John 8 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: John 8:1-11: The woman caught in adultery

A. Find Out:    

1. What was Jesus doing and where? v.1,2
   • but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them.
2. Who brought who to Jesus? v.3
   • The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
3. What did they claim, what did they ask, and why? v.4-6a
   •  and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
4. What did Jesus do, what did he state? v.6b,7
   • But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’
5. What was the result? v.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.
6. What was Jesus’ final instruction to the woman? v.10,11  
   • Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11 ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’

B. Think:

1. Why do you think the Pharisees’ question was a trap?
2. Why do you think Jesus wrote on the ground?
3. What was the basis of Jesus’ judgement on this situation?

C. Comment:

The authorities are out to get Jesus. Was the woman a set up? No probably not otherwise Jesus would have exposed that. Where was the man who committed adultery with her? He was let off by the men who were the authorities, but probably they were not bothered much about her sin anyway, just that it was an opportunity to get Jesus!

If he condemned her the sympathetic crowd would be against him, and if he let her off, he would be seen to break the Law. Tricky! So Jesus bends down and writes in the dust. Some have suggested he wrote the sins of the people before him, but it is more likely that he simply ignored them and prayed to His Father for wisdom. His answer goes to the heart of all before him and they realise that they are not perfect and have no right to condemn. There is not one who can declare, “I am sinless”.    

Jesus’ way of dealing with these authorities is instructive. He did not look them in the eye while he is considering the question, nor after he has made his statement. His approach is entirely non-confrontational and low key. He allows the truth to do its work. 

D. Application:

1. Can we allow the truth to do its work or do we feel we need to attack    people who are coming at us unjustly?
2. Jesus does not accept sin but at the same time he always seeks to move in grace and mercy.

Passage: John 8:12-18: Light & rght judgment

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus declare himself to be? v.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.’
2. Why were the Pharisees objecting? v.13
   • The Pharisees challenged him, ‘Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.’
3. Why did Jesus say his testimony was valid? v.14
   • Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
4. How did he say they were judging? v.15
   • You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
5. Why did he say his decisions were right? v.16
   • But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
6. How, did he argue, adequate testimony was being given? v.17,18
   •  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.’

B. Think:

1. What does light do? How does this apply to Jesus and us?
2. How may it be said that the Pharisees’ complaint was unreasonable?
3. How did Jesus take it out of the material realm into the spiritual?

C. Comment:

Good and evil, light and darkness are always contrasted, and in this passage Jesus declares “I am the light of the world”, or “I am the goodness of the world”. Wherever Jesus went he brought goodness (he has just done so in the previous passage) and when he comes into our lives he brings goodness. To the foolish he brings wisdom, to the sinner he brings holiness and to the sad he brings gladness, transformation in every case, for the light excludes darkness.

This is a dynamic claim made by Jesus and of course it is objected to by the Pharisees. Rather than focusing on the truth of it, they complain that he shouldn’t say it because he is being his own witness. Who else could say it? John the Baptist was dead and they hadn’t believed him anyway? The disciples were still just learning the truth so they cannot be considered witnesses. Jesus reply to this is simple: he doesn’t appeal for human witnesses, he himself knows the truth and so does his heavenly Father who sent him, that is enough. This is going to cause some confusion to the Pharisees but they are confused already. Anyone who had received Jesus already would know the truth of what he was saying, and that is enough.

D. Application:

1. Jesus brings goodness into every area of our lives. Are we allowing him to do that?
2. Those who have received him know where Jesus has come from.

Passage: John 8:19-24: Questions

A. Find Out:

1. What did the Jews ask and what did Jesus reply? v.19
   • Then they asked him, ‘Where is your father?’ ‘You do not know me or my Father,’ Jesus replied. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’
2. Why was he not arrested? v.20
   •  He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
3. What 3 things did Jesus say would happen? v.21
   • Once more Jesus said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.’
4. What did the Jews wonder? v.22
   • This made the Jews ask, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, “Where I go, you cannot come”?’
5. What did Jesus say about his origin and their origin? v.23
   • But he continued, ‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
6. Why did he say they would die in their sins? v.24
   •  I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.’

B. Think:

1. On what basis does Jesus say we can have confidence in him?
2. Why are many unable to believe him?
3. What is their decreed end?

C. Comment:

Throughout this part Jesus speaks prophetically and as such speaks in a manner that those who are truly seeking God will understand but all others will be confused by (see Isaiah 6:10). So here again we see Jesus referring to his Father, declaring that if you know who Jesus is, you will also know his Father. (NB. In John’s Gospel Jesus refers to his Father over 90 times, in Matthew only 18, in Mark only 2, in Luke only 8).

At part of this prophetic utterance Jesus decrees the end of those who refuse to believe in him: they will die in their sins. Three times in these verses he says it, and so it comes as a clear warning for those who have ears to hear.

In the midst of all this Jesus keeps referring to the place where he will go but they cannot follow. In true prophet teaching style, he places before them truth that should provoke thought in the seeker. This is the classic form of teaching used by Jesus to provide sufficient for those who are seeking to enable them to come to a right conclusion, but in such a way that those who are not seeking will not be able to make sense of it. In that it reveals quite clearly those who are destined for eternal life and those who will die in their sins!

D. Application:

1. Jesus teaches for seekers!
2. Seekers will hear, think, understand and respond.

Passage: John 8:25-30: More misunderstandings

A. Find Out:

1. What did they ask Jesus and what was his reply? v.25
   • Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,’ Jesus replied.
2. What did he say he had to say about them? v.26
   • ‘I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.’
3. What did they not understand? v.27
   • They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.
4. When did Jesus say they would know what? v.28
   • So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
5. What did Jesus say he did? v.29
   • The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.’
6. What resulted from this? v.30
   • Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

B. Think:

1. What does Jesus reveal about his relationship to Father here?
2. What does he reveal about his end on earth?
3. What does this all say about his ministry?

C. Comment:

Jesus has been speaking about his origin in heaven and in such a way that the Jews listening found it hard to understand. In today’s passage he says a number of significant things.

First, he boldly says he has much to say in judgement of them. Jesus speaks words that are both comfort and judgement. They are comfort to followers but judgement to unbelievers. He has that right.

Second, he says why he has that right: because all he says is what he hears from his Father (in heaven) and God makes no mistakes, so what he, Jesus, says is correct. Jesus goes even further about his relationship with Father: he even claims that because he follows the Father and only says and does what Father says, all that he does is right and pleasing to the Father. That is a claim that can only come out of a secure relationship.

Third, Jesus indicates the manner of his death. To be sure it is in a very enigmatic way but for us, because we can see the end, we now know he was referring to his death on the Cross. Everything about this passage says Jesus knows WHO he is, WHY he has come and WHAT is his end. He is totally understanding his mission.

D. Application:

1. God wants us to have a secure and close relationship with Him so that we know that what we do is pleasing to Him.
2. God wants us to be sure of our mission.

Passage: John 8:31-36: More misunderstanding

A. Find Out:

1. What makes a disciple? v.31
   • To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
2. What then happens? v.32
   • Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
3. Why did the Jews object to this? v.33
   • They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’
4. What sort of slavery was Jesus speaking about? v.34
   • Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
5. How did he say a son and a slave differ? v.35
   • Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it for ever.
6. What freedom does Jesus speak of? v.36
   • So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

B. Think:

1. According to Jesus, from what do we need freedom?
2. How does he say that freedom comes?
3. What problem with all this did the Jews have?

C. Comment:

A number have just put their faith in Jesus (v.30) but to make sure they are genuinely going to be his disciples Jesus warns them that only someone who holds onto and lives out his teaching is really a disciple of his, and when a person does that they will know it is the truth and that will set them free.

At that they have a problem. They clearly only part understood, and they reveal their ties with the old traditions. Basically, what they are saying is, “What is this about freedom? We thought we were free already. We’ve never been slaves!” Well, that wasn’t true to start with! They had been slaves in both Egypt and Babylon and even know were under the rule of Rome. Not exactly freedom! But Jesus shows the freedom he is talking about is freedom from sin. A slave has a temporary place in the family he says (it could be sold off anytime) but a son will always have a place. The implication is that Abraham’s true children of faith WILL be considered sons but the natural descendants without faith may well be cast out and sold off because of sin.

Real freedom is freedom from sin and it only comes when Jesus sets you free. These Jews had to know more than a surface belief in Jesus, they had to realise their need and the answer to it.

D. Application:

1. All of us are (were) slaves to sin. We need(ed) a Saviour.
2. Jesus releases us completely from this slavery and makes us sons.

Passage: John 8:37-41: Abraham’s children?

A. Find Out:

1. What contradiction did Jesus point out? v.37
   •  I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
2. What did Jesus say he was telling? v.38a
   •  I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence
3. What did he say about them and what was their reply? v.38b,39a
   • you are doing what you have heard from your father.’ 39 ‘Abraham is our father,’ they answered.
4. Why did Jesus say that wasn’t true? v.39b,40
   • ‘If you were Abraham’s children,’ said Jesus, ‘then you would  do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
5. What did he say they were doing? v.41a
   • You are doing the works of your own father.’
6. What did they reply? v.41b
   • ‘We are not illegitimate children,’ they protested. ‘The only Father we have is God himself.’

B. Think:

1. What does Jesus reveal clearly about their intentions?
2. What is the point being made about Abraham?
3. What is Jesus inferring about the origin of their intentions?

C. Comment:

At the heart of this part of the discussion is the question, “Who is the father or originator of your actions” We may claim natural parentage but according to Jesus our behaviour indicates another parentage. There are only two options!

Jesus acknowledged that the Jews were descended from Abraham and indeed they claimed him as their father, yet Jesus claimed that they behaviour and intentions indicated that they were not truly sons of Abraham. Abraham was a friend of God, a man of faith, but by trying to kill the Son of God they show they are neither of these things. So, says Jesus, that means you have another father who does the things you are trying to do. Jesus will go on to identify their “father” as Satan (see tomorrow) and that is the clear conclusion: your intention and behaviour indicates who your true “father” is, and it will be either God or Satan.

We may wish to be a lot gentler in our assessment of intention and behaviour but the Bible is quite clear cut about it; you either follow God or allow Satan to lead you (see also 1 John 5:19), and the way you live indicates quite clearly who it is you follow!

D. Application:

1. Do I live and think as if the Holy God is my Father, so my actions and    thoughts are holy and righteous?
2. The alternative is that I let Satan lead me.

Passage: John 8:42-47: His Father, their father

A. Find Out:

1. What would the Jews do if God were their father and why? v.42
   • Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.
2. Why were they not understanding Jesus? v.43
   •  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
3. To who did they belong and what did they want to do? v.44a
   • You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.
4. What two characteristics of him are given? v.44b
   • He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
5. What were they doing in respect of Jesus? v.45,46
   • Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
6. What effect does a relationship with God have? v.47
   •  Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’

B. Think:

1. Why ultimately were the Jews unable to “hear” Jesus?
2. What is therefore needed if a person is to be able to hear God?
3. How do you think this affects each of us personally?

C. Comment:

Yesterday we saw how Jesus was saying that natural parenthood isn’t the real issue, it is spiritual parenthood. Now he focuses his argument even more and comes right out with the claim that their real father is Satan, because they show all the same characteristics as Satan. He was a murderer (death came through sin and killing became almost a natural part of the human race) and they now wanted to kill Jesus. If anyone desires to kill another person, it is a sign of the characteristic of Satan. Satan was also a liar and because they listened to his lies, they could not accept the truth that Jesus was speaking; it was almost as if they were actually unable to hear and take in what he was saying.

But to balance all this Jesus also says that it is only when you desire a relationship with God that you can hear God. Here is a profound truth. God is speaking all the time, but most people are unable to hear what he is saying because of their sin. It is only as they become aware of their folly and aware of the awfulness of their position that they will start reaching out to God and only then will they really start hearing and receiving the truth.

D. Application:

1. The natural man is blind and deaf to God.
2. It is only as the Holy Spirit works, as we pray, and the individual rejects their old values that truth starts being heard and received.

Passage: John 8:48-52: Accusations

A. Find Out:

1. Of what two things did they accuse Jesus? v.48
   • The Jews answered him, ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’
2. How did Jesus reply and what did he say he did? v.49
   • ‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ said Jesus, ‘but I honour my Father and you dishonour me.
3. What did he say he wasn’t doing? v.50a
   • I am not seeking glory for myself;
4. Yet what did he say about God? v.50b
   • but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.
5. What did he promise and on what condition? v.51
   • Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.’
6. How did the Jews seek to prove this wasn’t true? v.52
   • At this they exclaimed, ‘Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death

B. Think:

1. How were the Jews resorting to abuse?
2. What does this say about their state of mind and heart?
3. How does is Jesus seen to lay down yet another truth before them that they seem incapable of receiving?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just called them liars and sons of Satan and the Jews, somewhat understandably, are upset. They accuse him of being demon possessed which was, from a natural point of view, completely unlikely because he had just been denigrating Satan and Satan wouldn’t be against himself (as Jesus points out elsewhere!)

In reply to these accusations, Jesus simply denies it and then declares that he at least, seeks to honour his Father (which they don’t do because they reject the Son). And then comes an amazing promise: if you follow Jesus’ words you will never die. For us now, we can see that Jesus was promising everlasting life but for the Jews then this was just confusing. As they thought about this they reasoned with materialistic thinking and said that that can’t be so otherwise Abraham would still be alive. They are going on to challenge whether he believes he is greater than Abraham and of course the answer is yes, he is the Son of God!

Yet again we see it is the hostility in the hearts of these Jews that refuses to allow them to have a teachable spirit. Such a person would have gently asked him to explain. They simply rejected him!

D. Application:

1. Do we criticize what we don’t understand?
2. A teachable heart asks for it to be explained.

Passage: John 8:53-59: Questions, answers & hostility

A. Find Out:

1. What was the Jews’ objection to what Jesus had just said? v.53
   • Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?’
2. Why didn’t Jesus worry about getting glory? v.54
   •  Jesus replied, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me
3. Why did Jesus have to speak about his Father? v.55
   • Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.
4. What did Jesus say of Abraham & what was their response? v.56,57
   • Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ 57 ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’
5. What, in response, did Jesus claim? v.58
   • ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’
6. What was their reaction to this? v.59
   • At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

B. Think:

1. Why were the Jews objecting to Jesus’ words about Abraham?
2. What claim did Jesus bring out of this discussion?
3. What lesson comes out about seeking honour?

C. Comment:

As we said above, Jesus has just made the claim that anyone who keeps his word will not die. The Jews strongly objected to this. Abraham, they said, was our father and he died so are you saying that you are greater than him? Jesus eventual answer was that he existed before Abraham, and in fact his declaration, “I am” was reminiscent of God’s words to Moses (Exodus 3:14), “I AM”, and in this Jesus is making a clear claim to divinity. That this is so is quite obvious for the Jews went to stone him, obviously for blasphemy (the same is seen in John 10:30 -33).

Yet before Jesus comes to that he answers their abusive, “Who do you think you are” by basically saying, “I don’t need to defend myself. My Father will honour me and that is enough”. He then proceeded to elaborate on his relationship with his Father, who clearly was God in heaven, who he knew but they didn’t. Not only that, he says, Abraham looked forward to my coming. How, we might ask. Because Abraham knew that through his seed the world would be blessed (see Gen 22:18 , 26:4 & 28:14) and Jesus is that seed that brings that blessing

D. Application:

1. Jesus IS the “I am” on the earth, THE Son of God.
2. We can rest in God to allow Him to bring honour to us. We do not need to seek it for ourselves. He will bring it.