The Gospel of John: Chapter 8
“ 3-5 Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!—came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; and the darkness couldn’t put it out.” —John 1:3-5 (MSG)
“ 12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12
(1.) The law exposes our need for grace
“ 2 As Jesus appeared again in the temple courts where all the people gathered around him, he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.’” —John 8:2-4
“ 5 ‘In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’” —John 8:5
“ 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us… 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” —1 John 1:8 & 10
Big Idea: If we don’t recognize darkness as darkness, we will never appreciate and long for the light.
(2.) Jesus came in love, full of grace and truth
“ 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.” —John 8:6
“ 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.” —John 8:7-8
“ 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.” —John 8:9
“ 37 Anyone who is thirsty let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” —John 7:37-38
“ 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11a ‘No one, sir,’ she said.” —John 8:10-11
“ 11b ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” —John 8:11
(3.) As the light of the world, Jesus sets us free to live
“ 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.’” —John 8:12