Holding onto One Thing I Know after Transformation
John 9:8–25 (NKJV)8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
He said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
I. The transformation from misery to glory shocked the neighbors (8-11)
See v8-9.8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
They couldn’t believe their eyes. But he was that blind beggar according to what he claimed (9b). See v10.10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
If he is the same man who was blind from birth, the fact he can see now is truly incredible. So, they wondered how his blindness was healed. See v11.11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
He explained how (11, See John 9:6-7).II. One thing I know (12-25)
See v12-17.12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
He said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
The blind man thought Jesus might be a prophet before he met Him as the Son of God (John 9:35-38). The Samaritan woman also perceived Jesus as a prophet first (John 4:19) before she met Him as the Christ (John 4:25-26). See v18-23.18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The Pharisees misused their position and authority to suppress the truth (See Romans 1:18). See v24-25.24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
Even though Jesus opened the eyes of the man who was blind from birth, some still didn’t believe Jesus (16). The Pharisees even thought Jesus was a sinner (24). In response, the man who was blind from birth told them ‘one thing he knows’ that no one could deny. The ‘one thing’ is his blindness from birth was healed. Jesus said in John 14:11b (NLT), “At least believe because of the work you have seen me do.” Jesus said, “but if I do (the works of My Father), though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:38 NKJV). It is important to hold onto ‘one thing I know’. But even though Jesus had done the works which no one else did, some wouldn’t believe. Then, they sinned and showed they hated Jesus without a cause (John 15:24, 25, Psalm 69:4). John 15:24-25 (NKJV)24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
Psalm 69:4 (NKJV)4 Those who hate me without a cause
Are more than the hairs of my head;
They are mighty who would destroy me,
Being my enemies wrongfully;
Though I have stolen nothing,
I still must restore it.
Transformation from Misery to Glory in the Light of the World, Jesus
John 9:1–7 (NKJV)
Christ Heals the Blind Man
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
Message
I. The Cause of Misery (1-3)
See v1.
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
This blind man couldn’t see anything since his birth. This means he didn’t see even his mother and father ever. To the worse, he was poor as he was a beggar (John 9:8).
See v2.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
The disciples of Jesus saw the misery of the blind man and thought that his misery might be caused by the sin of the man or his parents. So, His disciples asked Him what the cause of the misery of the blind man was. Jesus answers in v3. See v3.
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
Differently to the man healed in John 5:1-15, whose 38-year illness was due to his sin (John 5:14), the misery of the born-blind man in this chapter was not caused by the sin but for revealing the works of God in him. It is a common way of thinking to explain the misery that the cause is the sin and the effect is the misery. However, the cause of the misery is not always the sin. Regardless of the cause, misery is not a fate in Jesus who is the Healer (7), the Game Changer (John 5:8, 9), and the History Maker.
II. Misery to Glory: the Transforming Works of God in the Light of the World (4-7)
See v4-5.
4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus, the light of the world, makes the ‘night’ of the world in misery into ‘day’ when we can work the works of God who sent Jesus.
See v6.
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Jesus didn’t immediately heal the blind man as He usually did. Instead, He made clay and pasted it over the eyes of the blind man.
See v7a.
7a And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent).
Then, Jesus asked him to go and wash in Siloam. Jesus involved him in the healing process. The clay could cause discomfort to him. Going to the pool might be hard as a blind man. Faith, obedience, and patience were required.
See v7b.
7b So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
The result of the obedience was the healing. Jesus transformed his misery into the glory of God. His misery was originally intended to glorify God by revealing the works of God who sent Jesus. The more miserable a person may be, the greater glory he can give to God in Jesus. There is no fate in Jesus. Trust and obey Jesus. Where Jesus sends you may be where your misery is transformed.
Know Jesus, keep His word, and live
John 8:51–59 (NKJV)
51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Message
I. Keep My word and never die (never be judged) (51, 52, John 5:24)
See v51.
51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
When the Jews dishonored Jesus and therefore the Father in John 8:48, they became subject to God’s judgment (See John 8:50, Exodus 20:7). There are several types of ‘death’.
- Spiritual death: They are spiritually dead if their relationship with God is broken because of their sin.
- Physical death: There is physical death.
- The second death: On the Day of Judgment, anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8, 20:14-15).
Judgment and death are related. See John 5:24 NKJV.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
See v52.
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’
They are not thinking of the spiritual death or the second death but only the physical death.
See v53-54.
53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
God, the Father honors Jesus, but the Jews dishonored Jesus. Clearly, they showed that their God was not God, the Father who honors Jesus.
II. Know God and keep His word (55)
See v55.
55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.
Jesus didn’t argue about the meaning of ‘death’. His words always contain spiritual meaning (See John 6:63). Instead, Jesus pointed out that they had not ‘known’ Him. Their fundamental problem was not simply the ignorance about other definitions of ‘death’ but no experiential relationship with God who is spirit and invisible. In response to ‘Who do You make Yourself out to be?’ (53b), Jesus points out they are, in fact, liars (just as their father, the devil is a liar) because they claim that God the Father is their God (John 8:41) while they don’t know Him.
This verse makes us ask a good question: “God and the devil, which is my God?” If our answer is God, then we should ask, “Do I know God?” This verse teaches us how important to know God before simply assuming or claiming who my God is.
If we know God, we should keep His word as Jesus said in v55c, “but I know Him and keep His word.” See 1 John 1:3-4 NKJV.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
III. Jesus is God (56-59)
See v56.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
Jesus knew what Abraham did, which only God would know. Jesus demonstrated He knew all and He is God.
See v57-58.
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Jesus is God and existed before the Creation (58, John 1:1, 3, 15, 30, Proverbs 8:23 NKJV).
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Know Jesus, keep His word, and live
The Children of God versus the children of the devil
John 8:42–50 (NKJV)
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
Messages
I. The children of God love the Son of God Jesus and the children of the devil hate Him (42)
See v42.
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
Jesus said that ‘He came from God’ and ‘God sent Him’. We studied these two points when we learnt John 7:29.
‘nor have I come of Myself’ was also already mentioned in John 7:28b. The Jews wouldn’t love Jesus and this proves that God was not their father (42a, also see 1 John 4:7-8, 5:1). Instead of loving Him, they sought to kill Him (John 8:37, 40).
II. The children of God believe the truth and the children of the devil believe a lie (43-50)
See v43.
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
They even didn’t like to listen and didn’t (couldn’t) hear His word.
See v44.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
The devil
- is a murderer from the beginning
- does not stand in the truth (has always hated the truth (NLT))
- has no truth in him
- speaks from his own resources when he lies
- is a liar
- is the father of lies
See v45.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
Even though Jesus said the truth that people could understand, the Jews did not understand (43a) because they were not able to hear His word (the truth) (43b) because they belonged to the devil who hates the truth because there is no truth in him (44).
As a result, the Jews did not believe Jesus when He told them the truth, which they did not hear (properly) and so they did not understand.
See v46.
46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
46b (And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?) can be answered by looking at v44 and v45.
They believed the lie of their father, the devil (44). The reason they didn’t believe Jesus was that Jesus said not a lie but the truth (45).
See v47.
47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Whether one belongs to God or not depends on whether one hears God’s words or not.
III. The children of the devil dishonored the Son of God Jesus (48-50)
See v48.
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
This verse shows their response to what Jesus said in v42-47.
- The Jews said, ‘You are a Samaritan’ (48)
This may be the response to- Which of you convicts Me of sin? (46a)
- The desire of your father you want to do (44b)
- The Jews said, ‘You have a demon’ (48)
This may be the response to- You are of your father the devil … (44)
- You do not hear because you are not of God (47)
What is the answer of Jesus? See v49.
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
What Jesus said (the truth) was what Jesus heard from the Father (John 8:40). But the Jews said v48, dishonoring Jesus (49). Dishonoring Jesus is dishonoring the Father (See Matthew 10:40).
See v50.
50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
God the Father seeks His own glory (50). He judges those dishonoring Him (See Exodus 20:7).
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
John 8:30–41 (NKJV)
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”
Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
Messages
I. You shall know the truth (30-32)
See v30-31.
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
‘abide in My word’ (31) is translated as ‘remain faithful to my teachings’ in NLT (New Living Translation).
See v32.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
According to John 17:3, ‘knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ’ is ‘eternal life’. Here, ‘knowing’ or ‘knowledge’ is not just necessary information, but ‘the experiential relationship’. The truth (32) is Jesus Himself based on John 14:6. So, ‘know the truth’ means ‘having the experiential relationship with Jesus’.
Let’s study the definitions of ‘truth’ (=Jesus Christ).
- Truth is the reality as opposed to the Law being mere a shadow of the reality (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1).
- Truth reveals and assures ‘what grace does’ such as forgiveness and gift.
- Truth is divine thought while grace is divine love. * Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13, John 1:14).
- Truth is the revelation of God (John 1:18 NIV). Jesus Christ reveals God the Father. He who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9b, also see John 8:19b). Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible Father (Colossians 1:15 NKJV) and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).
- Truth is as opposed to gnostic and all other heresy.
II. The truth shall make you free (33-41)
‘the truth shall make you free’ can be understood by studying v33-36. See v33.
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Their ancestors had been slaves in Egypt and they were colonized by the Roman Empire at that time. So ‘we have never been in bondage to anyone’ is not true. But, what is the freedom Jesus promises? See v34.
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
The freedom Jesus promises is the freedom from the slavery of sin. See v35-36.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Here, we can know that the truth in ‘the truth shall make you free.’ (32b) is ’the Son’. It is Jesus (=the Son, the truth) who set us free. If we abide in His word (31a), we are His disciples indeed (31b). And we shall know Jesus (=the Son, the truth) (32a), and Jesus (=the Son, the truth) shall make us free (32b) indeed (36). See v37.
37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
‘My word has no place in you’ (37b) contrasts ‘If you abide in My word’ (31a) and is related to why ‘you seek to kill Me’ (37a).
See v38-41.
38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”
Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
The Jews started claiming God as their Father. It seems they learned from Jesus in claiming God as their own Father. But, later the Jews tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy when He said, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30-33). His defence is written in John 10:34-38.
Jesus said to the Jews, “You are of your father the devil.” (John 8:44a) Let’s study John 8:42~ next time.
When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know
John 8:25–29 (NKJV)
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”
And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
Message
I. Who Jesus is (25)
See v25.
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”
And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24b). Then, they asked Jesus, “Who are you?” (25a).
We learned who Jesus was in John 1 ~ 7. If we start from the recent conversations, He is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is the Son of God as He called God His Father (John 8:16, 18, 19). He was sent by the Father (John 8:16, 18). The Father is with Him (John 8:16). He is the exact representation of the Father (John 8:19, 20), the heavenly man (John 8:23) and the only way to the Father (John 8:21-24).
II. Jesus says the truth (26)
See v26.
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” (NKJV)
26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” (NLT)
We can learn that whatever Jesus says is the truth that He has heard from the one (the Father) who sent Him (26b). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). All heard from God is the truth. Jesus simply declared the truth that is from God. What Jesus says (the truth) is distinguished from human philosophy or anything like that. Is the Holy Bible the revelation of God or human philosophy? The revelation of God! (2 Timothy 3:16) This book is distinguished from other books in this way.
III. You will know when you lift up the Son of Man (27-29)
See v27-29.
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
‘When you lift up the Son of Man’ indicates His crucifixion. Jesus says only then they will know that
① Jesus is He.
②
- He does nothing of Himself,
- but as His Father taught Him, He speaks these things.
③
- He who sent Him is with Him.
- The Father has not left Him alone.
- for He always does those things that please Him.
Let’s find out what happened when they crucified Him.
- Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” when they crucified Him (Luke 23:33, 34). This shows Jesus forgave them according to the will of the Father even when they crucified Him. This supports ② and ③-3.
- When Jesus yielded up His spirit
- The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
- The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
- The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
- When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
- (Matthew 27:50-54) This supports ① and ③.
- Jesus was risen from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10). This was as Jesus foretold (Matthew 16:21). This supports ①, ② and ③.
- His crucifixion and resurrection are the fulfilment of Isaiah 53. This supports ① and ③.
Jesus, the Exact Representation of the Father and the Only Way to Him
John 8:19–24 (NKJV)
19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Message
Jesus was not alone, but He was with the Father who sent Him (John 8:16b). The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Where is Your Father?” (19) Jesus answered them that Jesus is the image of the invisible Father (Section I) and the only way to the Father (Section II).
I. Jesus, the Exact Representation of the Father (19, 20)
See v19a.
19a Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”
This question may be in response to what Jesus has said in John 8:16b (“I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.”). Jesus answered in v19b.
19b Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
John 14:7-11 gives additional information about this:
- He who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9b).
- Jesus is in the Father, and the Father in Jesus (John 14:10a).
- The words that Jesus speaks to them He does not speak on His own authority; but the Father who dwells in Him does the works (John 14:10b).
- Jesus is in the Father, and the Father in Jesus (John 14:10a).
Jesus is the image of the invisible Father (Colossians 1:14a NKJV) and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).
See v20.
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
The Father put ‘times’ or ‘seasons’ in His own authority, and they are unknown to us (Acts 1:7). ‘His hour’ (of the arrest, trial and death) set by the Father had not yet come. Therefore, events such as His arrest, trial or death related to ‘His hour’ couldn’t happen.
II. Jesus, the Only Way to the Father (21-24)
See v21.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
Jesus said the words similar to this verse in John 7:33-34. In v21, ‘and will die in your sin’ is additionally mentioned by Jesus. We can think that ‘dying in one’s sin’ and ‘inability to come to where Jesus goes (the heaven, or where the Father is)’ are related.
Jesus said a similar thing (“Where I go you cannot come”) to His disciples in John 13:33 NKJV.
33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.
But Jesus will come again and receive His disciples to Himself (John 14:3b NKJV).
3b I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:4) and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
See v22-23.
22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jesus was with the Father in heaven before He was born on earth. Jesus is the heavenly man while we are earthly men just like the first man Adam. John, who came to witness Jesus, taught the superiority of the heavenly man, Jesus (=He who comes from above, He who comes from heaven) in John 3:31-36. See John 3:31-32a, 34-36.
SUPERIOR TO ANY AND ALL EARTHLY MEN: 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; (John 3:31-32a NKJV)
GOD’S INITIATIVES: He is sent by God from heaven to earth (John 3:34a NLT).
- UNLIMITED HOLY SPIRIT: God gives Him the Spirit without limit (John 3:34b NLT)
- SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD: and so He speaks God’s word (John 3:34b NLT).
- THE POWER OF RESURRECTION AND THE AUTHORITY OF JUDGEMENT: The Father loves His Son and has put everything into His hands (John 3:35 NLT).
- LIFE OR WRATH: Anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life (John 3:36a NLT); and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36b NKJV).
See v24.
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
‘You will die in your sins’ was already mentioned once by Jesus in v21. This consequence is the result of their unbelief in Jesus (24b). The two different consequences are also taught in John 3:36. Jesus, the heavenly man is above all (=superior to any and all earthly men). How important to believe in the heavenly man, Jesus!
Jesus who knows His origin and destiny has God the Father as His co-witness
John 8:13–18 (NKJV)
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
Message
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” in John 8:12a. Jesus gave them the additional information in John 8:12b.
12b “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
I. Jesus who knows where He came from and where He is going (and the destiny of His followers) (13-14)
What is the reply of the Pharisees? See v13.
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
They said what Jesus had said in John 5:31 (“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.”) to challenge Him. It is because the law requires two or three witnesses to establish a matter (17, Deuteronomy 19:15, 17:6). What is the reply of Jesus See v14.
14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.
Contrary to John 5:31, this time Jesus said, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true.” (14a). The reason that John 8:12b is true is because He knows where He came from and where He is going. So, He can tell the destiny of the person ‘following’ Him. Where He came from is God and where He is going is God.
II. Jesus who has God the Father as His co-witness (15-18)
The reason that His claim about Himself (‘the light of the world’) in John 8:12a is true is written in v15 ~ 18. See v15.
15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
Jesus pointed out how they judge others (‘according to the flesh’). They judge ‘according to appearance’ (John 7:24). See John 7:24 NKJV.
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jesus judges no one according to the flesh (or appearance) (15b). Jesus taught, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37a). He also said, “Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you.” (Luke 6:37b). In v13, they were judging Jesus. But Jesus was not doing anything like them and so He said, “I judge no one.” Jesus sees us with the love of God. And love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12b). He accepts us as we are. And we can come to Him as we are. See v16.
16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
Even if Jesus does judge, His judgment is true because He is not alone but with the Father (16), forming two witnesses (See 17, 18). See v17.
17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
The relevant law is written in Deuteronomy 19:15, 17:6. Jesus made judgment about Himself in John 8:12b (“I am the light of the world.”). Why is this true? See v18.
18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
It is because there are two witnesses, Jesus and the Father, and the law confirms the testimony of two men is true.
Following the light of the world, Jesus
John 8:12 (NKJV)
“I Am the Light of the World”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Message
I. The light of the world, Jesus
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” in John 9:5 (NJKV) as well. John 1:4 (NKJV) says, “In Him was life, and the life is the light of men.” John 1:9 (NLT) says, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” ‘Jesus is the light’ is repeated in these verses.
II. Eternal life in Jesus
‘the light’ is the ‘life in Him’ (John 1:4). Here the ‘life’ is ‘eternal life’. ‘eternal life’ is defined in John 17:3 and is ‘the experiential relationship with the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.’
III. Following Jesus
‘He who follows Me’: what is ‘following Jesus’? We can learn His teachings from the four (4) Books of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). The Book of Acts show the works of His followers. The twenty-one (21) Books of the Letters (from Romans to Jude in the New Testaments) assist in understanding and applying His teachings. The Book of Revelation is a special book that contains revelations from God. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29) consists of three chapters and shows many key teachings of Jesus to follow. Matthew 16:24 (NLT) says,
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
This is also written in Mark 8:34, 10:21, and Luke 9:23. To write some of His teachings that I personally select for this section, there are ‘How to become a good neighbour’ (Luke 10:30-37), ‘Duty to care for the poor (food, clothes, housing)’ (Luke 16:19-31), ‘Serving to become great among followers’ (Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:42-45), ‘Forgiving and praying for followers (their mistakes and faults)’ (John 13:4-17), etc.
IV. Darkness – the result of not following Jesus
‘darkness’ is ‘death’. ‘death’ is defined in Romans 8:6a (NIV). ‘the mind governed by the flesh (=sinful nature)’ is ‘death’.
‘walk in darkness’ is ‘live in the mind governed by one’s sinful nature’.
V. Light – the result of following Jesus
‘have the light of life’ is ‘have the mind governed by the Spirit’ (Romans 8:6b NIV) and ‘have the experiential relationship with God’ (John 17:3).
He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first
John 7:53–8:11 (NKJV)
53 And everyone went to his own house.
A Woman is Caught in Adultery
8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Message
I. Everyone to his own house, Jesus to the mount (7:53, 8:1)
See John 7:53 and 8:1.
53 And everyone went to his own house.
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
These verses show Jesus had nowhere to lay His head.
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” said Jesus in Matthew 8:20 (NKJV), when a certain scribe said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (Matthew 8:19 NKVJ). Jesus showed the cost of following Him would include giving up a comfortable life for the mission. Possibly Jesus prayed overnight till the early next morning (2a) to rescue a woman from condemnation and the death penalty (8:3-11).
II. He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first (2-11)
See v2-5.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
Leviticus 20:10 (NKJV) says,
10 ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.
Based on Leviticus 20:2b NKJV (2b The people of the land shall stone him with stones.) and Leviticus 20:27b NKJV (27b They shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.), we can tell Leviticus 20:10 commands the death penalty, likely, by stoning. An engaged young woman who is a virgin is her fiancée’s wife. The same penalty is imposed for the adultery involving her (Deuteronomy 22:23-27).
They asked Jesus, “But what do You say?” (5b) They were testing Him to accuse Him (6a). See v6.
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
Instead of answering them, Jesus stooped down and wrote something on the ground with His finger. God gave two stone tablets written with the finger of God (Exodus 31:18). The Ten Commandments were written in them (Exodus 34:28). This reminds us that Jesus is the Law Giver. See v7.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
Jesus gave them a new commandment: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
Jesus didn’t say not to throw a stone at her. If He had said so, it would be contrary to the Law.
In the Law, the witnesses should stone first (Deuteronomy 17:6-7). The witness of the wickedness, who can throw the first stones, should have better moral value and life before they could accuse the wicked person(s) and cause the person(s) to death. Jesus made this ‘better moral value and life’ to be the perfect standard of ‘without sin’. Based on this standard, only Jesus could judge this woman. His new commandment did not abolish the Law but fulfilled the Law according to its true meaning (Matthew 5:17). See v8.
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
This second writing on the ground reminds us of the new covenant after the first one. For the new covenant, the Law will be put in their minds and written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). When Jesus was writing on the ground, the Holy Spirit might be reminding them in their minds and hearts of their sins. See v9.
9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
‘one by one’ shows the Holy Spirit touched each individual’s heart and mind personally. The oldest to the last shows every sin they committed in each person’s life was reminded so that the oldest felt convicted more and left sooner. None could hold a stone of judgment or stand there to judge. But everyone went out of the site. See v10-11a.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11a She said, “No one, Lord.”
Jesus saved her physical life from the stoning. See v11b.
11b And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Jesus forgave her and saved her soul from the eternal condemnation. He was to pay for our sins through the sacrificial death on the cross.
