John 8

Before you open your bible, take some time to quiet your self and pray: Lord, You made me, You know me... Help me to hear Your voice in Your word and know You more. Amen.

A QUICK LITTLE NOTE ON JOHN 8.1-11

Something you HAVE to know about this passage of scripture (John 8.1-11) is that it is NOT included in the earliest manuscripts of John's gospel. You probably noticed when you were reading this passage that your Bible has this part marked and noted something like, "This isn't in the earliest manuscripts!" The short story of why it IS included in our modern day Bible is this: This story is probably true because it matches up with Jesus' life, behavior and teaching in the rest of scripture. So what's the problem? Almost all scholars agree that John didn't write it. So who did? Most scholars think it was Luke. If you would like to know more about how scripture was put together or what a manuscript is- I'd love to talk about it with you, but for now, let's take a look at this text concerning Jesus' life.

Read John 8.1-11

Question: Can you identify with the woman in her moment of public exposure(v.3-4)? How do you think she felt? __________________________________________________.

Just so you know: Everyone wishes they knew what Jesus was writing in the dirt in verse 6, but no one really knows. However, don't miss how Jesus isn't intimidated AT ALL by the questioning of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law! Understand that he won't be trapped into condemning the woman (which could be seen as pronouncing capital punishment, and that could get him in trouble with Rome) OR contradicting the law of Moses (Deuteronomy 22.22-24).

Question: What is the reason the woman has been brought to Jesus? (HINT v4-5) _________________________________

The Pharisees tell Jesus what Moses' law says, probably referring to Deuteronomy 22.22--what does that verse say? ________________________________________________.

So, think about that... Who did the Pharisees forget to bring before Jesus?__________.

What does Jesus say that causes each accuser there to leave one at a time? (HINT v.7) ___________________________

PUT IT TOGETHER: Read Romans 6.23, How does this verse relate to this story? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Christ's forgiveness is freely given, but it's not cheap. With grace comes the expectation of godliness. Jesus sends her away with a commission to purity. If the story isn't true, at least it reflects the character and beauty of our Lord's love for broken people." -Mark Moore.

Read John 8.12-20

Just so you know: The area of the temple court where the following interaction happens is the place where the Pharisees would usually teach; Jesus is teaching in their space.

QUESTION: How do the pharisees challenge Jesus this time? (HINT : v.13) _______________________________________

QUESTION: Why don't they seize him this time? (HINT v.20)

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Read John 8.21-30

QUESTION: What does Jesus say concerning those who don't believe in Him? (v.24) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________.

QUESTION: What does v 30 say was happening even while Jesus was having this discussion about death and sin with the Pharisees? ______________________________________.

Your story: What was going on in your life when you when you decided to believe Jesus? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read John 8.31-38

QUESTION: What does Jesus say to the Jewish people who believed Him? (v31+32) ______________________________________

JUST SO YOU KNOW : "Hold to my teaching" in Greek is more like, "continue in my word" and the word "Word" is the same greek word logos from John1.1, and that "Word" is Jesus, The word continue in greek is like "be present." So, if we look at the greek, it's like Jesus is saying, "If you want to learn from me, be around me." 

QUESTION: In this passage, the Jewish people are saying to Jesus "we are Abraham's descendants" BUT at the same time, what are they doing (v37) ___________________________________

Your Story: Have you ever caught yourself saying you were a believer but acting as if you weren't? Who or what got you back on track? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Maybe you're still struggling with this issue, take some time to pray and ask God to help you live out what you say you believe.

Read John 8.39-47

JUST SO YOU KNOW: This passage is CRAZY! I can't imagine this being a calm discussion! If I were standing in this crowd, I think I would be scooting to the edge, because I can't stand confrontation, and I bet the people are getting super upset (to say the least) about the things Jesus is saying to them.

QUESTION: How does Jesus describe the way the devil speaks in v.44? ____________________________________________________

QUESTION: How does Jesus describe the way He (Jesus) speaks in v. 46? ________________________________________________

Read John 8.48-59

QUESTION: What does Jesus promise in v 51 __________________________________________________

QUESTION: Why don't the Jewish people believe this? (hint v.52) ___________________________________________________

JUST SO YOU KNOW: In v. 58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was born, I AM!" To the Jewish people this sounds like Jesus is being totally disrespectful, Jewish people didn't even say God's name out loud, and Jesus just claimed to BE God, that sounds like blasphemy to them because they don't realize that Jesus really is telling the truth. Even though Jesus is speaking plainly and truthfully, they aren't listening.

QUESTION: How do the Jewish people respond to Jesus telling them that he is "I AM"? v59 ______________________

BE ENCOURAGED: This is SUCH a heavy text!!! I worked up until the last minute squirming through these passages! Dealing with sin is so messy and so uncomfortable, yet in these passages we see Jesus address it head-on. I don't usually feel like addressing sin head on, usually when someone is sinning, I make excuses for them, "She's probably just having a bad day..." "Oh, you're not gossiping, you're venting!" And if I get caught sinning, forget about facing it head-on, I feel just like that girl in the beginning of chapter 8 whose sin has been found out and I just want to curl up and sit there waiting to be beat up-- It's like I forget that Jesus isn't there to beat me up about my sin, He's there to pull me out of it once and for all.

I've been following Jesus for a while now, but I still remember very well what it's like to be a slave to sin-- those are sad memories. This week I heard Louie Giglio say, "There is a belief out there that sin makes us bad, but sin doesn't make me bad...sin makes me dead!" That quote really struck me, because sometimes, even when I claim to be following Jesus, I make excuses for sin and I allow myself to believe the lie that a little sin won't make me too bad because i'll make up for it by being good. BUT the problem is that sin doesn't make me bad, it makes me dead and I can't be just a little dead... right? Dead OR alive... not both.

The wrong idea I had is the same one the pharisees have in these passages, they think that religion (aka good or right living) or having the right relatives ("Abraham is our father, and he's really good!") is going to save them. 


When Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, If you keep my word, you won't see death," and "If you hold to my teaching then you are really my disciples," and "if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed," my heart just does backflips! Because those verses are all in present tense! Do you see that it's not about some decision you made a long time ago, or some verse you read a long time ago- it's about THIS WEEK! NOW! It's time for us to wake up and follow and live and let Jesus change us NOW!  That's what this passage is all about, sin kills us, but Jesus give us freedom to leave sin behind and live, just like the woman at the beginning of chapter 8.

Girls, God has shown us incredible mercy, we don't deserve it because by choosing to sin, we chose death-- but by his death on the cross, he's given us life, so by all means- let's live!

FINALLY: In John 8, we see how Jesus deals with sin. He calls it like it is. He tells us the truth that sin will make us it's slaves and lead us straight to our deaths, and then He reveals himself as the way to freedom from sin and to life forever! The pharisees had a really hard time hearing Jesus because he was speaking truth to them and they were believing lies about who they were and about who He was. Ask God to start teaching you the TRUTH about himself, ask Him to strip away the lies you've believed about yourself and others and even Him.