In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has not been made.
In him was life,
and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness was not understood."
John 1:1-5
THE LIGHT OF LIFE
John 8:1-12
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has not been made.
In him was life,
and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness was not understood."
John 1:1-5
THE LIGHT OF LIFE
John 8:1-12
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
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They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
x
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
x
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
x
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:1-12)
x
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
x
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
x
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
x
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:1-12)
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Life Application Bible Study Notes
John 1:4-5 "The darkness has not understood it "means the darkness of evil never has and never will overcome or extinguish God's light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and his life brings light to mankind. In his light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives. Have you allowed the light of Christ to shine into you life? Let Christ guide your life, and you'll never need to stumble in darkness.
John 8:1-12 Jesus was speaking in the part of the temple where the offerings were put, where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel through the desert (Exodus 13:21,22). In this context, Jesus called himself the light of the world. The pillar of fire represented God's presence, protection, and guidance, is he the light of your world?
What does it mean to follow Christ? As a soldier follows his captain, so we should follow Christ, our commander. As a slave follows his master, so we should follow Christ, our Lord. As we follow the advice of a trusted counselor, so we should follow Jesus commands to us in Scripture. As we follow the laws of our nation, so we should follow the laws of the kingdom of Heaven.
When the teaches of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery they were using the woman as a trap so they could trick Jesus. If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they would accuse him of violating Moses' law. If he urged them to excute her, the would report him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions.
When Jesus said to them "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." This is a significant statement about judging others. Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultry, stoning, he could not be accused of being against the law. But by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, he highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion.
Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive ANY SIN in your life, but confession and repentance means a change of heart. With God's help we can accept Christ's forgiveness and stop our wrongdoing.
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