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Emden Christian Church

The Gospel of John Chapter 8

The Gospel of John Chapter 8

Study of John 8

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Tuesday 12:00 PM

Does John 7:53-8:11 Belong in the Bible?

We have come to a part of the bible in which the earliest manuscripts of John do not have this text. I don't know the real reason why this text has been included in our bibles, but it has been. Some people think that we could and should skip this text. I fall into that camp. I believe that if the earliest manuscripts and our ancient fathers do not include or deal with this text we should essentially ignore it as if it were not in our bibles.
http://www.gotquestions.org/John-7-53-8-11.html
SLAM! Or at least that's how I took these verses. Every time I read the words of the Pharisees I think to my self, "These guys are know-it-alls and I can't stand them." Then, Jesus says something to put them in their place and I get all giddy and laugh. Here Jesus is talking about His Self and tells everyone that He is the light in the darkness of the world. The Pharisees can't stand what He is teaching and tells Him that what He is teaching is invalid. I don't know if you've ever felt that way when talking about anything, but it's not pleasant. "You don't know what you are talking about," someone might tell you. Jesus, striking the snakes like He does, tells them that they don't know Him nor do they know the Father that sent Him. Confused, the Pharisees ask Who His Father is. Jesus, again, says you have know clue Who my Father is nor do you know Who you are talking to. In our world today, people who listen to the Truth have been drawn to the Father through the Spirit by Christ's words and actions. Those who do not understand what we are saying will not understand because they do not know Jesus. Yet, we still need to testify in the Name of Jesus about Him Who has sent us.
Jesus teaches the people a little more about His importance. Without Him, we will die in our sins. If we do not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will die. Jesus also teaches the people that He will have to die in order that everyone who follows Him can live. The people thought He might commit suicide because of what He was saying. Jesus tells them that they won't understand what He is saying because He is not from here, but from above. Sometimes I feel that way when I read Jesus' teachings. "Huh? What did you say, Jesus?" The great thing is that since Jesus has gone to be with the Father to prepare our place in Heaven we have the Holy Spirit Who helps us understand and remember Christ's teaching. Thank you, Jesus, for sending Your Spirit upon us!
Jesus continues His teaching by putting the people in their place. Many people heard what Jesus said and turned to Him as the Messiah. Here, Jesus sets the playing field - If you believe what I have said and follow Me, you are a child of God. If you do not believe what I have said and do not follow me, You are a child of the Devil. There is no in between. You may call yourself a child of Abraham, but the reality is that you are not a child of Abraham because you don't even do what Abraham did. There are only two paths - the one that leads to Christ and the one that leads to destruction. Which one are you on today? Are you listening to Jesus' words, putting them to heart, and following them? Or are you marching to the beat of your own drum straight to destruction? At the end of Jesus' teaching the people get so mad at what He is saying that they decide to stone Him to death. Jesus, using His ninja skills again, and slips away from the crowd. One thing that we need to know as the Church is that we will say something that people will not like. How are we going to respond to people trying to harm us in anyway? As Christ did by not backing down? Or will we fail to continue speaking the words of Christ? Jesus had to get away from the angry mob because it wasn't His time to die yet. When it was His time to die, Jesus took to the cross, put our lives on His shoulders, and died for our sins. Are we willing to go to the cross for our Lord?

At The Cross (Hymn)

Let us praise God for the Cross!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-lDWpmo6GA