JHN 8

The Woman Caught in Adultery

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to spend the night.

2 Now, early in the morning at dawn, He came again to the temple courts. All the people were coming to Him, and He sat down and began to teach them with authority.

3 Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought before Him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery, and having placed her in the centre of their gathering,

4 they said to Him as a test, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of engaging in adultery, taken in the midst of her sin.

5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such individuals to death. So what do you say about this case?”

6 Now they were saying this to test Him and trap Him, so that they might have a basis to accuse Him of violating the Law. But Jesus, bending down towards the ground, began to write with His finger on the ground, ignoring their challenge.

7 When they continued asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, "The one who is sinless among you, let him be the first to throw the stone at her in execution."

8 Bending down once more towards the ground, He continued to write on the ground with His finger.

9 Now when they heard this challenge and their consciences were convicted, they began to depart, one by one, beginning with the older ones who had more life experience. Jesus was left alone—and the woman remained standing in the centre where they had placed her.

10 Jesus, straightening up and looking around, said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11 She said, "No one has condemned me, Lord." So Jesus said with compassion, "Neither do I condemn you to judgement. Go on your way, and from now on, sin no more."]]

Jesus the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them on another occasion, declaring, "I am the Light of the world. The one who follows Me as a disciple will never walk in the darkness of sin and ignorance, but will have the light of life that leads to salvation."

13 Then the Pharisees challenged Him and said to Him, "You are giving testimony regarding Yourself and Your own identity. Your testimony is not true or legally valid according to our standards."

14 Jesus answered and responded to them, "Even if I give testimony about Myself and bear witness to My own identity, My testimony is true and reliable, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.

15 You judge according to fleshly criteria and human standards. I do not judge anyone at this present time with condemnation.

16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and reliable, because I am not alone in My assessment—but I judge together with the Father who sent Me.

17 Even in your own Law, it stands written that the testimony of two witnesses is true and legally valid for establishing truth.

18 I am the One who gives testimony about Myself and My identity, and the Father who sent Me into the world gives testimony about Me."

19 So they were saying to Him, challenging His claim, "Where is Your Father? Where is this witness You speak of?" Jesus responded, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me and understood who I am, you would know My Father also, for we are one."

20 He spoke these words in the treasury area while teaching in the temple courts, and no one arrested Him, because His appointed hour had not yet come to fulfilment.

Where I Am Going You Are Not Able to Come

21 Then Jesus said to them again on another occasion, "I am going away from this world, and you will seek Me in the future, and you will die in your sin without forgiveness. Where I am going, you are not able to come or follow."

22 So the Jewish leaders were saying among themselves, "Will He kill Himself and commit suicide, since He is saying, 'Where I am going, you are not able to come'? Is that what He means?"

23 He was saying to them in explanation, "You are from below, from this earthly realm. I am from above, from the heavenly realm. You are from this world, with its values and ways. I am not from this world or share in its fallen order.

24 Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins, unforgiven and condemned. For unless you believe that I am, that I am the divine One, you will die in your sins without hope."

25 So they were saying to Him with frustration, "Who are You claiming to be? What is Your identity?" Jesus said to them, "I am precisely what I have been saying to you from the beginning of My ministry. I am who I claim to be.

26 I have much to say and to judge about you and your actions, but the One who sent Me is true and trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him, these things I declare to the world."

27 (They did not understand that He was speaking to them about God the Father and their relationship.)

28 Then Jesus said to them prophetically, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will understand and come to know that I am, the divine One, and that I do nothing from Myself or on My own initiative. Rather, I say these things just as the Father taught and instructed Me.

29 The One who sent Me is with Me continually. The Father has not left Me alone, because I always do the things that are acceptable and pleasing to Him."

30 As He was making these declarations, many people believed in Him and placed their faith in His identity.

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him and had acknowledged Him, "If you continue in My word, abiding in My teaching, you are truly My disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will liberate you from bondage."

33 They responded to Him with indignation, "We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time in our history. How can You claim, 'You will become free'? We are already free!"

34 Jesus answered them solemnly, "I tell you with absolute certainty and truth: Everyone who practises sin is a slave of sin.

35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever as a permanent member. The son remains in the house forever with full rights and inheritance.

36 So if the Son liberates you from sin's bondage, you will be truly free.

37 I acknowledge and recognise that you are physical descendants of Abraham. Yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word finds no place in your hearts.

38 I speak of what I have seen and witnessed with My Father in heaven. Therefore, you also practise what you have heard from your father, following his example."

You Are of Your Father the Devil

39 They replied and said to Him defensively, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were truly children of Abraham in spirit, you would do the works of Abraham, imitating his faith.

40 But now, at this present time, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this kind of thing.

41 You are doing the works and following the pattern of your father." They said to Him, offended, "We were not born through sexual immorality or illegitimacy. We have one father—God Himself."

42 Jesus said to them directly, "If God were truly your Father in a spiritual sense, you would love Me with genuine affection, for I came forth from God, and am here now in your presence. For I have not come from Myself or on My own initiative, but He sent Me as His commissioned representative.

43 Why do you not understand My speech and what I am saying? It is because you are not able to hear and receive My message.

44 You are of your father the devil, and you are willing to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth or abide in it, because there is no truth in him whatsoever. Whenever he speaks falsehood, he speaks from his own inherent disposition, because he is a liar by nature and the father of lies, the originator of all deception.

45 But because I am speaking the truth to you, you do not believe Me.

46 Who among you convicts Me of sin? If I am speaking the truth to you, why do you not believe Me and trust what I say?

47 The one who is from God and belongs to Him hears the words of God and receives them gladly. For this reason, you do not hear or receive them, because you are not from God."

Before Abraham Existed, I Am

48 The Jewish leaders answered and said to Him with hostility, "Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, a heretic, and have a demon possessing You?"

49 Jesus responded calmly, "I do not have a demon or evil spirit, but rather I honour My Father and give Him glory, and you dishonour Me and treat Me with contempt.

50 But I am not seeking My own glory or pursuing My own honour. There is One, the Father, who seeks it, and He judges those who reject Me.

51 I tell you with absolute certainty and truth: If anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death for all eternity. He will never experience spiritual death."

52 The Jewish leaders, therefore, said to Him, "Now we know with certainty that You have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, but You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death for all eternity.'

53 You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are You? The prophets also died! Who do You claim Yourself to be?”

54 Jesus responded, "If I glorify Myself and promote My own honour, My glory is worthless. It is My Father who glorifies Me, the One about whom you say, 'He is our God.'

55 Yet you have not known Him or have any relationship with Him, but I know Him intimately. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar just like you. But I know Him with certainty and keep His word faithfully.

56 Abraham your father greatly rejoiced that he would see My day, My coming and ministry, and he saw it prophetically and was glad."

57 So the Jewish leaders said to Him with scorn, "You are not yet fifty years old in age, and You claim to have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them with solemn authority, "I tell you with absolute certainty and truth: Before Abraham came into being, I am!" declaring His eternal, divine existence.

59 Then they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy, but Jesus hid His presence, and went out of the temple courts, passing through their midst unharmed.

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JHN 8: AFINT

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