John 8
World English Bible
WEB1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down and taught them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle, 4they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?” 6They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 9They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.” 12Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” 14Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” 19They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 21Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.” 22The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?” 23He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” 25They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.” 27They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30As he spoke these things, many believed in him. 31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 39They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 42Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.” 48Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.” 59Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
John Chapter 8 presents a powerful narrative that emphasizes the themes of light, truth, and freedom through the ministry of Jesus Christ. The chapter begins with the account of a woman caught in adultery, brought before Jesus by the Pharisees who seek to trap him. They remind Jesus that the Law of #Moses commands stoning for such an offense. However, Jesus responds with profound wisdom, saying, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). This statement leads to the accusers leaving one by one, and Jesus, showing compassion, tells the woman, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11). This moment illustrates Jesus' mission to offer grace and forgiveness, highlighting the transformative power of His love and mercy.
The chapter continues with Jesus declaring Himself as the light of the world, stating, "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). This declaration emphasizes the importance of following Christ to attain spiritual enlightenment and freedom from sin. The dialogue that follows between Jesus and the Pharisees reveals their disbelief and rejection of His identity as the Son of God. Jesus asserts His divine origin, saying, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58), which underscores His eternal nature and divinity. The chapter concludes with the Jews attempting to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but He miraculously escapes, affirming His authority and mission to bring salvation to humanity. This chapter serves as a reminder of the grace found in Christ and the call to live in His light, free from the bondage of sin.
Referenced by
- Exodus 3:14v58Exodus 3:14 reveals God's name as 'I AM,' which Jesus echoes in John 8:58, asserting His divinity and eternal existence.
- Leviticus 20:10v3Leviticus 20:10 states that both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. This law is referenced in John 8:3-5 when the Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, highlighting the tension between the Law and the grace Jesus embodies.
- Psalms 27:1v12Psalm 27:1 declares the Lord as light and salvation, which is echoed in John 8:12 where Jesus proclaims Himself as the light of the world, offering salvation.
- Psalms 43:3v12Psalm 43:3 calls for God's light and truth to lead the psalmist, which parallels Jesus' declaration in John 8:12 that He is the light of the world, guiding believers.
- Psalms 56:13v12Psalm 56:13 speaks of walking before God in the light of life, which is echoed in John 8:12 where Jesus declares Himself as the light of the world, offering the light of life.
- John 9:5v12In John 9:5, Jesus declares Himself the light of the world, a statement He also makes in John 8:12, highlighting His role as the spiritual illuminator and guide for humanity.
- Galatians 4:31v36Galatians 4:31 concludes with the affirmation that believers are not children of the bondwoman but of the free, resonating with John 8:36 where Jesus declares that the Son sets people free indeed.
- Galatians 5:1v36Galatians 5:1 speaks of the freedom Christ provides, which is echoed in John 8:36 where Jesus declares that if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- 1 John 1:5v121 John 1:5 declares that God is light, and in Him is no darkness, which aligns with John 8:12 where Jesus proclaims Himself as the light of the world, indicating the purity and truth found in God.
Topics in this chapter
- Light of the World
- Truth
- Forgiveness
- Freedom
- Jesus
- Mercy
- Divinity
- Grace
- Guidance in the Bible
- I AM
- Discipleship
- Salvation
- Compassion
- Eternal
- Faith
- Freedom in Christ
- Jerusalem
- Liberation
- Light
- Pharisees
- Redemption
- Religious Leaders
- Repentance
- Sin
- Spiritual Light
- Temple
- The Gospel
- Truth Sets Free
- Abraham
- Abraham's Seed
- Adultery
- Advent
- Art in the Bible
- Christ
- Christmas
- Civil Rights in the Biblical Context
- Commitment
- Covenant
- Darkness
- Deception
- Divine Identity
- Divine Light
- Divine Nature
- Divine Truth
- Divinity of Christ
- Eternal Existence
- Father and Son
- Freedom from Sin
- Freedom in Truth
- God
- Identity in Christ
- Illumination
- Jesus' Teachings
- Judgment
- Justice
- Life
- Messiah
- Mount of Olives
- New Life
- No Condemnation
- Obedience
- Opposition
- Patriarchs
- Preexistence of Christ
- Prophecy
- Reformation
- Righteousness
- Satan
- Scripture
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Illumination
- Spiritual Liberation
- Teacher
- Trinity
- Truth and Freedom
- Woman Caught in Adultery
Related chapters
- John 1Preexistence of ChristSpiritual IlluminationDivinity of Christ
- Exodus 3I AMDivine IdentityLiberation
- John 9Spiritual LightIlluminationCivil Rights in the Biblical Context
- Galatians 5Freedom in ChristLiberationReformation
- Isaiah 9ChristmasLiberationDivinity
- Romans 6Freedom from SinFreedom in ChristNew Life
- John 7Jesus' TeachingsReligious LeadersPharisees
- 1 John 1DarknessLightLife
- John 14I AMDivinity of ChristTrinity
- Isaiah 42Light of the WorldLiberationLight
- Romans 8No CondemnationFreedom in ChristLiberation
- Psalms 27Light
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