John 8: Jesus is the Light of the World
Jesus is the Light of the World
Learning points:
1 1)
Jesus is the Light of the World. If we believe
in Him, we cannot walk in darkness
2 2)
Let us speak the truth in love
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Verses to read: John 8:1-12
Start with the reading of John 8:1-12
The Feast of Tabernacles has ended, but Jesus
took the opportunity to minister to the pilgrims at the temple. (Luke 21:37).
The scribes and Pharisees knew about it so they hatched a plan. They caught a
couple in the “Very-act” of adultery, and in brutal fashion brought the woman
to the midst of the crowd that Jesus was preaching at to tell Jesus that she
needs to be stoned.
*Note that the man who committed adultery with the lady was not caught, and he got away scot-free. However, in Lev 20:10, it states that both guilty parties were supposed to be stoned.
*Note that the man who committed adultery with the lady was not caught, and he got away scot-free. However, in Lev 20:10, it states that both guilty parties were supposed to be stoned.
What trap were the Pharisees trying to catch Jesus in?
(v1-11)
Consider what would be the reaction of the people if Jesus said, yes to the stoning. What would happen to his reputation as the “Friend of publicans and sinners?”
Also consider what would happen if Jesus said, no to the stoning. He would be openly breaking the law and will be arrested.
Consider what would be the reaction of the people if Jesus said, yes to the stoning. What would happen to his reputation as the “Friend of publicans and sinners?”
Also consider what would happen if Jesus said, no to the stoning. He would be openly breaking the law and will be arrested.
WWJD?
Instead of passing judgment on the woman,
Jesus passed judgment on the judges (aka the scribes and Pharisees). Jewish law
states that the accusers cast the first stones. (Deut 17:7). Jesus was not
asking sinless man to judge the woman, for He was the only sinless man there,
but he was referring to the particular sin of the woman, a sin that can be committed
in the heart as well as the body. (Matt 5:27-30). The accusers left the place
because they were convicted by their own consciences, and Jesus forgave the
woman and warned her to sin no more. (v11)
Why do you think He let the adulterous woman go? Do you think Jesus meant to be easy on the woman?
No, He forgave this woman because he knew
that He had to die for her sins. Jesus fulfilled the law so that no one could
accuse Him of opposing its teachings or weakening its power. The law was given
to reveal sin (Rom 3:20), and we must be condemned by the law before we can be
cleansed by God’s grace. Law and grace do not compete with each other; they
compliment each other. Nobody was ever saved by keeping the law, but nobody was
ever saved by grace who was not first indicated by the law. There must be conviction before there can
be conversion.
What attitudes toward sin – your own sin and others’ sin –
does this story encourage you to learn from Jesus?
There must be conviction of our own sin before we can even be converted.
Are we aware of how fallen we are? Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict us of
our sin and reveal to us the depth of our depravity- that we may turn and
embrace the sweetness of the Grace given us by our merciful God through Jesus
Christ.
There is much that can be learnt about the
heart of our Lord when we read this passage of Scripture.
There are 3 key players in this passage.
Jesus, the Pharisees, and the woman caught in adultery.
The heart of Jesus as seen from above, is
echoed in Matthew 9:12-13 which states ‘On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not
the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means:
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners (to repentance as continued in Luke
5:32).”
Jesus desires mercy not sacrifice. The Scripture Jesus quotes comes from
Hosea 6:6. This is the heart of Jesus.
Food for thought: Are we like the Pharisees? Have we unconsciously judged
our fellow brothers and sisters for committing a particular sin, which we
ourselves think we may not have? Do we have religious superiority in us? If
that is so, I pray we do repent, for we have sinned.
However do not misunderstand, if we do know our fellow brother or sister
is committing a particular sin, we are not to remain silent. But instead we
should restore then gently, and in love.
Galatians 6:1 states “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are
spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be
tempted.”
It is necessary to speak the
truth! In love!
Why?
1 Corinthians 13:6 states “Loves does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth.”
If we truly love our brother/sister, and the love of God is in us, we cant
but speak the truth, in love.
And this brings us to the last verse of our passage reading for today.
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of
the world. Whoever follows me WILL never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.””
Notice in the preceding verse to this, Jesus declared to the woman “Go now
and leave your life of sin.” Immediately after this, comes Jesus declaration
that He is the light of the world.
God is light (1 John 1:5), and wherever the light shines, it reveals humanity’s wickedness (Eph 5:8-14). To “Follow” the Lord Jesus means to believe in Him, to trust Him and the results are LIFE and LIGHT. The unsaved are walking in darkness because they love the darkness (John 3:17).
So if we truly claim to BELIEVE in Jesus, we
must not continue in our ways of the past, in our sins. We, as followers of
Christ, must leave our life of sin.
As we’ve learnt in the pass few lessons…
Jesus is the Living water, the Bread of life, and now the light of the world.
Believing in Him, means life and light!
Done by Cheryl and Alicia
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