiritual slavery and leads them to the Promised Land. The entire holy city, His people, is reflected in and by the light of Jesus. Jesus's comment of being the “light of the world” was no passing metaphor. He was saying the entire life and history of God’s revelation to mankind is summed up in Him.

So how do we find meaning and purpose in life? By looking for it in the light that is Jesus.

“Lord, help me to see the light of God the Son today, AMEN”

John 8:1-11

 John 8:1-11

Where was the husband? What about the lover? It is hard to escape the conclusion in this passage that there was a conspiracy afoot. The sinful woman was caught in the very act of adultery. That presupposes that there was a man with her at that moment. Where was he? Participation in an illicit love affair is something that people try to keep secret. So how did they catch her unless they were tipped off?  How did they know when and where unless they were told.  We can be pretty sure the woman didn’t tell them.  Some Bible teachers have suggested that she was a prostitute and her client was part of the conspiracy? Maybe he was there in the crowd, rock in hand.  The language suggests that she was a wife. Perhaps her husband knew of the affair and this was his way of getting out of the marriage while also extracting maximum harm to his wife. Roman law did not allow the Jews to carry out executions.  But with the help of the mob he could maximize her shame and get rid of her.  Whatever the case, this woman is simply a pawn to be used. She was expendable. There's apparently not one scintilla of concern about her spiritual condition by anyone in the crowd except Jesus!

The sharp, cynical, grasping, craving, nature of man is to get what we want without care for the people whom we hurt in the process. The moment we begin to see people as a means to an end we have, no matter how good our intentions, entered into similar circumstances. If you had asked the mob they would have told you that they were pursuing a holy goal, most of them would have even believed it. One woman's ruin is of no consequence; she was mere collateral damage. Jesus on the other hand would hold up the highest standards of righteousness and still value the individual. He would value the individual, even a woman caught in the very act of adultery, enough to die for them.

“Lord, help me to pursue holiness without hypocrisy. AMEN”