(John 8)
As the Lord has spoken to us about meditating on John chapter 8, this week’s Point of Focus shall be about this wonderful portion of the word of God. For our God to tell us this, means there is something He wants to do in us and for us from this particular passage of His Holy Scripture. As we obediently go through this may the Lord release sufficient grace on us for His will to be done in us and through us in Jesus name. May the Holy Spirit open our heart so that we will be able to receive this purpose of God that is abundant in His Holy Word. As we go through this precious word of God, He will be waiting for the result we will bring forth, if we will bear good and eternal fruit with it or not, according to the grace that has been granted to us already. Please, let us rejoice and give thanks to Him for this great opportunity in Him. May the mercy of the Lord be upon us, in Jesus name.
Most times, we condemn others, we brush aside their guilts which can also be found in us and blow the trumpet of that which we think is not present in us. At times we also stand in the fore-front of the accusers of our supposed sinner while we are also guilty of that same sin in the secret; unknown to other people. It is wickedness! This is like we hastening and giving God a template to judge us with, just as king David was quick to judge the man in Prophet Nathan’s story, not knowing it is the illustration of the terrible sin he was living with during Bathsheba issues. It was until then King David’s wickedness glared him in the face. So, this is the same thing that happened in verse one to eleven of John 8. The adulterous woman was brought to Jesus by some people who claimed she was caught in the very act. If this is so, where is the man that was caught in the act with her? The man is supposed to be a concrete evidence against her but they brought only the woman under accusation and exempted the man for reasons we do not know. Again the portion of the scripture they quoted clearly stated that both the adulterer (man) and the adultress (woman) should be killed and not only the woman (as seen in Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22). Let us bear in mind that the accusers were scribes and pharisees (those who understood the law).
1. Lev 20:10 KJ2000 And the man that commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Compare)
2. Deu 22:22 KJ2000 If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away evil from Israel
When Jesus confronted them with their wickedness they left from the eldest to the youngest. Then Jesus told her, “if no one condemns you, I also do not condemn you”. Therefore the Lord released the unction which is the power over sins on her by saying, “go and sin no more”. This is more of command than instruction! This is showing that even though our Lord forgives us our sins, He is not interested in us going back into that same sins again.
“I am the light of this world”. Jesus told them about leaving darkness and coming to Him as the Light of the world where they will receive the light of life. He emphasized it to them that they will die in their sins if they do not believe Him and follow Him. So, till this contemporary time this message is still fresh and potent. The greatest joy we can have about anyone is when he or she accepts Christ, same in heaven.
Even if we have so many things to say, let us only speak that which the Father asks us to say because we will give account of all we say. Again the same judgment we mete out to others will be used for us by the Lord.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
When we do always what pleases the Father that has sent us into this world, then we will enjoy unending fellowship with Him, which we will be conscious of. Please, let us keep building on our relationship with the Father every moment and every day. This is only possible through His Word.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
It is not our claiming to be in Christ that makes us his disciples indeed but it is our continuing in His word.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
When we indeed know Him (as the truth, the way and the life), we will be free from the claws, dominion and bondage of the evil ones. Let us seek to know Him more daily. Please bear it in mind that we cannot know too much of Christ and the more we know Him the more we are free from all bondage.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 He that is of God hears God’s words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God
By Lord Jesus’ declaration, who do we think is our father?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
So, what side are we turning to Jesus?
They profess to be good but the Lord Jesus sees their real self to be someone else. He made it known to them in order for them to change their ways so as to receive forgiveness and justification like the repentant adulterous woman but they rejected it. How will they not die in their sins?
Lord Jesus confronts us with the picture of our real self and wants us to know who we are before Him (accusers, liar, truth-haters, hypocrites etc) and not who we profess ourselves to be (a priest, Christian, truth-lover etc).
In this light, let us reflect on who we are before Him and yield to His unfailing and unfading love once more.
Prayer Points
1) Jesus reveal to me my true self in You.
2) Lord, remove hypocrisy from me, in Jesus name.
3) Lord Jesus, release into my life the grace, spirit and power to sin no more.
4) Lord Jesus, I want to know You more than before, reveal more of Yourself to me
5) The God of Trinity, come and take Your place in me and fellowship with me always.
