Sat, Nov 1st - 4:16AM
Book of John Chapter 8
In chaptter 8 Jesus reveals Himself to be the Light of life. Man is viewed as gripped by sin. Man is pictured as being critcal, condemnatory, self-righteous, and adulterous. In the woman taken in adultery man is seen as adulterous and guilty; living a life of darkness without purpose and meaning and significance. In the hypocritical religionists man is seen as deceitful, critical, condemnatory, selfish, self-righteous, and loaded with guilt. Jesus reveals Himself to be the Light of the World, the One who brings liberty, forgiveness, purpose, meaning, and significance to the life of man.
"Jesus went to the mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in their midst, They said to Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned: but what do You say? They said this tempting Him, that they might have excuse to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He had not heard them. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her. And He again stooped down and wrote on the ground. And they which heard Him, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus stood up and saw none but the woman He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? has no man condemned you? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more." (8:1-11)
Here we are given a picture. Jesus quiet and worshipful life versus the turbulent and judgmental lives of the religionists. Jesus is drawn within the turbulence to calm, settle, and even leaven it. We can apply this picture as being drawn of the Christian life as quiet and worshipful versus a turbulent and judgmental world. What was Jesus' calm and peace? He got alone to be with God. He often went to the mount of Olives to be alone with God. It was a place where He could be alone with God and His disciples, a place of quiet. Jesus began teaching early in the morning. People kept coming to Him and He kept teaching them. He demonstrated how our ministry ought to be. Each of us ought to be worshipping God, teaching and ministering to people. Everyone needs to be taught.
We are also given the example of the guilt of the woman and some unknown man to picture man's guilt and sin. Both people were guilty of the sin of adultery, a sin that today affects so many lives. Under Jewish law the punishment was death by stoning.(Leviticus 10:10). All sin is a work of darkness. Most sin is actually done under the cover of darkness as an attempt to hide it from wife, husband, mother, father, employer, or friends. Most people who commit sin, thinking that no one will ever find out, are found out. Especially today where so many people have smartphones in hand every where they go. God always sees the sin being committed. In this case, the adultery took place at the time of the Feast, where the atmosphere was very party-like and men and women were brought together by drinking and dancing. Temptation filled the very air.
Perhaps there were some witnesses of the sexual act who were offended by the woman particularly. Jewish law required two witnesses in order to convict a person. It is highly unlikely that the religionists witnessed the adultery taking place, they would not have been in such a "defiled atmosphere." Did the Pharisees and scribes hire some scoundrel to trap this woman? Again, most unlikely since plotting a sin of the flesh does not fit in wih the nature of these religionists. Their sins were more of the spirit, much much deeper, but less visible to the general public.
The reality here is that the two witnesses were themselves great sinners. They wanted to publicly expose her. She was unmercifully dragged before the public to expose her sin, to shame and humiliate her while trying to use her to entrap Jesus. Why wasn't the man who was also guilty of adultery not exposed? Perhaps he escaped. Perhaps he bought off his potential accusers. Perhaps he was someone to be feared. Perhaps he was released because sin by men was more acceptable than by women.
So here is the woman dragged out into the public eye to be brought before Jesus. If Jesus said the woman was not guilty He would be breaking Jewish law and be leaving Himself open to the charge of being too lenient wth sin. If Jesus said the woman was guilty and should be killed, He would be breaking Roman law which did not consider adultery a sin worthy of death. He would also be criticized as lacking mercy and love, compasion and forgiveness. Please recognize several things about the nature of man that are revealed in this passage. There was a spirit of self-righteousness that lacked forgiveness, of criticism that lacked love, of judging that lacked compassion, of censoring that lacked understanding, of condemning that lacked sympathy, of punishing that lacked restoration, of savagery that lacked curing, of destroying that lacked the second chance. There was hypocrisy. These men felt that they were better than this woman, free from any sin serious enough to be exposed. None of thm "loved their neighbor as thyself." They failed to embrace and pull the woman from out of the sin and hurt gripping her. They should have set about a ministry of restoration and reconciliation to God and man.
Jesus did ignore these men for awhile. But then He arose, faced their sin, and judged it. This woman was guilty of a very serious sin and the people were "legally" justified to stone her. They all needed to be corrected and rebuked. "He that is without sin throw the first stone." No person is without sin. Jesus never told them they couldn't throw stones and kill her. He simply placed a limitation on throwing the stones. Throwing stones is based upon moral goodness and perfection, and no person has ever achieved that.
Thus we arrive at the revelation that only Jesus has the right to condemn and forgive people. This woman is everyone. Each of us stands before Jesus naked and stripped of all righteousness. There are no accusers among men. Christ Jesus aone is worthy to stand in judgment. But we still must note this:
1. Jesus did not condemn, but gave a second chance.
2. Jesus wished to forgive and did forgive.
3. Jesus challenged but warned: Go, and sin no more.
The warning is clear to all of us: repentance is essential for forgiveness. (John 5:14; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:12; I Corinthians 15:34). Before we begin "throwing stones" at people we had better do some self-examination of ourselves first.
Next time we consider mankind's great need.
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Fri, Oct 31st - 4:18PM
Book of John Chapter 7
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man is thirsty let him come to Me and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, this is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the scripture said, That Christ comes out of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of Him. And some would have taken Him; but no one laid hands on Him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, Why have you not brought Him? The officers answered, Never has a man spoken like this man. Then the Pharisees said to them, Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed Him? But this people who do not know the law are cursed. Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them) Does our law judge any man before hearing him and knowing what he does? They answered and said to Nicodemus, Are you also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee no prophet arises. And every man went to his own house."
The Feast of Tabernacles was the most popular feast among the Jews. It was also known as the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16) and the Feast of the Lord (Leviticus 23:39). It was celebrated for seven days. This feast celebrated two significant events. It celebrated the day when Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, a time of remembrance. Secondly, it was a period of thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest season and for the goodness of God in all of life. There was a grand processional each day of the feast, the people came to the Temple with fruit as an offering. Then the priest took a golden pitcher and led the people down to the pool of Siloam where he filled the pitcher with water. During the march people played flutes and sang the Hillel(Psalms 113-118). Then they all returned to the Temple.This is what was happening when Jesus stood up and cried out His claim.
Jesus made three claims. He is the source of life. He is able to quench the thirst of all people if they come to Him. He is the source of abundant life. Rivers of flowing water can flow out from a person. This source of living water did not become available until Jesus died upon the cross. Living water only comes through believing in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the source of the Holy Spirit. The rivers of flowing water represents the Holy Spirit. Giving the living water is the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Now water does at least three things. It cleanses or purifies; it refreshes; and it revitalizes or energizes.
Here are the responses of the people. 1) Some said He was the Prophet 2) Some said He was the Christ. 3) Some questioned if He could be the Messiah since He was from Galilee, where He had grown up. They ignored the fact that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem. So we see people arguing over Jesus then just as people continue to argue over Jesus today. Many do question Jesus' origin and continue in unbelief because of it. When they consider Jesus they may see a great or wise man, but only a man. They see and believe that Jesus was flesh and blood, but not God incarnate in human flesh. They refuse to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. Some would take and do away with Jesus. They want nothing to do with Jesus. He was, and is, a threat to their peace and security and to their desire to live just as they wish. The religious leaders did not even want to listen and consider what one of their very own said to them. The Sanhedrin was wrong in claiming that no prophet ever came from Galilee: Jonah came from Galilee. God is fully able to raise up prophets from anywhere He chooses.
Next time we must look into the dark sinfulness of mankind and God's great forgiveness. That is at the beginning of chapter eight.
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Wed, Oct 15th - 2:35PM
Book of John Chapter 7
Here is the response of the authorities and rulers: They bring a charge of being a rabble-rouser.
"The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning Him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go to Him that sent Me. You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, there you can not come. then said the Jews among themselves, Where will He go, that we shall not find Him? will He go to the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles: What manner of saying is this that He said, You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, there you can not come?" (7:32-36)
Jesus foretold His destiny: His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. He foretold man's destiny: men shall seek Him but can't come to where He is. The Pharisees reached out to the chief priests, who were primarily leaders among the Sadducees who held most of the highh offices of Jewish government under the rule of the Romans. When in the four gospels we read about the Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes standing against Jesus it means the entire ruling body of the Jews is taking action. This body was called the Sanhedrin. At this time, the Sanhedrin had decided to send the temple police to arrest Jesus. But they also did not want to cause a riot in the streets. What caused these men to be so disturbed? People were murmurring. Many were believing in Jesus. Jesus was becoming too much of a threat to them and their security and positions of power and influence. They did not want anyone rocking the proverbial boat.
A person often speaks against and opposes Jesus because Jesus is a threat to his/her way of life. They are unwilling to change their lifestyle, so Jesus is a threat to their secuity and comfort. So the effort is one of disposing of Jesus and His influence the best way they can. What is tragic to unbelievers today is that Jesus foretold His destiny. He described His death, His resurrection, His ascension back to heaven. What does the death and resurrection have to do with those who oppose Jesus? Jesus said that anyone who opposes Him could get rid of Him. They can reject and have nothing to do with Him. They are allowed to do just that. Jesus went away. But Jesus also said that He would not cease to exist; He would not be annihilated. His life would not be extinguished. He would arise and return to the Father who sent Him to earth. Jesus gives great hope to all who believe in Him.
Jesus also foretold the destiny of man. He predicted a tragic future for all who oppose Him. He who rejects Jesus will face the day when he will seek Jesus. At the day of judgment the unbeliever wil seek Christ Jesus but will not find Him. It will be far too late.
What is the reaction of the Sanhedrin? They are puzzled. They can't figure out what Jesus is talking about. The diaspora refers to the Jews who were scattered all over the world. They thought that maybe Jesus was talking about leaving Israel and go teach those Jews wo were living among the Gentiles. What Jesus talked about was actually offensive to them. Jesus' predicted death, resurrection and ascension simply could not be grasped by any of them at this point in time. It remains a stumbling block to many people even today. Spiritually blind, deaf, mute, lame, and walking in darkness continually. This condition confuses people today who look at those who claim to be Christians but their actions and words do not line up with the claim.
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Wed, Oct 8th - 3:40PM
Book of John Chapter 7
The third reaction to Jesus came from all of the people---pilgrims and the local residents of Jerusalem. Their charges ranged from being demon possessed to being merely being a man.
"The people answered and said, You have a devil: who goes around trying to kill you? Jesus said to them, I have done one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave circumcision to you; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers) and you on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at Me, because I have made a man completely whole on the sabbath day? Do not judge according to appearances, but judge righteous judgment. Then some of them from Jerusalem said, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? However we know from what place he is: but when Christ comes, no one knows from what place he is. Then Jesus cried in the temple as He taught, saying, You both know Me, and you know from what place I come from: and I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him: for I am from Him, and He has sent Me. Then they tried to take Him: but no one laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ comes, will He do more miracles than these which this man has done?" (7:20-31)
The pilgrims charged Jesus as being demon possessed and insane. The pilgrims did not know Jesus very well at all since they came from all over Israel. All that they knew was that Jesus opposed the religious establishment, their leaders, and their religion which was founded by their forefathers, the most godly men in history. Only an evil man or a man filled with an evil spirit would oppose such a religion. He must be mad. The pilgrims believed that their leaders would never harm anyone, or be unjust or immoral, or act in an unholy manner. The truth is any establishment or leadership group can be quite wrong. Everyone fails and falls short of the glory of God, some simply fall further short than others. The Sanhedrin struggled with making a choice. Believe Jesus was their Messiah or choose to keep going with their religion and traditions. Same choices must be made even today.
Jesus simply tried to convince the pilgrims by pointing out His miracles that He performed. He healed a man on the sabbath day and caused all sorts of anger. Sabbath was meant to have no work done on it. But circumcisions were done on the sabbath day, wasn't that work? Jesus pointed this out and said that He healed the whole man on the sabbath so wasn't that even better than circumcision? Jesus told them that judgment was not to be about appearances but according to facts.
Now the local peoples' reaction was of reasoning and coming to a tragic conclusion. Is this man the one so opposed and feared? Is this the man that our leaders seek to kill? They observe that Jesus continues to speak boldly and openly but no one is stopping Him. Does this mean that Jesus really is the Messiah? But they all concluded Jesus couldn't be their Messiah since they knew where he came from. They knew his family and his upbringing. Ahh, he is just a carpenter from Nazareth, just another man. They expected that their Messiah would come from an unusual place, someplace that they did not know anything about.
What was Jesus' reply? Yes, I am a man. I was born of Mary and lived in Nazareth, but that is not all. I was sent by God. The people did not know God and did not know much about heaven. Technically speaking, the local people did not know where Jesus had come from. God commissioned Jesus and sent Him to earth to proclaim and live the truth before people. The reactions of the locals was either of two things. Some still did not believe and some even became sworn enemies and tried to stop Jesus but failed. Others believed Jesus.
These are the exact same reactions that we see around us today. Established religions and their leaders frequently become out of step with what Christ has asked all of us to do. They become stuck on maintaining traditions and not focusing on reaching people with the Gospel of Christ. They even become angry when asked why they will not change and follow what JESUS has taught. Or they have accepted many of the doctrines of the world around them, making them part of what the church now believes. The world is not supposed to change the church but the church is supposed to change the world.
Next time we look at the response of the Sanhedrin and the chief priests to Jesus.
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Fri, Oct 3rd - 9:58PM
Book of John Chapter 7
The second reaction or response to Jesus came from the Jewish crowds up in Jerusalem, including both religious leaders and pilgrims. This passage gives an answer to four false beliefs about Jesus:
1) He was only a good man. 2) He was a deceiver. 3) He was not a man important enough to defend. 4) He was a man unaccredited.
"But when His brothers and sisters were gone up , then He went up as well to the feast, not openly, but in secret. Then the Jews looked for Him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, No, He is a deceiver of the people. However no one spoke openly about Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, How does this man know letters, not having ever learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If anyone will do His will, they shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why then go about trying to kill Me?" (7:10-19)
Jesus went to the feast quietly to avoid detection for He did not want His Triumphal Entry to take place this soon. Quietly He went to the temple and began teaching. The crowds of pilgrims in Jerusalem did seek to find Him which was a good thing. The Sanhedrin wanted to arrest Jesus and get him off of the streets and public view. Jesus threatened their status in Jewish society simply by whom He claimed He was and by His miracles. If you notice, the miracles are never really challenged because they were witnessed by too many people.
But the people looked for Jesus because they wanted to witness more miracles and listen to him preach and teach. Some people thought that Jesus was definitely a good man: someone to be supported, listened to, and heeded. they felt he was loving and caring, just and moral, giving and unselfish, true and honest, as well as believing and worshipful. But this only sees Jesus as a man. It does not believe Jesus is the Son of Man. Some thought Jesus was the exact opposite: a deceiver, who was deliberately misleading people away from the true religion. As we can find in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they said Jesus was of Beelzebub, or the devil. That Jesus was an associate of sinners, a criminal and a law-breaker. If all of these allegations were true, then Jesus was the most evil and deceptive man the world has ever seen.
Some thought Jesus was not significant enough to defend. Those who thought he was a good man still cowered in fear and didn't speak up for Jesus. He wasn't worth the risk or cost. Others thought that Jesus was unaccredited, lacking proper credentials. These people were astonished that he could teach so well in the temple when he had never been taught letters. They kept asking, "Who does he think he is? He has never studied in our schools, under our teachers. He is just a mere carpenter, uneducated and unlearned." Jesus was never ordained by the Jews in the temple. How often are people rejected despite their call and gifts, just because they are not degreed by the right seminary, or have the "proper" education? That is man's way, not God's.
So Jesus responds to these allegations. "My doctrine(teaching) is not mine, but God's." He was not the source of the teaching, just the messenger, God's representative. Jesus said his message and teaching were God's. Jesus said that people could test His claim. How can I know God's will? By doing God's will and finding out that it is true. I can know by believing that God is, and living and doing God's will. This is a subjective test that can be done. The objective test is outward or observational. Does Jesus speak for his glory or the glory of God in heaven? If Jesus spoke to bring glory to God then that is true, it is what an ambassador should do. Jesus sought to motivate people to to glorify God in their lives. Jesus had no personal ambition or glory. Jesus didn't just claim to be telling truth, He claimed to actually be the Truth. "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father but by Me."(John 14:6)
There is also the personal test. A person can use the law and tell if Christ is true. A person can measure themselves by the law and clearly see that they do not keep all of it. That person breaks the law and is in need of God's forgiveness. This is exactly what Jesus was preaching. The Jews had been given the law and did not keep it as God had intended. Believers today have been given the Gospels and the New Testament by God, may we faithfully keep those and live them out daily.
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Name: Eric Rajaniemi
