WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudy

Bible
John8
Verses159
Chapter8
WRETCHEDNESSANDPITY(John7:53John8:111)
8:111AndeachofthemwenttohisownhousebutJesuswent
totheMountofOlives.Earlyinthemorninghewasagaininthe
Templeprecincts,andallthepeoplecametohim.Hesatdown
andwentonteachingthem.ThescribesandPhariseesbrought
awomanarrestedforadultery.Theysetherinthemidstand
saidtohim:"Teacher,thiswomanwasarrestedasshewas
committingadulteryintheveryact.InthelawMosesenjoined
ustostonewomenlikethis.Whatdoyousayabouther?"They
weretestinghimwhentheysaidthis,sothattheymighthave
somegroundonwhichtoaccusehim.Jesusstoopeddownand
wrotewithhisfingerontheground.Whentheywentonasking
himtheirquestion,hestraightenedhimselfandsaidtothem:
"Letthemanamongyouwhoiswithoutsinbethefirsttocasta
stoneather."Andagainhebentdownandwrotewithhisfinger
ontheground.Onebyonethosewhohadheardwhathesaid
wentout,beginningfromtheeldestdowntotheyoungest.So
Jesuswasleftalone,andthewomanwasstillthereinthe
midst.Jesusstraightenedhimselfandsaidtoher:"Woman,
wherearethey?Hasnoonecondemnedyou?"Shesaid:"No
one,sir."Jesussaid:"Iamnotgoingtopassjudgmentonyou
either.Go,andfromnowon,sinnomore."
[Thisincidentisnotincludedinalltheancientmanuscripts
andappearsonlyinafootnoteintheRevisedStandard
Versionsee:NOTEONTHESTORYOFTHEWOMANTAKEN
INADULTERY]
ThescribesandPhariseeswereouttogetsomechargeonwhichtheycould
discreditJesusandheretheythoughttheyhadimpaledhiminescapablyonthe
hornsofadilemma.Whenadifficultlegalquestionarose,thenaturalandroutine
thingwastotakeittoaRabbiforadecision.SothescribesandPharisees
approachedJesusasaRabbiwithawomantakeninadultery.
IntheeyesoftheJewishlawadulterywasaseriouscrime.TheRabbissaid:"Every
Jewmustdiebeforehewillcommitidolatry,murderoradultery."Adulterywas,in
factoneofthethreegravestsinsanditwaspunishableby,death,althoughthere
werecertaindifferencesinrespectofthewayinwhichthedeathpenaltywastobe
carriedout.Leviticus20:10laysitdown:"Ifamancommitsadulterywiththewifeof
hisneighbour,boththeadultererandtheadulteressshallbeputtodeath."Therethe
methodofdeathisnotspecified.Deuteronomy22:1324laysdownthepenaltyinthe
caseofagirlwhoisalreadybetrothed.Inacaselikethatsheandthemanwho
seducedheraretobebroughtoutsidethecitygates,"andyoushallstonethemto
deathwithstones."TheMishnah,thatis,theJewishcodifiedlaw,statesthatthe

penaltyforadulteryisstrangulation,andeventhemethodofstrangulationislaid
down."Themanistobeenclosedindunguptohisknees,andasofttowelset
withinaroughtowelistobeplacedaroundhisneck(inorderthatnomarkmaybe
made,forthepunishmentisGod'spunishment).Thenonemandrawsinone
directionandanotherintheotherdirection,untilhebedead."TheMishnahreiterates
thatdeathbystoningisthepenaltyforagirlwhoisbetrothedandwhothencommits
adultery.FromthepurelylegalpointofviewthescribesandPhariseeswereperfectly
correct.Thiswomanwasliabletodeathbystoning.
ThedilemmaintowhichtheysoughttoputJesuswasthis:Ifhesaidthatthewoman
oughttobestonedtodeath,twothingsfollowed.First,hewouldlosethenamehe
hadgainedforloveandformercyandneveragainwouldbecalledthefriendof
sinners.Second,hewouldcomeintocollisionwiththeRomanlaw,fortheJewshad
nopowertopassorcarryoutthedeathsentenceonanyone.Ifhesaidthatthe
womanshouldbepardoned,itcouldimmediatelybesaidthathewasteachingmen
tobreakthelawofMoses,andthathewascondoningandevenencouragingpeople
tocommitadultery.ThatwasthetrapinwhichthescribesandPhariseessoughtto
entrapJesus.Butheturnedtheirattackinsuchawaythatitrecoiledagainst
themselves.
AtfirstJesusstoopeddownandwrotewithhisfingerontheground.Whydidhedo
that?Theremaybefourpossiblereasons.
(i)Hemayquitesimplyhavewishedtogaintimeandnotberushedintoadecision.
Inthatbriefmomenthemayhavebeenboththinkingthethingoutandtakingitto
God.
(ii)Certainmanuscriptsadd,"Asthoughhedidnothearthem."Jesusmaywellhave
deliberatelyforcedthescribesandPhariseestorepeattheircharges,sothat,in
repeatingthem,theymightpossiblyrealizethesadisticcrueltywhichlaybehind
them.
(iii)SeeleyinEcceHomomakesaninterestingsuggestion."Jesuswasseizedwith
anintolerablesenseofshame.Hecouldnotmeettheeyeofthecrowd,orofthe
accusers,andperhapsatthatmomentleastofallofthewoman....Inhisburning
embarrassmentandconfusionhestoopeddownsoastohidehisface,andbegan
writingwithhisfingersupontheground."Itmaywellbethattheleering,lustfullook
onthefacesofthescribesandPharisees,thebleakcrueltyintheireyes,the
prurientcuriosityofthecrowd,theshameofthewoman,allcombinedtotwistthe
veryheartofJesusinagonyandpity,sothathehidhiseyes.
(iv)Byfarthemostinterestingsuggestionemergesfromcertainofthelater
manuscripts.TheArmeniantranslatesthepassagethisway:"Hehimself,bowinghis
head,waswritingwithhisfingerontheearthtodeclaretheirsinsandtheywere
seeingtheirseveralsinsonthestones."ThesuggestionisthatJesuswaswritingin
thedustthesinsoftheverymenwhowereaccusingthewoman.Theremaybe
somethinginthat.ThenormalGreekwordfortowriteisgraphein(Greek#1125)but
herethewordusediskatagraphein,whichcanmeantowritedownarecordagainst
someone.(Oneofthemeaningsofkata(Greek#2596)isagainst).SoinJob13:26
Jobsays:"Thouwritest(katagraphein)bitterthingsagainstme."Itmaybethat
Jesuswasconfrontingthoseselfconfidentsadistswiththerecordoftheirownsins.
Howeverthatmaybe,thescribesandPhariseescontinuedtoinsistonananswer
andtheygotit.Jesussaidineffect:"Allright!Stoneher!Butletthemanthatis
withoutsinbethefirsttocastastone."Itmaywellbethatthewordforwithoutsin
(anamartetos,Greek#361)meansnotonlywithoutsin,butevenwithoutasinful
desire.Jesuswassaying:"Yes,youmaystoneherbutonlyifyouneverwantedto
dothesamethingyourselves."Therewasasilenceandthenslowlytheaccusers
driftedaway.
SoJesusandthewomanwereleftalone.AsAugustineputit:"Thereremaineda
greatmisery(miseria)andagreatpity(misericordia)."Jesussaidtothewoman:
"Hasnoonecondemnedyou?""Noone,sir,"shesaid.Jesussaid:"Iamnotforthe
momentgoingtopassjudgmentonyoueither.Go,andmakeanewstart,anddon't
sinanymore."

WRETCHEDNESSANDPITY(John7:53John8:111continued)
Thispassageshowsustwothingsabouttheattitudeofthescribesandthe
Pharisees.
(i)Itshowsustheirconceptionofauthority.ThescribesandthePhariseeswerethe
legalexpertsofthedaytothemproblemsweretakenfordecision.Itisclearthatto
themauthoritywascharacteristicallycritical,censoriousandcondemnatory.That
authorityshouldbebasedonsympathy,thatitsaimshouldbetoreclaimthecriminal
andthesinner,neverenteredtheirheads.Theyconceivedoftheirfunctionasgiving
themtherighttostandoverotherslikegriminvigilators,towatchforeverymistake
andeverydeviationfromthelaw,andtodescendonthemwithsavageand
unforgivingpunishmenttheyneverdreamedthatitmightlayuponthemthe
obligationtocurethewrongdoer.
Therearestillthosewhoregardapositionofauthorityasgivingthemtherightto
condemnandthedutytopunish.Theythinkthatsuchauthorityastheyhavehas
giventhemtherighttobemoralwatchdogstrainedtotearthesinnertopiecesbut
alltrueauthorityisfoundedonsympathy.WhenGeorgeWhitefieldsawthecriminal
onthewaytothegallows,heutteredthefamoussentence:"There,butforthegrace
ofGod,goI."
Thefirstdutyofauthorityistotrytounderstandtheforceofthetemptationswhich
drovethesinnertosinandtheseductivenessofthecircumstancesinwhichsin
becamesoattractive.Nomancanpassjudgmentonanotherunlessheatleasttries
tounderstandwhattheotherhascomethrough.Theseconddutyofauthorityisto
seektoreclaimthewrongdoer.Anyauthoritywhichissolelyconcernedwith
punishmentiswronganyauthority,which,initsexercise,drivesawrongdoereither
todespairortoresentment,isafailure.Thefunctionofauthorityisnottobanishthe
sinnerfromalldecentsociety,stilllesstowipehimoutitistomakehimintoagood
man.Themansetinauthoritymustbelikeawisephysicianhisonedesiremustbe
toheal.
(ii)ThisincidentshowsvividlyandcruellytheattitudeofthescribesandPharisees
topeople.Theywerenotlookingonthiswomanasapersonatalltheywerelooking
onheronlyasathing,aninstrumentwherebytheycouldformulateachargeagainst
Jesus.Theywereusingher,asamanmightuseatool,fortheirownpurposes.To
themshehadnoname,nopersonality,nofeelingsshewassimplyapawninthe
gamewherebytheysoughttodestroyJesus.
Itisalwayswrongtoregardpeopleasthingsitisalwaysunchristiantoregard
peopleascases.ItwassaidofBeatriceWebb,afterwardsLadyPassfield,the
famouseconomist,that"shesawmenasspecimenswalking."Dr.PaulTournierinA
Doctor'sCasebooktalksofwhathecalls"thepersonalismoftheBible."Hepoints
outhowfondtheBibleisofnames.GodsaystoMoses:"Iknowyoubyname"
(Exodus33:17).GodsaidtoCyrus"ItisI,theGodofIsrael,whocallyoubyyour
name"(Isaiah45:3).TherearewholepagesofnamesintheBible.Dr.Tournier
insiststhatthisisproofthattheBiblethinksofpeoplefirstandforemost,notas
fractionsofthemass,orabstractions,orideas,orcases,butaspersons."The
propername,"Dr.Tournierwrites,"isthesymboloftheperson.IfIforgetmy
patients'names,ifIsaytomyself,'Ah!There'sthatgallbladdertypeorthat
consumptivethatIsawtheotherday,'Iaminterestingmyselfmoreintheirgall
bladdersorintheirlungsthaninthemselvesaspersons."Heinsiststhatapatient
mustbealwaysaperson,andneveracase.
ItisextremelyunlikelythatthescribesandthePhariseesevenknewthiswoman's
name.Tothemshewasnothingbutacaseofshamelessadulterythatcouldnowbe
usedasaninstrumenttosuittheirpurposes.Theminutepeoplebecomethingsthe
spiritofChristianityisdead.
GoduseshisauthoritytolovemenintogoodnesstoGodnopersoneverbecomesa
thing.Wemustusesuchauthorityaswehavealwaystounderstandandalwaysat
leasttotrytomendthepersonwhohasmadethemistakeandwewillnevereven
begintodothatunlesswerememberthateverymanandwomanisaperson,nota
thing.

WRETCHEDNESSANDPITY(John7:53John8:111continued)
Further,thisincidenttellsusagreatdealaboutJesusandhisattitudetothe
sinner.
(i)ItwasafirstprincipleofJesusthatonlythemanwhohimselfiswithoutfault
hastherighttoexpressjudgmentonthefaultofothers."Judgenot,"saidJesus,
"thatyoubenotjudged"(Matthew7:1).Hesaidthatthemanwhoattemptedtojudge
hisbrotherwaslikeamanwithaplankinhisowneyetryingtotakeaspeckofdust
outofsomeoneelse'seye(Matthew7:35).Oneofthecommonestfaultsinlifeis
thatsomanyofusdemandstandardsfromothersthatwenevereventrytomeet
ourselvesandsomanyofuscondemnfaultsinotherswhichareglaringlyobviousin
ourownlives.Thequalificationforjudgingisnotknowledgeweallpossessthatitis
achievementingoodnessnoneofusisperfectthere.Theveryfactsofthehuman
situationmeanthatonlyGodhastherighttojudge,forthesimplereasonthatno
manisgoodenoughtojudgeanyother.
(ii)ItwasalsoafirstprinciplewithJesusthatourfirstemotiontowardsanyone
whohasmadeamistakeshouldbepity.Ithasbeensaidthatthedutyofthedoctor
is"sometimestoheal,oftentoaffordreliefandalwaystobringconsolation."Whena
personsufferingfromsomeailmentisbroughttoadoctor,hedoesnotregardhim
withloathingevenifheissufferingfromaloathsomedisease.Infactthephysical
revulsionwhichissometimesinevitableisswallowedupbythegreatdesiretohelp
andtoheal.Whenweareconfrontedwithsomeonewhohasmadeamistake,our
firstfeelingoughttobe,not,"I'llhavenothingmoretodowithsomeonewhocould
actlikethat,"but,"WhatcanIdotohelp?WhatcanIdotoundotheconsequences
ofthismistake?"Quitesimply,wemustalwaysextendtoothersthesame
compassionatepitywewouldwishtobeextendedtoourselvesifwewereinvolvedin
alikesituation.
(iii)ItisveryimportantthatweshouldunderstandjusthowJesusdidtreatthis
woman.Itiseasytodrawthewronglessonaltogetherandtogaintheimpression
thatJesusforgavelightlyandeasily,asifthesindidnotmatter.Whathesaidwas:
"Iamnotgoingtocondemnyoujustnowgo,andsinnomore."Ineffectwhathe
wasdoingwasnottoabandonjudgmentandsay,"Don'tworryit'squiteallright."
Whathedidwas,asitwere,todefersentence.Hesaid,"Iamnotgoingtopassa
finaljudgmentnowgoandprovethatyoucandobetter.Youhavesinnedgoand
sinnomoreandI'llhelpyouallthetime.Attheendofthedaywewillseehowyou
havelived."Jesus'attitudetothesinnerinvolvedanumberofthings.
(a)Itinvolvedthesecondchance.ItisasifJesussaidtothewoman:"Iknow
youhavemadeamessofthingsbutlifeisnotfinishedyetIamgivingyouanother
chance,thechancetoredeemyourself."Someonehaswrittenthelines:
"HowIwishthattherewassomewonderfulplace
CalledtheLandofBeginningAgain,
Whereallourmistakesandalloutheartaches
Andallourpoorselfishgrief
Couldbedroppedlikeashabbyoldcoatatthedoor,
Andneverputonagain."
InJesusthereisthegospelofthesecondchance.Hewasalwaysintensely
interested,notonlyinwhatapersonhadbeen,butalsoinwhatapersoncouldbe.
Hedidnotsaythatwhattheyhaddonedidnotmatterbrokenlawsandbroken
heartsalwaysmatterbuthewassurethateverymanhasafutureaswellasapast.
(b)Itinvolvedpity.ThebasicdifferencebetweenJesusandthescribesand
Phariseeswasthattheywishedtocondemnhewishedtoforgive.Ifweread
betweenthelinesofthisstoryitisquiteclearthattheywishedtostonethiswoman
todeathandweregoingtotakepleasureindoingso.Theyknewthethrillof
exercisingthepowertocondemnJesusknewthethrillofexercisingthepowerto
forgive.JesusregardedthesinnerwithpitybornoflovethescribesandPharisees

regardedhimwithdisgustbornofselfrighteousness.
(c)Itinvolvedchallenge.Jesusconfrontedthiswomanwiththechallengeofthe
sinlesslife.Hedidnotsay:"It'sallrightdon'tworryjustgoonasyouaredoing."
Hesaid:"It'sallwronggooutandfightchangeyourlifefromtoptobottomgo,and
sinnomore."Herewasnoeasyforgivenessherewasachallengewhichpointeda
sinnertoheightsofgoodnessofwhichshehadneverdreamed.Jesusconfrontsthe
badlifewiththechallengeofthegood.
(d)Itinvolvedbeliefinhumannature.Whenwecometothinkofit,itisastaggering
thingthatJesusshouldsaytoawomanofloosemorals:"Go,andsinnomore."The
amazing,heartupliftingthingabouthimwashisbeliefinmenandwomen.Whenhe
wasconfrontedwithsomeonewhohadgonewrong,hedidnotsay:"Youarea
wretchedandahopelesscreature."Hesaid:"Go,andsinnomore."Hebelievedthat
withhishelpthesinnerhasitinhimtobecomethesaint.Hismethodwasnotto
blastmenwiththeknowledgewhichtheyalreadypossessedthattheywere
miserablesinners,buttoinspirethemwiththeunglimpseddiscoverythattheywere
potentialsaints.
(e)Itinvolvedwarning,clearlyunspokenbutimplied.Herewearefacetofacewith
theeternalchoice.Jesusconfrontedthewomanwithachoicethatdayeithertogo
backtoheroldwaysortoreachouttothenewwaywithhim.Thisstoryis
unfinished,foreverylifeisunfinisheduntilitstandsbeforeGod.
[Aswenotedatthebeginning,thisstorydoesnotappearinalltheancient
manuscripts.SeetheNoteontheStoryoftheWomanTakeninAdultery(John8:2
11).]
NoteOnTheStoryOfTheWomanTakenInAdultery(John8:211)
Tomanythisisoneoftheloveliestandthemostpreciousstoriesinthegospels
andyetithasgreatdifficultiesattachingtoit.
TheolderthemanuscriptsoftheNewTestamentare,themorevaluabletheyare.
Theywereallcopiedbyhand,andobviouslythenearertheyaretotheoriginal
writingsthemorelikelytheyaretobecorrect.Wecalltheseveryearlymanuscripts
theUncialmanuscripts,becausetheyarewrittenincapitallettersandwebasethe
textofthe,NewTestamentontheearliestones,whichdatefromthefourthtothe
sixthcentury.Thefactisthatofalltheseearlymanuscriptsthisstoryoccursonlyin
one,andthatisnotoneofthebest.Sixofthemomititcompletely.Twoleavea
blankspacewhereitshouldcome.ItisnottillwecometothelateGreek
manuscriptsandthemedievalmanuscriptsthatwefindthisstory,andeventhenitis
oftenmarkedtoshowthatitisdoubtful.
AnothersourceofourknowledgeofthetextoftheNewTestamentiswhatarecalled
theversionsthatis,thetranslationsintolanguagesotherthanGreek.Thisstoryis
notincludedintheearlySyriacversion,norintheCopticorEgyptianversion,norin
someoftheearlyLatinversions.
Again,noneoftheearlyfathersseemstoknowanythingaboutit.Certainlythey
nevermentionitorcommentonit.Origen,Chrysostom,TheodoreofMopsuestia,
CyrilofAlexandriaontheGreeksidedonotmentionit.ThefirstGreekcommentator
toremarkonitisEuthymiusZigabenuswhosedateisA.D.1118,andevenhesays
thatitisnotinthebestmanuscripts.
Where,then,didthisincidentcomefrom?Jeromecertainlyknewitinthefourth
century,forheincludeditintheVulgate.WeknowthatAugustineandAmbroseboth
knewit,fortheycommentonit.Weknowthatitisinallthelatermanuscripts.Itis
tobenotedthatitspositionvariesagreatdeal.Insomemanuscriptsitisputatthe
endofthefourthgospelandinsomeitisinsertedafterLuke21:38.
Butwecantraceitevenfurtherback.ItisquotedinathirdcenturybookcalledThe
ApostolicConstitutions,whereitisgivenasawarningtobishopswhoaretoostrict.
Eusebius,theChurchhistorian,saysthatPapiastellsastory"ofawomanwhowas
accusedofmanysinsbeforetheLord,"andPapiaslivednotverylongafterA.D.
100.

Here,then,arethefacts.Thisstorycanbetracedasfarbackasveryearlyinthe
secondcentury.WhenJeromeproducedtheVulgatehe,withoutquestion,included
it.Thelatermanuscriptsandthemedievalmanuscriptsallhaveit.Andyetnoneof
thegreatmanuscriptsincludesit.NoneofthegreatGreekfathersoftheChurchever
mentionsit.ButsomeofthegreatLatinfathersdidknowit,andspeakofit.
Whatistheexplanation?Weneednotbeafraidthatweshallhavetoletthislovely
storygoforitisguaranteeenoughofitsgenuinenessthatwecantraceitbackto
almostA.D.100.Butwedoneedsomeexplanationofthefactthatnoneofthegreat
manuscriptsincludesit.Moffatt,WeymouthandRieuprintitinbracketsandthe
RevisedStandardVersionprintsitinsmalltypeatthefootofthepage.
Augustinegivesusahint.Hesaysthatthisstorywasremovedfromthetextofthe
gospelbecause"somewereofslightfaith,"and"toavoidscandal."Wecannottell
forcertain,butitwouldseemthatintheveryearlydaysthepeoplewhoeditedthe
textoftheNewTestamentthoughtthatthiswasadangerousstory,ajustificationfor
alightviewofadultery,andthereforeomittedit.Afterall,theChristianChurchwasa
littleislandinaseaofpaganism.Itsmembersweresoapttorelapseintoawayof
lifewherechastitywasunknownandwereforeveropentopaganinfection.Butas
timewentonthedangergrewless,orwaslessfeared,andthestory,whichhad
alwayscirculatedbywordofmouthandwhichonemanuscriptretained,cameback.
Itisnotlikelythatitisnowintheplacewhereitoughttobe.Itwasprobablyinserted
heretoillustrateJesus'sayinginJohn8:15:"Ijudgenoman."Inspiteofthedoubt
thatthemoderntranslationscastonit,andinspiteofthefactthattheearly
manuscriptsdonotincludeit,wemaybesurethatthisisarealstoryaboutJesus,
althoughonesograciousthatforlongmenwereafraidtotellit.
THELIGHTMENFAILEDTORECOGNIZE(John8:1220)
8:1220SoJesusagaincontinuedtospeaktothem."Iamthe
LightoftheWorld,"hesaid."Hewhofollowsmewillnotwalkin
darkness,buthewillhavethelightoflife."SothePharisees
saidtohim:"Youarebearingwitnessaboutyourself.Your
witnessisnottrue."Jesusanswered:"EvenifIdobearwitness
aboutmyself,mywitnessistrue,becauseIknowwhereIcame
fromandwhereIamgoingto.YoudonotknowwhereIcame
fromandwhereIamgoingto.Youformyourjudgmentson
purelyhumangrounds.Idonotjudgeanyone.ButifIdoforma
judgment,myjudgmentistrue,becauseIamnotaloneinmy
judgment,butIandtheFatherwhosentmejoininsucha
judgment.Itstandswritteninyourlaw,thatthewitnessoftwo
personsistobeacceptedastrue.ItisIwhowitnessabout
myself,andtheFatherwhosentmealsowitnessesaboutme."
Theysaidtohim:"WhereisyourFather?"Jesusanswered:
"YouknowneithermenormyFather.Ifyouhadknownmeyou
wouldknowmyFathertoo."Hespokethesewordsinthe
treasurywhilehewasteachingintheTempleprecinctsandno
onelaidviolenthandsuponhim,becausehishourhadnotyet
come.
ThesceneofthisargumentwiththeJewishauthoritieswasintheTempletreasury,
whichwasintheCourtoftheWomen.ThefirstTemplecourtwastheCourtofthe
GentilesthesecondwastheCourtoftheWomen.Itwassocalledbecausewomen
mightnotpassbeyonditunlesstheywereactuallyabouttooffersacrificeonthe
altarwhichwasintheCourtofthePriests.RoundtheCourtoftheWomentherewas
acolonnadeorporchand,inthatporch,setagainstthewall,therewerethirteen
treasurechestsintowhichpeopledroppedtheirofferings.ThesewerecalledThe
Trumpetsbecausetheywereshapedliketrumpets,narrowatthetopandswelling
outtowardsthefoot.
Thethirteentreasurechestsallhadtheirallottedoffering.Intothefirsttwowere
droppedthehalfshekelswhicheveryJewhadtopaytowardstheupkeepofthe
Temple.Intothethirdandfourthweredroppedsumswhichwouldpurchasethetwo
pigeonswhichawomanhadtoofferforherpurificationafterthebirthofachild
(Leviticus12:8).Intothefifthwereputcontributionstowardsthecostofthewood

whichwasneededtokeepthealtarfirealight.Intothesixthweredropped
contributionstowardsthecostoftheincensewhichwasusedattheTemple
services.Intotheseventhwentcontributionstowardstheupkeepofthegolden
vesselswhichwereusedattheseservices.Sometimesamanorafamilysetapart
acertainsumtomakesometrespassorthankofferingintotheremainingsix
trumpetspeopledroppedanymoneywhichremainedaftersuchanofferinghadbeen
made,oranythingextrawhichtheywishedtooffer.
ClearlytheTempletreasurywouldbeabusyplace,withaconstantflowof
worshipperscomingandgoing.Therewouldbenobetterplacetocollectanaudience
ofdevoutpeopleandtoteachthemthantheTempletreasury.
InthispassageJesusmakesthegreatclaim:"IamtheLightoftheWorld."Itisvery
likelythatthebackgroundagainstwhichhemadeitmadeitdoublyvividand
impressive.ThefestivalwithwhichJohnconnectsthesediscoursesistheFestival
ofTabernacles(John7:2).Wehavealreadyseen(John7:37)howitsceremonies
lentdramatoJesus'claimtogivetomenthelivingwater.Buttherewasanother
ceremonyconnectedwiththisfestival.
OntheeveningofitsfirstdaytherewasaceremonycalledTheIlluminationofthe
Temple.IttookplaceintheCourtoftheWomen.Thecourtwassurroundedwith
deepgalleries,erectedtoholdthespectators.Inthecentrefourgreatcandelabra
wereprepared.Whenthedarkcamethefourgreatcandelabrawerelitand,itwas
said,theysentsuchablazeoflightthroughoutJerusalemthateverycourtyardwas
litupwiththeirbrilliance.Thenallnightlong,untilcockcrowthenextmorning,the
greatestandthewisestandtheholiestmeninIsraeldancedbeforetheLordand
sangpsalmsofjoyandpraisewhilethepeoplewatched.Jesusissaying:"Youhave
seentheblazeoftheTempleilluminationspiercingthedarknessofthenight.Iam
theLightoftheWorld,and,forthemanwhofollowsmetherewillbelight,notonly
foroneexcitingnight,butforallthepathwayofhislife.ThelightintheTempleisa
brilliantlight,butintheenditflickersanddies.IamtheLightwhichlastsforever."
THELIGHTMENFAILEDTORECOGNIZE(John8:1220continued)
Jesussaid:"Hewhofollowsmewillnotwalkindarkness,butwillhavethelightof
life."Thelightoflifemeanstwothings.TheGreekcanmeaneitherthelightwhich
issuesfromthesourceoflifeorthelightwhichgiveslife.Inthispassageitmeans
both.JesusistheverylightofGodcomeamongmenandheisthelightwhich
givesmenlife.Justastheflowercanneverblossomwhenitneverseesthe
sunlight,soourlivescanneverflowerwiththegraceandbeautytheyoughttohave
untiltheyareirradiatedwiththelightofthepresenceofJesus.
InthispassageJesustalksoffollowinghimself.WeoftenspeakoffollowingJesus
weoftenurgementodoso.Whatdowemean?TheGreekfortofollowis
akolouthein(Greek#190)anditsmeaningscombinetoshedafloodoflightonwhat
itmeanstofollowJesus.Akolouthein(Greek#190)hasfivedifferentbutclosely
connectedmeanings.
(i)Itisoftenusedofasoldierfollowinghiscaptain.Onthelongroutemarches,into
battle,incampaignsinstrangelands,thesoldierfollowswhereverthecaptainmay
lead.TheChristianisthesoldierwhosecommanderisChrist.
(ii)Itisoftenusedofaslaveaccompanyinghismaster.Whereverthemastergoes
theslaveisinattendanceuponhim,alwaysreadytospringtohisserviceandto
carryoutthetaskshegiveshimtodo.Heisliterallyathismaster'sbeckandcall.
TheChristianistheslavewhosejoyitisalwaystoserveChrist.
(iii)Itisoftenusedofacceptingawisecounsellor'sopinion.Whenamanisindoubt
hegoestotheexpert,andifheiswiseheacceptsthejudgmenthereceives.The
ChristianisthemanwhoguideshislifeandconductbythecounselofChrist.
(iv)Itisoftenusedofgivingobediencetothelawsofacityorastate.Ifamanisto
beausefulmemberofanysocietyorcitizenofanycommunity,hemustagreeto
abidebyitslaws.TheChristian,beingacitizenofthekingdomofheaven,accepts
thelawofthekingdomandofChristasthelawwhichgovernshislife.

(v)Itisoftenusedoffollowingateacher'slineofargument,oroffollowingthegistof
someone'sspeech.TheChristianisthemanwhohasunderstoodthemeaningofthe
teachingofChrist.Hehasnotlistenedindullincomprehensionorwithslack
inattention.Hetakesthemessageintohismindandunderstands,receivesthe
wordsintohismemoryandremembers,andhidestheminhisheartandobeys.
TobeafollowerofChrististogiveoneselfbody,soulandspiritintotheobedience
oftheMasterandtoenteruponthatfollowingistowalkinthelight.Whenwewalk
aloneweareboundtostumbleandgrope,forsomanyoflife'sproblemsarebeyond
oursolution.Whenwewalkaloneweareboundtotakethewrongway,becausewe
havenosecuremapoflife.Weneedtheheavenlywisdomtowalktheearthlyway.
Themanwhohasasureguideandanaccuratemapisthemanwhoisboundto
comeinsafetytohisjourney'send.JesusChrististhatguidehealonepossesses
themaptolife.Tofollowhimistowalkinsafetythroughlifeandafterwardstoenter
intoglory.
THELIGHTMENFAILEDTORECOGNIZE(John8:1220continued)
WhenJesusmadehisclaimtobetheLightoftheWorldthescribesandPharisees
reactedwithhostility.Thatclaimwouldsoundevenmoreastonishingtothemthanto
us.TothemitwouldsoundlikeaclaimasindeeditwastobetheMessiah,and,
evenmore,todotheworkthatonlyGodcoulddo.Thewordlightwasspecially
associatedinJewishthoughtandlanguagewithGod."TheLordismylight"(Psalms
27:1)."TheLordwillbeyoureverlastinglight"(Isaiah60:19)."ByhislightIwalked
throughdarkness"(Job29:3)."WhenIsitindarknesstheLordwillbealighttome"
(Micah7:8).TheRabbisdeclaredthatthenameoftheMessiahwasLight.When
JesusclaimedtobetheLightoftheWorld,hewasmakingaclaimthanwhichnone
couldpossiblybehigher.
Theargumentofthispassageisdifficultandcomplicated,butitinvolvesthree
strands.
(i)TheJewsfirstinsistedthatastatementsuchasJesusmadecouldnotbe
regardedasaccuratebecauseitwasbackedbyinsufficientwitness.Itwas,asthey
sawit,backedbyhiswordaloneanditwasJewishlawthatanystatementmustbe
foundedontheevidenceoftwowitnessesbeforeitcouldberegardedastrue."A
singlewitnessshallnotprevailagainstamanforanycrimeorforanywrongin
connectionwithanyoffencethathehascommittedonlyontheevidenceoftwo
witnesses,orofthreewitnesses,shallachargebesustained"(Deuteronomy19:15).
"Ontheevidenceoftwowitnessesorofthreewitnesseshethatistodieshallbeput
todeathapersonshallnotbeputtodeathontheevidenceofonewitness"
(Deuteronomy17:6)."Nopersonshallbeputtodeathonthetestimonyofone
witness"(Numbers35:30).Jesus'answerwastwofold.
First,heansweredthathisownwitnesswasenough.Hewassoconsciousofhis
ownauthoritythatnootherwitnesswasnecessary.Thiswasnotprideorself
confidence.Itwassimplythesupremeinstanceofthekindofthingwhichhappens
everyday.Agreatsurgeonisconfidentinhisownverdicthedoesnotneedanyone
tosupporthimhiswitnessishisownskill.Agreatlawyerorjudgeissureofhisown
interpretationandapplicationofthelaw.Itisnotthatheisproudofhisown
knowledgeitissimplythatheknowsthatheknows.Jesuswassoawareofhis
closenesstoGodthatheneedednootherauthorityforhisclaimsthanhisown
relationshiptoGod.
Second,Jesussaidthatinpointoffacthehadasecondwitness,andthatsecond
witnesswasGod.HowdoesGodbearwitnesstothesupremeauthorityofJesus?
(a)ThewitnessofGodisinJesus'words.Nomancouldspeakwithsuchwisdom
unlessGodhadgivenhimknowledge.(b)ThewitnessofGodisinJesus'deeds.No
mancoulddosuchthingsunlessGodwasactingthroughhim.(c)Thewitnessof
GodisintheeffectofJesusuponmen.Heworkschangesinmenwhichare
obviouslybeyondhumanpowertowork.TheveryfactthatJesuscanmakebadmen
goodisproofthathispowerisnotsimplyaman'spower,butGod's.(d)Thewitness
ofGodisinthereactionofmentoJesus.WhereverandwheneverJesushasbeen
fulldisplayed,whereverandwhenevertheCrosshasbeenpreachedinallits
grandeuranditssplendour,therehasbeenanimmediateandoverwhelming
responseintheheartsofmen.ThatresponseistheHolySpiritofGodworkingand

witnessingintheheartsofmen.ItisGodinourheartswhoenablesustoseeGodin
Jesus.
JesusdealtinthiswaywiththeargumentofthescribesandPhariseesthathis
wordscouldnotbeacceptedbecauseofinadequatewitness.Hiswordswereinfact
backedbyadoublewitness,thatofhisownconsciousnessofauthorityandthatof
God.
(ii)Second,Jesusdealtwithhisrighttojudge.Hiscomingintotheworldwasnot
primarilyforjudgmentitwasforlove.Atthesametimeaman'sreactiontoJesusis
initselfajudgmentifheseesnobeautyinhim,hecondemnshimself.HereJesus
drawsacontrastbetweentwokindsofjudgment.
(a)Thereisthejudgmentthatisbasedonhumanknowledgeandhumanstandards
andwhichneverseesbelowthesurface.Thatwasthejudgmentofthescribesand
Phariseesand,inthelastanalysis,thatisanyhumanjudgment,forinthenatureof
thingsmencanneverseebelowthesurfaceofthings.
(b)Thereisthejudgmentthatisbasedonknowledgeofallthefacts,eventhe
hiddenfacts,andthatcanbelongonlytoGod.Jesusclaimsthatanyjudgmenthe
passesisnotahumanoneitisGod'sbecauseHeissoonewithGod.Thereinlies
atonceourcomfortandourwarning.OnlyJesusknowsallthefacts.Thatmakes
himmercifulasnoneothercaneverbebutitalsoenableshimtoseethesinsinus
whicharehiddenfromtheeyesofmen.ThejudgmentofJesusisperfectbecauseit
ismadewiththeknowledgewhichbelongstoGod.
(iii)Lastly,JesusbluntlytoldthescribesandPhariseesthattheyhadnoreal
knowledgeofGod.Thefactthattheydidnotrecognizehimforwhoandwhathewas
wastheproofthattheydidnot.ThetragedywasthatthewholehistoryofIsraelhad
beendesignedsothattheJewsshouldrecognizetheSonofGodwhenhecamebut
theyhadbecomesoinvolvedwiththeirownideas,sointentontheirownway,so
sureoftheirownconceptionofwhatreligionwasthattheyhadbecomeblindtoGod.
THEFATALINCOMPREHENSION(John8:2130)
8:2130Sohesaidtothemagain:"Iamgoingaway,andyou
willsearchforme,andyouwilldieinyoursin.Youcannotcome
whereIamgoing."SotheJewssaid:"Surelyheisnotgoingto
killhimself,becauseheissaying:'YoucannotcomewhereIam
going'?"Hesaidtothem:"Youarefrombelow,butIamfrom
above.Youbelongtothisworld,butIdonotbelongtothis
world.Isaidtoyouthatyouwilldieinyoursins.Forifyouwill
notbelievethatIamwhoIam,youwilldieinyoursins."They
saidtohim:"Whoareyou?"Jesussaidtothem:"AnythingIam
sayingtoyouisonlythebeginning.Ihavemanythingstosay
aboutyou,andmanyjudgmentstodeliveronyoubuthewho
sentmeistrue,andIspeaktotheworldwhatIhaveheardfrom
him."TheydidnotknowthatitwasabouttheFatherthathe
wasspeakingtothem.SoJesussaidtothem:"Whenyouliftup
theSonofMan,thenyouwillknowthatIamwhoIam,andthat
Idonothingonmyownauthority,butthatIspeakthesethings
astheFatherhastaughtme.Andhewhosentmeiswithme.
Hehasnotleftmealone,becauseIalwaysdothethingsthat
arepleasingtohim."Ashesaidthesethings,manybelievedin
him.
ThisisoneofthepassagesofargumentanddebatesocharacteristicoftheFourth
Gospelandsodifficulttoelucidateandtounderstand.Initvariousstrandsof
argumentareallwoventogether.
Jesusbeginsbytellinghisopponentsthatheisgoingawayandthat,afterheis
gone,theywillrealizewhattheyhavemissed,andwillsearchforhimandnotfind
him.Thisisthetruepropheticnote.Itremindsusofthreethings:(i)Thereare
certainopportunitieswhichcomeandwhichdonotreturn.Toeverymanisgiventhe
opportunitytoacceptChristasSaviourandLordbutthatopportunitycanberefused
andlost.(ii)Implicitinthisargumentisthetruththatlifeandtimearelimited.Itis

withinanallottedspanthatwemustmakeourdecisionforChrist.Thetimewehave
tomakethatdecisionislimitedandnoneofusknowswhathislimitis.Thereis
thereforeeveryreasonformakingitnow.(iii)Justbecausethereisopportunityinlife
thereisalsojudgment.Thegreatertheopportunity,themoreclearlyitbeckons,the
ofteneritcomes,thegreaterthejudgmentifitberefusedormissed.Thispassage
bringsusfacetofacewiththegloryofouropportunity,andthelimitationoftimein
whichtoseizeit.
WhenJesusspokeaboutgoingaway,hewasspeakingabouthisreturntohisFather
andtohisglory.Thatwaspreciselywherehisopponentscouldnotfollowhim,
becausebytheircontinuousdisobedienceandtheirrefusaltoaccepthim,theyhad
shutthemselvesofffromGod.Hisopponentsmethiswordswithagrimand
mockingjest.Jesussaidthattheycouldnotfollowwherehewentandthey
suggestedthatperhapshewasgoingtokillhimself.Thepointisthat,accordingto
Jewishthought,thedepthsofhellwerereservedforthosewhotooktheirownlives.
Withakindofgrimblasphemy,theyweresaying:"Maybehewilltakehisownlife
maybeheisonthewaytothedepthsofHell"itistruethatwecannotandwillnot
followhimthere.
Jesussaidthatiftheycontinuedtorefusehimtheywoulddieintheirsins.Thatisa
propheticphrase(compareEzekiel3:18Ezekiel18:18).Therearetwothings
involvedthere:(i)Thewordforsinishamartia,whichoriginallyhadtodowith
shootingandliterallymeansamissingofthetarget.Themanwhorefusestoaccept
JesusasSaviourandLordhasmissedthetargetinlife.Hedieswithlifeunrealized
andhethereforediesunfittedtoenterintothehigherlifewithGod.(ii)Theessence
ofsinisthatitseparatesamanfromGod.WhenAdam,intheoldstory,committed
thefirstsin,hisfirstinstinctwastohidehimselffromGod(Genesis3:810).The
manwhodiesinsindiesatenmitywithGodthemanwhoacceptsChristalready
walkswithGod,anddeathonlyopensthewaytoacloserwalk.TorefuseChristis
tobeastrangertoGodtoaccepthimistobethefriendofGod,andinthat
friendshipthefearofdeathisforeverbanished.
THEFATALINCOMPREHENSION(John8:2130continued)
Jesusgoesontodrawaseriesofcontrasts.Hisopponentsbelongtoearth,heis
fromheaventheyareoftheworldheisnotoftheworld.
JohnfrequentlytalksabouttheworldthewordinGreekiskosmos(Greek#2889).
Heusesitinawaythatisallhisown.
(i)Thekosmos(Greek#2889)istheoppositeofheaven.Jesuscamefromheaven
intotheworld(John1:9).HewassentbyGodintotheworld(John3:17).Heisnotof
theworldhisopponentsareoftheworld(John8:23).Thekosmos(Greek#2889)is
thechanging,transientlifethatweliveitisallthatishumanasopposedtoallthat
isdivine.
(ii)Yetthekosmos(Greek#2889)isnotseparatedfromGod.Firstandforemost,it
isGod'screation(John1:10).ItwasthroughGod'swordthathisworldwasmade.
Differentastheworldisfromheaven,thereisyetnounbridgeablegulfbetween
them.
(iii)Morethanthat,thekosmos(Greek#2889)istheobjectofGod'slove.Godso
lovedtheworldthathesenthisSon(John3:16).Howeverdifferentitmaybefromall
thatisdivine,Godhasneverabandonedititistheobjectofhisloveandthe
recipientofhisgreatestgift.
(iv)Butatthesametimethereissomethingwrongwiththekosmos(Greek#2889).
ThereisablindnessinitwhentheCreatorcameintotheworld,itdidnotrecognize
him(John1:10).TheworldcannotreceivetheSpiritoftruth(John14:17).Theworld
doesnotknowGod(John17:25).Thereis,too,anhostilitytoGodinthekosmos
(Greek#2889)andtohispeople.TheworldhatesChristandhateshisfollowers
(John15:1819).InitshostilityChrist'sfollowerscanlookonlyfortroubleand
tribulation(John16:33).
(v)Herewehaveastrangesequenceoffacts.TheworldisseparatefromGodand
yetbetweenitandGodthereisnogulfwhichcannotbespanned.Godcreatedthe

worldGodlovesitGodsenthisSonintoit.Andyetinit,thereisthisblindnessand
hostilitytohim.
Thereisonlyonepossibleconclusion.G.K.Chestertononcesaidthattherewas
onlyonethingcertainaboutmanthatmanisnotwhathewasmeanttobe.Thereis
onlyonethingcertainaboutthekosmos(Greek#2889),itisnotwhatitwasmeant
tobe.Somethinghasgonewrong.Thatsomethingissin.Itissinwhichseparated
theworldfromGoditissinwhichblindsittoGoditissinwhichisfundamentally
hostiletoGod.
IntothisworldwhichhasgonewrongcomesChristandChristcomeswiththecure.
Hebringsforgivenesshebringscleansinghebringsstrengthandgracetoliveas
manoughtandtomaketheworldwhatitoughttobe.Butamancanrefuseacure.
Adoctormaytellapatientthatacertaintreatmentisabletorestorehimtohealth
hemayactuallytellhimthatifhedoesnotacceptthetreatment,deathisinevitable.
ThatispreciselywhatJesusissaying:"IfyouwillnotbelievethatIamwhoIam
youwilldieinyoursins."
Thereissomethingwrongwiththeworldanyonecanseethat.Onlyrecognitionof
JesusChristastheSonofGod,obediencetohisperfectwisdomandacceptanceof
himasSaviourandLordcancuretheindividualsoulandcuretheworld.
Weareonlytoowellawareofthediseasewhichhauntsandwreckstheworldthe
cureliesbeforeus.Theresponsibilityisoursifwerefusetoacceptit.
THETRAGICINCOMPREHENSION(John8:2130continued)
ThereisnoverseinalltheNewTestamentmoredifficulttotranslatethanJohn8:25.
NoonecanreallybesurewhattheGreekmeans.Itcouldmean:"EvenwhatIhave
toldyoufromthebeginning,"whichisthemeaningtheRevisedStandardVersion
takes.Othersuggestedtranslationsare:"Primarily,essentially,IamwhatIam
tellingyou.""IdeclaretoyouthatIamthebeginning.""HowisitthatIevenspeakto
youatall?"whichisthetranslationofMoffatt.Itissuggestedinourtranslationthatit
maymean:"EverythingIamsayingtoyounowisonlyabeginning."Ifwetakeitlike
that,thepassagegoesontosaythatmenwillseetherealmeaningofChristinthree
ways.
(i)TheywillseeitintheCross.ItiswhenChristisliftedupthatwereallyseewhat
heis.Itisthereweseethelovethatwillneverletmengoandwhichlovesthemto
theend.
(ii)TheywillseeitintheJudgment.Hehasmanyjudgmentsstilltopass.Atthe
momenthemightlookliketheoutlawedcarpenterofNazarethbutthedaywillcome
whentheywillseehimasjudgeandknowwhatheis.
(iii)WhenthathappenstheywillseeinhimtheembodiedwillofGod."Ialwaysdo
thethingsthatarepleasingtohim,"Jesussaid.Othermenhowevergoodare
spasmodicintheirobedience.TheobedienceofJesusiscontinuous,perfectand
complete.ThedaymustcomewhenmenseethatinhimistheverymindofGod.
THETRUEDISCIPLESHIP(John8:3132)
8:3132SoJesussaidtotheJewswhohadcometobelievein
him:"Ifyouremaininmyword,youaretrulymydisciples:and
youwillknowthetruth:andthetruthwillmakeyoufree."
FewNewTestamentpassageshavesuchacompletepictureofdiscipleshipasthis.
(i)Discipleshipbeginswithbelief.Itsbeginningisthemomentwhenamanaccepts
whatJesussaysastrue,allthathesaysabouttheloveofGod,allthathesays
abouttheterrorofsin,allthathesaysabouttherealmeaningoflife.
(ii)DiscipleshipmeansconstantlyremaininginthewordofJesusandthatinvolves
fourthings.
(a)ItinvolvesconstantlisteningtothewordofJesus.ItwassaidofJohnBrownof
Haddingtonthatwhenhepreachedhepausedeverynowandthenasiflisteningfora

voice.TheChristianisthemanwhoallhislifelistensforthevoiceofJesusandwill
takenodecisionuntilhehasfirstheardwhathehastosay.
(b)ItinvolvesconstantlearningfromJesus.Thedisciple(mathetes,Greek#3101)is
literallythelearner,forthatiswhattheGreekwordmeans.AllhislifeaChristian
shouldbelearningmoreandmoreaboutJesus.Theshutmindistheendof
discipleship.
(c)ItinvolvesconstantpenetratingintothetruthwhichthewordsofJesusbear.No
onecanhearorreadthewordsofJesusonceandthensaythatheunderstandstheir
fullmeaning.Thedifferencebetweenagreatbookandanephemeraloneliesinthe
factthatwereadanephemeralbookonceandneverwishtogobacktoitwhereas
wereadagreatbookmanytimes.ToremaininthewordofJesusmeansconstantly
tostudyandthinkaboutwhathesaiduntilmoreandmoreofitsmeaningbecomes
ours.
(d)ItinvolvesconstantobeyingofthewordofJesus.Westudyitnotsimplyfor
academicsatisfactionorforintellectualappreciation,butinordertofindoutwhat
Godwishesustodo.Thediscipleisthelearnerwholearnsinordertodo.Thetruth
whichJesusbroughtisdesignedforaction.
(iii)Discipleshipissuesinknowledgeofthetruth.TolearnfromJesusistolearnthe
truth."Youwillknowthetruth,"saidJesus.Whatisthattruth?Therearemany
possibleanswerstothatquestionbutthemostcomprehensivewaytoputitisthat
thetruthwhichJesusbringsshowsustherealvaluesoflife.Thefundamental
questiontowhicheverymanhasconsciouslyorunconsciouslytogiveanansweris:
"TowhatamItogivemylife?Toacareer?Totheamassingofmaterial
possessions?Topleasure?TotheserviceofGod?"InthetruthofJesuswesee
whatthingsarereallyimportantandwhatarenot.
(iv)Discipleshipresultsinfreedom."Thetruthwillmakeyoufree.""Inhisserviceis
perfectfreedom."Discipleshipbringsusfourfreedoms.(a)Itbringsusfreedomfrom
fear.Themanwhoisadiscipleneveragainhastowalkalone.Hewalksforeverin
thecompanyofJesus,andinthatcompanyfearisgone.(b)Itbringsfreedomfrom
self.Manyamanfullyrecognizesthathisgreatesthandicapishisownself.Andhe
mayindespaircryout:"Icannotchangemyself.Ihavetried,butitisimpossible."
ButthepowerandpresenceofJesuscanrecreateamanuntilheisaltogethernew.
(c)Itbringsfreedomfromotherpeople.Therearemanywhoselivesaredominated
bythefearofwhatotherpeoplemaythinkandsay.H.G.Wellsoncesaidthatthe
voiceofourneighbourssoundslouderinourearsthanthevoiceofGod.Thedisciple
isthemanwhohasceasedtocarewhatpeoplesay,becausehethinksonlyofwhat
Godsays.(d)Itbringsfreedomfromsin.Manyamanhascometothestagewhen
hesins,notbecausehewantsto,butbecausehecannothelpit.Hissinshaveso
masteredhimthat,tryashewill,hecannotbreakawayfromthem.Discipleship
breaksthechainswhichbindustothemandenablesustobethepersonsweknow
weoughttobe.
Othatamanmayariseinme
ThatthemanIammayceasetobe
ThatistheveryprayerwhichthediscipleofChristwillfindanswered.
FREEDOMANDSLAVERY(John8:3336)
8:3336Theyansweredhim:"Wearethedescendantsof
Abrahamandwehaveneverbeenslavestoanyman.Howdo
yousay:'Youwillbecomefree'?"Jesusansweredthem:"This
isthetruthItellyoueveryonewhocommitssinistheslaveof
sin.Theslaveisnotapermanentresidentinthehousetheson
isapermanentresident.Ifthesonshallmakeyoufreeyouwill
bereallyfree."
Jesus'talkoffreedomannoyedtheJews.Theyclaimedthattheyhadneverbeen
slavestoanyman.Obviouslytherewasasenseinwhichthiswassimplynottrue.
TheyhadbeencaptivesinexileinBabylonandatthemomenttheyweresubjects

oftheRomans.ButtheJewssetatremendousvalueonfreedomwhichtheyheldto
bethebirthrightofeveryJew.IntheLawitwaslaiddownthatnoJew,howeverpoor,
mustdescendtothelevelofbeingaslave."Andifyourbrotherbecomespoor
besideyou,andsellshimselftoyou,youshallnotmakehimserveasaslave:...
Fortheyaremyservants,whomIbroughtforthoutofthelandofEgypttheyshall
notbesoldasslaves"(Leviticus25:3942).AgainandagainJewishrebellionsflared
upbecausesomefieryleaderarosewhoinsistedthattheJewscouldobeynoearthly
rulerbecauseGodwastheironlyKing.
JosephuswritesofthefollowersofJudasofGalileewholedafamousrevoltagainst
theRomans:"Theyhaveaninviolableattachmenttoliberty,andtheysaythatGod
istobetheironlyRulerandLord"(Josephus,AntiquitiesoftheJews,18:1,6).
WhentheJewssaidthattheyhadbeennoman'sslavestheyweresayingsomething
whichwasafundamentalarticleoftheircreedoflife.Andevenifitwastruethat
therehadbeentimeswhentheyweresubjecttoothernations,evenifitwastruethat
atthatverymomenttheyweresubjecttoRome,itwasalsotruethatevenin
servitudetheymaintainedanindependenceofspiritwhichmeantthattheymightbe
slavesinbodybutneverinsoul.CyrilofJerusalemwroteofJoseph:"Josephwas
soldtobeabondslave,yethewasfree,allradiantinthenobilityofhissoul."Even
tosuggesttoaJewthathemightberegardedasaslavewasadeadlyinsult.
ButitwasanotherslaveryofwhichJesuswasspeaking."Everyone,"hesaid,"who
commitssinistheslaveofsin."Jesuswasreiteratingaprinciplewhichthewise
Greekshadstatedagainandagain.TheStoicssaid:"Onlythewisemanisfreethe
foolishmanisaslave."Socrateshaddemanded:"Howcanyoucallamanfreewhen
hispleasuresruleoverhim?"PaullaterwastothankGodthattheChristianwas
freedfromslaverytosin(Romans6:1720).
Thereissomethingveryinterestingandverysuggestivehere.Sometimeswhena
manisrebukedfordoingsomethingwrongorwarnedagainstsuchathing,his
answeris:"SurelyIcandowhatIlikewithmyownlife."Butthepointisthatthe
manwhosinsdoesnotdowhathelikeshedoeswhatsinlikes.Amancanleta
habitgetsuchagripofhimthathecannotbreakit.Hecanallowapleasureto
masterhimsocompletelythathecannotdowithoutit.Hecanletsomeself
indulgencesodominatehimthatheispowerlesstobreakawayfromit.Hecanget
intosuchastatethatintheend,asSenecasaid,hehatesandloveshissinsatone
andthesametime.Sofarfromdoingwhathelikes,thesinnerhaslostthepowerto
dowhathelikes.Heisaslavetothehabits,theselfindulgences,thewrong
pleasureswhichhavemasteredhim.ThisispreciselyJesus'point.Nomanwhosins
caneverbesaidtobefree.
ThenJesusmakesaveiledthreat,butonewhichthelisteningJewswouldwell
understand.Thewordslaveremindshimthatinanyhouseholdthereisadifference
betweentheslaveandtheson.Thesonisapermanentdwellerinthehousehold,but
theslavecanbeejectedatanytime.IneffectJesusissayingtotheJews:"You
thinkthatyouaresonsinGod'shouseandthatnothing,therefore,caneverbanish
youfromGod.Haveacarebyyourconductyouaremakingyourselvesslaves,and
theslavecanbeejectedfromthemaster'spresenceatanytime."Hereisathreat.It
isaterriblethingtotradeonthemercyofGodandthatiswhattheJewsweredoing.
ThereiswarninghereformorethantheJews.
REALSONSHIP(John8:3741a)
8:3741a"IknowthatyouarethedescendantsofAbraham,but
youaretryingtofindawaytokillme,becausethereisnoroom
inyouformyword.IspeakwhatIhaveseeninthepresenceof
theFather.Soyoumustdowhatyouhaveheardfromthe
Father.""OurfatherisAbraham,"theyanswered."If,"answered
Jesus,"youarethechildrenofAbraham,actasAbrahamacted.
But,asitis,youaretryingtofindawaytokillme,amanwho
hasspokenthetruthtoyou,truthwhichIheardfromGod.That
Abrahamdidnotdo.Asforyou,youdotheworksofyour
father."
InthispassageJesusisdealingadeathblowtoaclaimwhichtotheJewswasall
important.FortheJewAbrahamwasthegreatestfigureinallreligioushistoryand

theJewconsideredhimselfsafeandsecureinthefavourofGodsimplybecausehe
wasadescendantofAbraham.Thepsalmistcouldaddressthepeopleas:"O
offspringofAbrahamhisservant,sonsofJacob,hischosenones!"(Psalms105:6).
Isaiahsaidtothepeople:"Butyou,Israel,(are)myservant,Jacob,whomIhave
chosen,theoffspringofAbraham,myfriend"(Isaiah41:8).Theadmirationwhichthe
JewsgavetoAbrahamwasperfectlylegitimate,forheisagiantinthereligious
historyofmankind,butthedeductionstheydrewfromhisgreatnesswerequite
misguided.TheybelievedthatAbrahamhadgainedsuchmeritfromhisgoodness
thatthismeritwassufficient,notonlyforhimself,butforallhisdescendantsalso.
JustinMartyrhadadiscussionwithTryphotheJewaboutJewishreligionandthe
conclusionwasthat,"theeternalkingdomwillbegiventothosewhoaretheseedof
Abrahamaccordingtotheflesh,eventhoughtheybesinnersandunbelieversand
disobedienttoGod"(JustinMartyr,TheDialoguewithTrypho,140).Quiteliterallythe
JewbelievedthathewassafebecausehewasadescendantofAbraham.
TheattitudeoftheJewsisnotwithoutparallelinmodernlife.
(a)Therearestillthosewhotrytoliveonapedigree?andaname.Atsometimein
thehistoryoftheirfamilysomeoneperformedsomereallyoutstandingserviceto
churchorstate,andeversincetheyhaveclaimedaspecialplacebecauseofthat.
Butagreatnameshouldneverbeanexcuseforcomfortableinactionitshould
alwaysbeaninspirationtoneweffort.
(b)Therearethosewhotrytoliveonahistoryandatradition.Manyachurchhasa
quiteunduesenseofitsownimportancebecauseatonetimeithadafamous
ministry.Thereismanyacongregationlivingonthespiritualcapitalofthepastbut
ifcapitalbealwaysdrawnuponandneverbuttupanew,thedayinevitablycomes
whenitisexhausted.
Nomanorchurchornationcanliveontheachievementsofthepast.Thatiswhat
theJewsweretryingtodo.
Jesusisquitebluntaboutthis.Hedeclaresineffectthattherealdescendantof
AbrahamisthemanwhoactsinthewayinwhichAbrahamacted.Thatisexactly
whatJohntheBaptisthadsaidbefore.Hehadtoldthepeopleplainlythatthedayof
judgmentwasonthewayandthatitwasnogoodpleadingthattheywere
descendantsofAbraham,forGodcouldraiseupdescendantstoAbrahamfromthe
verystones,ifhechosetodoso(Matthew3:9Luke3:8).Itwastheargumentwhich
againandagainPaulwastouse.Itwasnotfleshandbloodwhichmadeamana
descendantofAbrahamitwasmoralqualityandspiritualfidelity.
InthisparticularmatterJesustiesitdowntoonething.Theyareseekingawayto
killhimthatispreciselytheoppositeofwhatAbrahamdid.Whenamessengerfrom
Godcametohim,Abrahamwelcomedhimwithalleagernessandreverence
(Genesis18:18).AbrahamhadwelcomedGod'smessengertheJewsofthepresent
weretryingtokillGod'smessenger.Howcouldtheydarecamthemselves
descendantsofAbraham,whentheirconductwassoverydifferent?
BycallingtomindtheoldstoryinGenesis18:133,Jesusisimplyingthathetoois
themessengerofGod.Thenhemakestheclaimexplicit:"IspeakwhatIhaveseen
inthepresenceoftheFather."ThefundamentalthingaboutJesusisthathebrought
tomen,nothisownopinions,butamessagefromGod.Hewasnotsimplyaman
tellingothermenwhathethoughtaboutthingshewastheSonofGodtellingmen
whatGodthought.HetoldmenthetruthasGodseesit.
Attheendofthispassagecomesashatteringstatement."You,"saidJesus,"dothe
worksofyourfather."HehasjustsaidthatAbrahamisnottheirfather.Whothenis
theirfather?Foramomentthefullimpactisheldback.ItcomesinJohn8:44their
fatheristhedevil.Thosewhohadgloriedintheclaimthattheyarethechildrenof
Abrahamaredevastatinglyconfrontedwiththechargethattheyarechildrenofthe
devil.Theirworkshadrevealedtheirtruesonship,formancanprovehiskinshipto
Godonlybyhisconduct.
CHILDRENOFTHEDEVIL(John8:41b45)
8:41b45Theysaidtohim:"Wewerebornofnoadulterous

union.WehaveoneFatherGod.""IfGodwasyourFather,"
saidJesus,"youwouldloveme.ForitwasfromGodthatI
cameforthandhavecomehere.Ihadnothingtodowithmy
owncoming,butitwashewhosentme.Whydoyounot
understandwhatIamsaying?Thereasonisthatyouareunable
tohearmyword.Youbelongtoyourfather,thedevil,anditis
theevildesiresofyourfatherthatyouwishtodo.Hewasa
murdererfromtheverybeginning,andhenevertookhisstand
inthetruth,becausethetruthisnotinhim.Whenhespeaks
falsehooditishischaracteristicwayofspeaking,becauseheis
aliarandthefatheroffalsehood.ButbecauseIspeakthetruth,
youdonotbelieveinme."
JesushadjusttoldtheJewsthatbytheirlifeandconductandbytheirreactionto
himtheyhadmadeitclearthattheywerenorealchildrenofAbraham.Theirreaction
wastomakeanevengreaterclaim.TheyclaimedthatGodwastheirFather.Allover
theOldTestamentthereisrepeatedthefactthatGodwasinaspecialwaythe
FatherofhispeopleIsrael.GodcommandedMosestosaytoPharaoh:"Thussaith
theLord,Israelismyfirstbornson"(Exodus4:22).WhenMoseswaschidingthe
peoplefortheirdisobedience,hisappealwas:"DoyouthusrequitetheLord,you
foolishandsenselesspeople?IsnotheyourFatherwhocreatedyou?"
(Deuteronomy32:6).IsaiahspeaksofhistrustinGod:"ForthouartourFather,
thoughAbrahamdoesnotknowusandIsraeldoesnotacknowledgeusthou,O
Lord,artourFather,ourRedeemerfromofoldisthyname"(Isaiah63:16)."Yet,O
Lord,thouartourFather"(Isaiah64:8)."HavewenotalloneFather?"demanded
Malachi."HasnotoneGodcreatedus?"(Malachi2:10).SotheJewsclaimedthat
GodwastheirFather.
"We,"theysaidproudly,"werebornofnoadulterousunion."Theremaybetwothings
there.IntheOldTestamentoneoftheloveliestdescriptionsofthenationofIsraelis
thatwhichseesinhertheBrideofGod.BecauseofthatwhenIsraelforsookGod,
shewassaidtogoawhoringafterstrangegodsherinfidelitywasspiritualadultery.
Whenthenationwasthusfaithless,theapostatepeopleweresaidtobe"childrenof
harlotry"(Hosea2:4).SowhentheJewssaidtoJesusthattheywerenotthe
childrenofanyadulterousunion,theymeantthattheydidnotbelongtoanationof
idolatersbuttheyhadalwaysworshippedthetrueGod.Itwasaclaimthattheyhad
nevergoneastrayfromGodaclaimthatonlyapeoplesteepedinselfrighteousness
wouldeverhavedaredmake.
ButwhentheJewsspokelikethis,theremayhavebeensomethingmuchmore
personalinit.ItiscertainlytrueinlatertimesthattheJewsspreadabroadamost
maliciousslanderagainstJesus.TheChristiansveryearlypreachedthemiraculous
birthofJesus.TheJewsputitaboutthatMaryhadbeenunfaithfultoJosephthat
herparamourhadbeenaRomansoldiercalledPanthersandthatJesuswasthe
childofthatadulterousunion.ItisjustpossiblethattheJewswereflingingatJesus
eventhenaninsultoverhisbirth,asiftosay:"Whatrighthaveyoutospeaktothe
likeofusasyoudo?"
Jesus'answertotheclaimoftheJewsisthatitisfalseandtheproofisthatifGod
wasreallytheirFather,theywouldhavelovedandwelcomedhim.Hereagainisthe
keythoughtoftheFourthGospelthetestofamanishisreactiontoJesus.Tobe
confrontedwithJesusistobeconfrontedwithjudgmentheisthetouchstoneofGod
bywhichallmenarejudged.
Jesus'closeknitindictmentgoeson.Heasks"WhydoyounotunderstandwhatIam
saying?"Theansweristerriblenotthattheyareintellectuallystupid,butthatthey
arespirituallydeaf.Theyrefusetohearandtheyrefusetounderstand.Amancan
stophisearstoanywarningifhegoesondoingthatlongenough,hebecomes
spirituallydeaf.Inthelastanalysis,amanwillonlyhearwhathewishestohearand
ifforlongenoughheattuneshisearstohisowndesiresandtothewrongvoices,in
theendhewillbeunabletotuneinatalltothewavelengthofGod.Thatiswhatthe
Jewshaddone.
Thencomesthescarifyingaccusation.TherealfatheroftheJewsisthedevil.
Jesuschoosestwocharacteristicsofhim.

(i)Thedevilischaracteristicallyamurderer.TheremaybetwothingsinJesus'mind.
HemaybethinkingbacktotheoldCainandAbelstory.Cainwasthefirstmurderer
andhewasinspiredbythedevil.Hemaybethinkingofsomethingevenmore
seriousthanthat.ItwasthedevilwhofirsttemptedmanintheoldGenesisstory.
Throughthedevilsinenteredintotheworldandthroughsincamedeath(Romans
5:13).Iftherehadbeennotemptation,therewouldhavebeennosinand,ifthere
hadbeennosin,therewouldhavebeennodeathandtherefore,inasense,thedevil
isthemurdererofthewholehumanrace.
But,evenapartfromtheoldstories,thefactremainsthatChristleadstolifeandthe
deviltodeath.Thedevilmurdersgoodness,chastity,honour,honesty,beauty,all
thatmakeslifelovelyhemurderspeaceofmindandhappinessandevenlove.Evil
characteristicallydestroysChristcharacteristicallybringslife.Atthatverymoment
theJewswereplottinghowtokillChristtheyweretakingthedevil'sway.
(ii)Thedevilcharacteristicallylovesfalsehood.Everylieisinspiredbythedeviland
doesthedevil'swork.Falsehoodalwayshatesthetruth,andalwaystriestodestroy
it.WhentheJewsandJesusmet,thefalsewaymetthetrue,andinevitablythe
falsetriedtodestroythetrue.
JesusindictedtheJewsaschildrenofthedevilbecausetheirthoughtswerebenton
thedestructionofthegoodandthemaintainingofthefalse.Everymanwhotriesto
destroythetruthisdoingthedevil'swork.
THEGREATINDICTMENTANDTHESHININGFAITH(John8:4650)
8:4650"Whoofyoucanconvictmeofsin?IfIspeakthetruth,
whydoyounotbelieveinme?HewhoisfromGodhearsGod's
words.Thatiswhyyoudonothear,becauseyouarenotfrom
God."TheJewsanswered:"Arewenotrightinsayingthatyou
areaSamaritan,andthatyouhaveadevil?"Jesusanswered:
"ItisnotIwhohaveadevil.IhonourmyFather,butyou
dishonourme.Idonotseekmyownglory.ThereisOnewho
seeksandjudges."
Wemusttrytoseethisscenehappeningbeforeoureyes.Thereisdramahere,and
itisnotonlyinthewords,butinthepausesbetweenthem.Jesusbeganwitha
tremendousclaim."Isthereanyonehere,"hedemanded,"whocanpointthefingerat
anyevilinmylife?"Thenmusthavefollowedasilenceduringwhichtheeyesof
Jesusrangedroundthecrowdwaitingforanyonetoaccepttheextraordinary
challengethathehadthrowndown.Thesilencewenton.Searchastheylike,none
couldformulateachargeagainsthim.Whenhehadgiventhemtheirchance,Jesus
spokeagain."Youadmit,"hesaid,"thatyoucanfindnochargeagainstme.Then
whydoyounotacceptwhatIsay?"Againtherewasanuncomfortablesilence.Then
Jesusansweredhisownquestion."Youdonotacceptmywords,"hesaid,"because
youarenotfromGod."
WhatdidJesusmean?Thinkofitthisway.Noexperiencecanenterintoaman's
mindandheartunlessthereissomethingtheretoanswertoitandamanmaylack
thesomethingessentialwhichwillenablehimtohavetheexperience.Amanwhois
tonedeafcannotexperiencethethrillofmusic.Amanwhoiscolourblindcannot
fullyappreciateapicture.Amanwithnosenseoftimeandrhythmcannotfully
appreciateballetordancing.
NowtheJewshadaverywonderfulwayofthinkingoftheSpiritofGod.They
believedthathehadtwogreatfunctions.HerevealedGod'struthtomenandhe
enabledmentorecognizeandgraspthattruthwhentheysawit.Thatquiteclearly
meansthatunlesstheSpiritofGodisinaman'shearthecannotrecognizeGod's
truthwhenheseesit.Anditalsomeansthatifamanshutsthedoorofhisheart
againsttheSpiritofGod,then,evenwhenthetruthisfulldisplayedbeforehiseyes,
heisquiteunabletoseeitandrecognizeitandgraspitandmakeithis.
JesuswassayingtotheJews:"Youhavegoneyourownwayandfollowedyourown
ideastheSpiritofGodhasbeenunabletogainanentryintoyourheartsthatiswhy
youcannotrecognizemeandthatiswhyyouwillnotacceptmywords."TheJews
believedtheywerereligiouspeoplebutbecausetheyhadclungtotheirideaof

religioninsteadoftoGod'sidea,theyhadintheenddriftedsofarfromGodthatthey
hadbecomegodless.Theywereintheterriblepositionofmenwhoweregodlessly
servingGod.
TobetoldthattheywerestrangerstoGodstungtheJewstothequick.Theyhurled
theirinvectiveagainstJesus.Asourpresentformofthewordshasittheyaccused
himofbeingaSamaritanandofbeingmad.Whatdidtheymeanbycallinghima
Samaritan?TheymeantthathewasafoeofIsrael,fortherewasdeadlyenmity
betweentheJewsandtheSamaritans,thathewasalawbreakerbecausehedidnot
observethelaw,andaboveallthathewasaheretic,forSamaritanandheretichad
becomesynonymous.ItwouldbeextraordinarythattheSonofGodshouldbe
brandedasaheretic.Andbeyondadoubtitwouldhappentohimagainifhereturned
tothisworldanditschurches.
ButitisjustpossiblethatthewordSamaritanisreallyacorruptionofsomething
else.Tobeginwith,wenotethatJesusrepliedtothechargethathewasmad,but
didnotreplytothechargethathewasaSamaritan.Thatmakesuswonderifwe
havethechargeoftheJewsrightlystated.IntheoriginalAramaicthewordfor
SamaritanwouldbeShomeroni(compareHebrew#8111).Shomeronwasalsoatitle
fortheprinceofthedevils,otherwisecalledAshmedaiandSammaelandSatan.In
pointoffacttheKoran,theMohammedanbible,actuallysaysthattheJewswere
seducedintoidolatrybyShomeron,theprinceofthedevils.SothewordShomeroni
couldquitewellmeanachildofthedevil.ItisverylikelythatwhattheJewssaidto
Jesuswas:"Youareachildofthedevilyouhaveadevilyouaremadwiththe
madnessoftheEvilOne."
Hisanswerwasthat,sofarfrombeingaservantofthedevil,hisoneaimwasto
honourGod,whiletheconductoftheJewswasacontinualdishonouringofGod.He
saysineffect:"ItisnotIwhohaveadevilitisyou."
ThencomestheradianceofthesupremefaithofJesus.Hesays:"Iamnotlooking
forhonourinthisworld:IknowthatIwillbeinsultedandrejectedanddishonoured
andcrucified.ButthereisOnewhowillonedayassessthingsattheirtruevalueand
assigntomentheirtruehonourandhewillgivemethehonourwhichisrealbecause
itishis."OfonethingJesuswassureultimatelyGodwillprotectthehonourofhis
own.IntimeJesussawnothingbutpainanddishonourandrejectionineternityhe
sawonlytheglorywhichhewhoisobedienttoGodwillsomedayreceive.In
ParacelsusBrowningwrote:
"IfIstoop
Intoadarktremendousseaofcloud,
ItisbutforatimeIpressGod'slamp
Closetomybreastitssplendour,soonorlate,
Willpiercethegloom:Ishallemergeoneday."
Jesushadthesupremeoptimismbornofsupremefaith,theoptimismwhichis
rootedinGod.
THELIFEANDTHEGLORY(John8:5155)
8:5155"ThisisthetruthItellyouifanyonekeepsmyword,he
willnotseedeathforever."TheJewssaidtohim:"Nowweare
certainthatyouaremad.Abrahamdiedandsodidtheprophets,
yetyouaresaying:'Ifanyonekeepsmyword,hewillnottaste
ofdeathforever.'Surelyyouarenotgreaterthanourfather
Abrahamwhodiddie?Andtheprophetsdiedtoo.Whoareyou
makingyourselfouttobe?"Jesusanswered:"ItismyFather
whoglorifiesme,thatFather,who,youclaim,isyourGod,and
yetyouknownothingabouthim.ButIknowhim.IfIwereto
saythatIdonotknowhim,Iwouldbealiar,likeyou.ButI
knowhimandIkeephisword."
Thischapterpassesfromlightningflashtolightningflashofastonishment.Jesus

makesclaimafterclaim,eachmoretremendousthantheonewhichwentbefore.
Herehemakestheclaimthatifanyonekeepshiswords,hewillneverknowdeath.It
shockedtheJews.Zechariahhadsaid:"Yourfathers,wherearethey?Andthe
prophets,dotheyliveforever?"(Zechariah1:5).Abrahamwasdeadtheprophets
weredeadandhadtheynot,intheirdayandgeneration,keptthewordofGod?Who
isJesustosethimselfabovethegreatonesofthefaith?Itistheliteralmindedness
oftheJewswhichblockstheirintelligence.Itisnotphysicallifeandphysicaldeath
ofwhichJesusisthinking.Hemeansthat,forthemanwhofullyacceptshim,death
haslostitsfinalityhehasenteredintoarelationshipwithGodwhichneithertimenor
eternitycansever.Hegoes,notfromlifetodeath,butfromlifetolifedeathisonly
theintroductiontothenearerpresenceofGod.
FromthatJesusgoesontomakeagreatstatementalltruehonourmustcomefrom
God.Itisnotdifficulttohonouroneselfitiseasyenoughinfact,fatallyeasyto
baskinthesunshineofone'sownapproval.Itisnotoverdifficulttowinhonourfrom
mentheworldhonoursthesuccessfulman.Buttherealhonouristhehonourwhich
onlyeternitycanrevealandtheverdictsofeternityarenottheverdictsoftime.
ThenJesusmakesthetwoclaimswhicharetheveryfoundationofhislife.
(i)HeclaimsuniqueknowledgeofGod.Heclaimstoknowhimasnooneelseever
hasknownhimoreverwill.Norwillhelowerthatclaim,fortodosowouldbealie.
TheonlywaytofullknowledgeoftheheartandmindofGodisthroughJesusChrist.
WithourownmindswecanreachfragmentsofknowledgeaboutGodbutonlyin
JesusChrististhefullorboftruth,foronlyinhimdoweseewhatGodislike.
(ii)HeclaimsuniqueobediencetoGod.TolookatJesusistobeabletosay"This
ishowGodwishesmetolive."Tolookathislifeistosay:"ThisisservingGod."
InJesusaloneweseewhatGodwantsustoknowandwhatGodwantsustobe.
THETREMENDOUSCLAIM(John8:5659)
8:5659"Abrahamyourfatherrejoicedtoseemydayandhe
sawitandwasglad."TheJewssaidtohim:"Youarenotyet
fiftyyearsold,andhaveyouseenAbraham?"Jesussaidto
them:"ThisisthetruthItellyoubeforeAbrahamwasIam."So
theyliftedstonestothrowthemathim,butJesusslippedoutof
theirsight,andwentoutoftheTempleprecincts.
Allthepreviouslightningflashespaleintosignificancebeforetheblazeofthis
passage.WhenJesussaidtotheJewsthatAbrahamrejoicedtoseehisday,he
wastalkinglanguagethattheycouldunderstand.TheJewshadmanybeliefsabout
AbrahamwhichwouldenablethemtoseewhatJesuswasimplying.Therewere
altogetherfivedifferentwaysinwhichtheywouldinterpretthispassage.
(a)AbrahamwaslivinginParadiseandabletoseewhatwashappeningonearth.
JesususedthatideaintheParableofDivesandLazarus(Luke16:2231).Thatis
thesimplestwaytointerpretthissaying.
(b)Butthatisnotthecorrectinterpretation.JesussaidAbrahamrejoicedtoseemy
day,thepasttense.TheJewsinterpretedmanypassagesofscriptureinawaythat
explainsthis.TheytookthegreatpromisetoAbrahaminGenesis12:3:"Byyouall
thefamiliesoftheearthshallblessthemselves,"andsaidthatwhenthatpromise
wasmade,AbrahamknewthatitmeantthattheMessiahofGodwastocomefrom
hislineandrejoicedatthemagnificenceofthepromise.
(c)SomeoftheRabbisheldthatinGenesis15:821Abrahamwasgivenavisionof
thewholefutureofthenationofIsraelandthereforehadavisionbeforehandofthe
timewhentheMessiahwouldcome.
(d)SomeoftheRabbistookGenesis17:17,whichtellshowAbrahamlaughedwhen
heheardthatasonwouldbeborntohim,notasalaughofunbelief,butasalaugh
ofsheerjoythatfromhimtheMessiahwouldcome.
(e)SomeoftheRabbishadafancifulinterpretationofGenesis24:1.Therethe
RevisedStandardVersionhasitthatAbrahamwas"welladvancedinyears."The

marginoftheKingJamesVersiontellsusthattheHebrewliterallymeansthat
Abrahamhad"goneintodays."SomeoftheRabbisheldthattomeanthatinavision
givenbyGodAbrahamhadenteredintothedayswhichlayahead,andhadseenthe
wholehistoryofthepeopleandthecomingoftheMessiah.
FromallthisweseeclearlythattheJewsdidbelievethatsomehowAbraham,while
hewasstillalive,hadavisionofthehistoryofIsraelandthecomingoftheMessiah.
SowhenJesussaidthatAbrahamhadseenhisday,hewasmakingadeliberate
claimthathewastheMessiah.Hewasreallysaying:"IamtheMessiahAbraham
sawinhisvision."
ImmediatelyJesusgoesontosayofAbraham:"Hesawit(myday)andwasglad."
SomeoftheearlyChristianshadaveryfancifulinterpretationofthat.In1Peter
3:1822and1Peter4:6wehavethetwopassageswhicharethebasisofthat
doctrinewhichbecameimbeddedinthecreedinthephrase,"Hedescendedinto
Hell."ItistobenotedthatthewordHellgivesthewrongideaitoughttobeHades.
TheideaisnotthatJesuswenttotheplaceofthetorturedandthedamned,asthe
wordHellsuggests.Hadeswasthelandoftheshadowswhereallthedead,good
andbadalike,wentinwhichtheJewsbelievedbeforethefullbeliefinimmortality
cametothem.TheapocryphalworkcalledtheGospelofNicodemusortheActsof
Pilatehasapassagewhichruns:"OLordJesusChrist,theresurrectionandthelife
oftheworld,giveusgracethatwemaytellofthyresurrectionandofthymarvellous
works,whichthoudidstinHades.We.then,wereinHadestogetherwithallthem
thathavefallenasleepsincethebeginning.Andatthehourofmidnightthererose
uponthosedarkplacesasitwerethelightofthesun,andshined,andallwewere
enlightenedandbeheldoneanother.AndstraightwayourfatherAbraham,together
withthepatriarchsandtheprophets,wereatoncefilledwithjoyandsaidtoone
another:'Thislightcomethofthegreatlightening.'"ThedeadsawJesusandwere,
giventhechancetobelieveandtorepentandatthatsightAbrahamrejoiced.
ToustheseideasarestrangetoaJewtheywerequitenormal,forhebelievedthat
AbrahamhadalreadyseenthedaywhentheMessiahwouldcome.
TheJews,althoughtheyknewbetter,chosetotakethisliterally."How,"they
demanded,"canyouhaveseenAbrahamwhenyouarenotyetfifty?"Whyfifty?
ThatwastheageatwhichtheLevitesretiredfromtheirservice(Numbers4:3).The
JewsweresayingtoJesus:"Youareayoungman,stillintheprimeoflife,noteven
oldenoughtoretirefromservice.HowcanyoupossiblyhaveseenAbraham?Thisis
madtalk."ItwasthenthatJesusmadethatmoststaggeringstatement:"Before
Abrahamwas,Iam."WemustnotecarefullythatJesusdidnotsay:"Before
Abrahamwas,Iwas,"but,"BeforeAbrahamwas,Iam."HereistheclaimthatJesus
istimeless.Thereneverwasatimewhenhecameintobeingthereneverwillbea
timewhenheisnotinbeing.
Whatdidhemean?Obviouslyhedidnotmeanthathe,thehumanfigureJesus,had
alwaysexisted.WeknowthatJesuswasbornintothisworldatBethlehemthereis
morethanthathere.Thinkofitthisway.Thereisonlyonepersonintheuniverse
whoistimelessandthatonepersonisGod.WhatJesusissayinghereisnothing
lessthanthatthelifeinhimisthelifeofGodheissaying,asthewriterofthe
Hebrewsputitmoresimply,thatheisthesameyesterday,todayandforever.In
Jesuswesee,notsimplyamanwhocameandlivedanddiedweseethetimeless
God,whowastheGodofAbrahamandofIsaacandofJacob,whowasbeforetime
andwhowillbeaftertime,whoalwaysis.InJesustheeternalGodshowedhimself
tomen.
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)
CopyrightStatement
Thesefilesarepublicdomain.
TextCourtesyofBibleSupport.com.UsedbyPermission.
BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryonjohn8"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/print.cgi?bk=42&ch=8&vs=1".1956
1959.

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