John 8:1-30 – Jesus, Light of the World Answers

      1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court,4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

      12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” 14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15“You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16“But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17“Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18“I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

      21Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world24“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26“I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” 27They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29“And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

Interesting Words
Light

(φῶς Greek) – phos – a source of light, radiance, a source of light, radiance, properly, light (especially in terms of its results, what it manifests), divine illumination – Acts 23:47; Rom 13:12; 2Cor 4:6; Eph 5:8;

world

(κόσμος Greek) – cosmos – world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment, properly, an “ordered system” (like the universe, creation) – John 1: 9-10; John 3:16-17;

darkness

(σκοτία Greek) – skotia – darkness, a type of moral, spiritual obscurity, blocking the light of God when faith is lacking – John 1:5, 12:45-46;

life

(ζωή Greek) – zóé – life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) – John 1:4; 2Cor 2:15-16; 1Tim 6:18-19;

lifted up

(ὑψόω Greek) – hupsoó – lift or raise up, to exalt, uplift, elevate, used of the elevation of Jesus on the cross – John 3:14; John 12:31-32; Acts 2:33;

Cross References

▪︎ Matt 5:14-15, 16 – “You” are the light of the world.
▪︎ John 12:33, 34, 35 – Respond to Jesus while you can, darkness is coming when you will not be able to respond.
▪︎ 2Cor 5:4 – Mortality swallowed up by life.

Discussion Questions
Print (ctrl-p) or copy the following to a word processor to enter your answers, then meet with some friends to discuss. You can also compare your answers to mine for a virtual discussion… to return… back

1. The Adulteress…
a. Put yourselves in Jesus shoes… sitting, teaching… then the Pharisees come in with the adulteress… what are your thoughts? How do you respond?

▪︎ I would need to be fully caught up in prayer.
▪︎ Careful about my thought life.
▪︎ Keeping guard of my eyes.
▪︎ Extra cautious not to be trapped in some careless sin; after all, we are in a war.
▪︎ taking steps to fairly condemn hypocritical actions and hold sinners accountable. At the same time being gracious to the contrite of heart… Isa 66:2;

b. What was Jesus’ goal in this encounter?

▪︎ Point out, bring to their minds each and every sin, so they all condemn themselves
▪︎ Work in everyone’s mind to draw those called and condemn those who are hardened.
▪︎ Get each person to understand the truth from their own perspective. If they are contrary to Jesus and if He is the Messiah, then they are doomed to hell. Otherwise, there still may be hope for them.

c. What risks were involved in this situation and how did Jesus manage those risks.

▪︎ Risk of being trapped by the enemy to his advantage
▪︎ Not giving yourself enough outs to achieve your goals (He bent down a 2nd time to write in the dirt).
▪︎ End up with one man unwilling to walk away and still wanting to throw the 1st stone.
▪︎ Really wanting a just outcome for each individual involved.

2. I am the light of the world…
a. What do you make of the differences between John 8:12 and Matt 5:14-15, 16?

▪︎ These are promises given to those who love the Lord, who do not to walk in darkness, but have the light of life.
▪︎ When we follow Him we become lights to the world around us.
▪︎ There is a fine line between

◇ pointing out sin (as light),
◇ condemning sin in the flesh,
◇ overlooking sin,
◇ hiding the sins of others,
◇ condoning sin, and
◇ fostering sin.

b. What is the effect of light? What do we do without it?

▪︎ Light shows us what is around us for navigation
▪︎ We need it for many aspects of life… eating, walking, communicating.
▪︎ We have to carefully plan ahead to get by with little or no light.

c. What is the “light of life”? How do you stay in the light and shun darkness?

▪︎ This can be the conscience that points us in the right direction, to God.
▪︎ It could be the “spark” that comes from being alive.
▪︎ It could be that inner vacancy that can only be filled by God.
▪︎ Its the opportunity to have a relationship with God that is only offered while we are alive.
▪︎ We must seize the opportunity to be with God, and foster that relationship in any and all ways possible.
▪︎ We need to develop a sensitivity to His Word so that we can hear His communication with us and grow that relationship.
▪︎ Turn away from sin and follow righteousness, Rom 6:11-12, 13;

3. What was the logical basis for the response of the Pharisees in John 8:13? How did Jesus respond?

▪︎ It could be demon possession.
▪︎ It could be greed, fleshly motives, desires, James 1:14-15, 4:2-3;
▪︎ It could be simple rebellion against God and or righteousness
▪︎ Personal animosity against the person of Jesus.
▪︎ Jesus was unaffected by their logic or reasoning, no matter how flawed it was.
▪︎ Jesus was calm, cool, completely logical in His response.

4. How would you describe the events in John 8:20?

▪︎ If we show ourselves to be faithful in waiting on God for His timeline, then God will sovereignly protect His plan.
▪︎ In Matt 4:9-10; and John 7:3, Jesus refused to bend the timeline to fit with Satan or his family’s desires. Now, God is protecting His plan by keeping the Jews from seizing Him.
▪︎ It does not mean it will be any easier Mark 14:36;
▪︎ This was the end of the age, wouldn’t want to mess up that timing – Heb 9:26;
▪︎ if the Lord is willing we will go here or there to do this or that, if the Lord wills. James 4:15;

5. Jesus changed the subject to one that is extremely relevant to all people. What was the new topic and why is it so important?

▪︎ Final judgement and death, something even the Pharisees should find of personal interest.
▪︎ Certainly, the adulteress was interested.
▪︎ Even though Jesus was not judging anyone at the time (similar to our situation), still the Pharisees accused Him of falsehoods and ignored the works of God Jesus did as proof.
▪︎ This should be important to everyone. All will certainly be interested once they realize it’s true.

6. How would you summarize what Jesus was saying in John 8:28?

▪︎ When Jesus is crucified (lifted up), evidence will continue to mount up, showing that He was truth, is truth (John 14:6) and that He was God, is God.
▪︎ It will eventually be evident that God was performing all of the miracles…. Isa 53:3-4, 5; Dan 7:13, 14;
▪︎ We will all see at that time that God spoke through Jesus and is speaking through His church.
▪︎ We will see that we are accountable eternally for our response to God’s call.

7. Why do you think many responded to Jesus at this point (John 8:30)?

▪︎ Jesus spoke the truth with authority; many should have responded.
▪︎ God was calling them in spite of what Satan was trying to do.
▪︎ Many of these came and went during the waning days of Jesus ministry, but those called by God would probably be at Pentacost or for sure at the final resurrection.