Lesson #18

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John

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Lesson #02

January 13, 2010

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

JOHN 8:1-30
Lesson #18
JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

• Memory verse: Joh 8:12

• In the previous chapter of John, we discussed at length the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. John 8 continues with Jesus’ attendance in the temple the day after the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles..
• Every night of the week’s celebration, Jesus left the temple area to stay on the far side of the Mount of Olives. Then, on the following morning, He would again go to the temple.
• We need to understand more of the events of this celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles to understand Jesus’ words in the temple the day after the celebration.
• The inner court of the temple area was illuminated by a glorious parade of torches during the week’s celebration. This was to represent the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness.
• In the tabernacle in the wilderness, there was the Holy place where the table of showbread stood against one side wall. Opposite the table of showbread was the large candlestick that remained lit during the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the feast, this candlestick and all of the torches were extinguished.
• This represented the pillar of fire that no longer guided the Israelites once they were in the promised land.
• The candlestick also represents one step in the believer’s progress to get closer to the Lord. That is the essence of this lesson in the gospel of John.
• Remember that the pattern in the layout of the gospel of John reflects the floor plan of the Old Testament tabernacle.
• Read Joh 8:1-11 The adulterous woman
• Jesus is in the area of the temple called, the court of women. It was called this because women could not go beyond this point.
• While Jesus was teaching in the temple area, He is interrupted by a disturbance.
• The religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery. They put her in the middle of his little class.
• What did the accusers have had in mind? (6)
• The religious leaders were using this woman as bait to trap Jesus into making a statement against the keeping of the Mosaic law.

• “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”

(5)

• If Jesus had answered, “yes, stone her,” He would have lost the attention of the people. He would have displayed a lack of love and mercy which is the problem with a strict adherence to law. He also would be in violation of Roman law that restricted the right of execution to a Roman court.
• If Jesus had answered, “no, let her go”, He would have broken the law of Moses as given by God.
• In what way was it a trap?
• If the religious leaders were interested in the law, they would have brought the man along with the woman.
• Read Lev 20:10 and Deu 22:22
• Both the man and the woman were guilty of the sin of adultery, and both deserved punishment according to the law.
• Jesus’ reaction to the accused woman:
• He wrote something in the sand.
• This is the only indication in the New Testament that Jesus wrote anything.
• This would have been an illegal act because it was the Sabbath.
• There has been much speculation as to what He wrote. The Bible does not tell us. Some people think he wrote the sins of those who accused the woman.
• However, there is an additional possibility:
• Read Jer 17:12-13 and Psa 90:8
• The passage in Jer 17 would have been part of the teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Perhaps it was the names of those who had forsaken the Lord along with some specific sin.
• Jesus gives us the criteria for a judge:

• “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”

(7)

• The criteria is sinlessness. Therefore, no one, but Jesus Christ, meets the criteria to be a judge.
• Does this mean we are never to judge sin or that adultery is OK?
• Jesus did not say that only sinless people can make accurate judgements concerning sin or the death penalty.
• Jesus did not say that adultery was permissible.
• How are we to interpret Jesus’ actions?
• Wise judgment comes from pure motives, which the religious leaders of that time did not have.
• Jesus gives her a final pardon:

• “…Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

(11)

• Jesus is the one who has the spiritual power and authority to forgive sins.
• He knows each heart and each life.
• He has supernatural insight or light to be able to discern truth. Therefore, He is the qualified judge of us all.
• Jesus did not let her go away free without dealing with her sins. He told her to sin no more.
• Summary:
• What does this passage tell you about:
• Law?
• All humans fall short of keeping the law.
• Did Jesus disregard the Mosaic law when He did not carry out the stoning?
• No. Her sin was paid for on the cross along with all sin. Jesus knew He would be paying for her sin. Therefore, He had the authority to grant her forgiveness.
• Jesus saw the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who tried to use the law for their own benefit when they did not also bring the adulterous man.
• Sin?
• Jesus is the only one who can forgive sin. Even the scribes and Pharisees knew that God was the only one who could forgive sin. (Mar 2:7)
• The Word of God illuminates sin. Jesus is the Word.
• Mercy and Grace?
• Without the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, all humans are lost in sin. Jesus had compassion on this woman just as He has compassion on all who come to Him for forgiveness.
• Condemnation?
• The law always accuses and the breaking of it leads to condemnation. Because the woman had no more accusers, she was not guilty of breaking the law of Moses.
• However, she was still guilty of breaking God’s moral law. It is for breaking God’s moral law that Jesus forgave her.
• In His first coming to earth, Jesus did not come to condemn man for His sins. He came to pay the price for man’s redemption from sin through His death on the cross.
• Forgiveness?
• Forgiveness through the shed blood of Christ is available to anyone who requests it. Jesus offered forgiveness to this woman, and He offers it to us.
• Application:
• Jesus teaches us how to deal with sin in other people:
• Confronting sin in others requires humility and not pride.
• Confronting sin is based on righteousness, not knowledge.
• Correcting sin begins with forgiveness, not rebuke.
• Read Joh 8:12-30 Jesus, the Light of the world
• The courtyard of women was also the courtyard where offerings were received. Therefore, it was also called the Treasury. (20) There was a huge candlestick in the Treasury area which was lit during the celebration days. On this day, the day after the Feast of Tabernacles, this candlestick would be dark.
• It is in this context of the lack of light that Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (12)
• What is it about the nature of light that makes it a good example for Jesus to use?
• Jesus’ truth dispels untruth just as light dispels darkness.
• Spiritual light convicts of sin just as physical light reveals man’s mistakes.
• Spiritual light guides one into spiritual truth just as a lamp is used to guide one along a pathway.
• Too much light blinds people physically, just as too much spiritual light can cause man’s inability to comprehend the truth when he shuts his spiritual eyes to it.
• However, Jesus is not just the light to the Jews. He is a light to the world. That includes the gentiles.
• Read Isa 49:6
• Old Testament illustrations of Jesus Christ as the light of the world.
• There are numerous illustrations in the Old Testament that relate to spiritual light.
• We have already referred to the lampstand in the tabernacle. (Exo 25:31-40)
• The one window in Noah’s ark (Gen 6:16)
• The pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites in the wilderness. (Exo 13:21)
• The light of the Shekinah glory of God (Exo 24:17)
• The Word of God (Psa 119:105 Joh 1:1,14)
• Through Jesus we learn about who is God:
• Read 1Joh 1:5-10
• The scientific properties of light are still not fully understood, just as man cannot fully understand the nature of our eternal God.
• However, we can gain enough spiritual light through Jesus Christ to walk in the light.
• The Pharisee accusation (13)
• They accused Jesus of being the only witness of who He was.
• Remember the great detail Jesus gave about the many witnesses who bore testimony that He was equal with God in Joh 5:31-47.
• Jesus reminds them of his own witness and the witness of God, the Father. (18)
• Jesus mentions that something is legally true if it is established by at least two witnesses. (17)
• The validity of Jesus own testimony.
• Jesus gives three reasons why His testimony is true:
• =1= He knows from where He came.(14)
• =2= He judges no one according to human criteria. (15)
• =3= His testimony is true because God, the Father, verified it. (18)
• He was not spiritually blind, for He knew from where He had come and to where He was going. He, therefore, had the spiritual light of God that marked His way.
• He had come from heaven and would soon return to heaven when His hour was come. (the hour of His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension) (20)
• Eternal destiny:

• “Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

(19)

• What does Jesus mean by this statement?
• The scribes and Pharisees lack spiritual light.
• You cannot have a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ unless God draws you. (Joh 6:44)
• You cannot have a personal knowledge of God, the Father, unless you first have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• The scribes and Pharisees did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They had closed their hearts to Him. Therefore the Holy Spirit could not draw them to Jesus. Without that personal relationship to Jesus, the Son of God, they did not have any relationship with God, the Father.
• Knowing Jesus is John’s purpose for writing this gospel and telling us of Jesus’ words, and through knowing Jesus, we get to know God, the Father.
• “…I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.”

(21)

• The religious leaders did not understand that Jesus was warning them that they were headed for an eternal darkness in hell separated from the eternal light of God, the Father, and Jesus Christ.
• The religious leaders thought he was talking about committing suicide. (22)
• Why would they think this?
• The Jews believed that anyone who committed suicide would immediately go to the very depths of Hades.
• Instead Jesus was talking about his coming death…not that He would commit suicide but that He would give up his life for us all.
• “…Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.”

(23)

• What did Jesus mean when He said that the religious leaders were from beneath?
• Since every human is born with a sin nature from the time of Adam to our present day, we are all condemned to hell and controlled by our sin nature which is subject to Satan. We are all just like the scribes and Pharisees.
• “…if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

(24)

• Through belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, we can obtain forgiveness of sins.
• Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, we can be set free from sin and death through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Statements of Deity
• The statement, “I am he” is a declaration of His deity.

• “…When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he,”

(28)

• Once again Jesus refers to His death on the cross. However, the religious leaders thought he meant that if He was the Messiah, the people would lift him up to his throne.
• The title Son of Man is an Old Testament title of deity which comes from the book of Daniel.
• Read Dan 7:13-14
• “…I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”

(28)

• Because Jesus was human, He learned obedience through the things He suffered. (Heb 5:8)
• Summary:
• Jesus makes many “I am” statements in this lesson, seven in fact, which proclaim His deity:
• (Exo 3:14 Deu 32:39 Isa 41:4 Isa 43:10-11,13,25 Isa 46:4 Isa 4:12)

“I Am” Statements	Scripture
“I am the light of the world”	Joh 8:12
“I am not alone”	Joh 8:16
“I am one that bear witness of myself”	Joh 8:18
“I am from above”	Joh 8:23
“I am not of this world.”	Joh 8:23
“I am he”	Joh 8:24
“I am he”	Joh 8:28

• A Preview:
• After Jesus’ teaching in John 8 that He is the Light of the world, and to further demonstrate this truth, Jesus heals a man born blind in Joh 9, which leads directly into His teaching that He is the guiding Shepherd in Joh 10, and begins the Feast of Dedication in Joh 10:22. This feast was later called the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah.
• Therefore, John chapters 8, 9, and 10 revolve around the theme and the demonstration that Jesus is the Light of the world, both spiritually and physically.

HOMEWORK
John 8:31-59
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joh 8:1-30
• God reveals just enough spiritual light to us so as not to blind us, but He is always willing to reveal more of Himself to us, if we simply ask, seek, and knock.
• Read Psa 36:9
• If you desire more of God’s light in your life, pray and ask Him to reveal new things to you this week as you study His Word.
• Preparation for Joh 8:31-59
• What does this passage teach you about:
• Truth?
• Freedom?
• The devil?
• Jesus Christ?
• Memory verse: John 8:32