Jesus continues to teach the people, shows grace to people and forgives sins. However most people can't handle what he is teaching. For some it's because they can't handle that he is right in his judgement and remarks about things they themselves do, for others they just can't understand who he is or don't believe who he claims to be.

In this chapter pharisees will attempt to trap him in something to give them a reason to kill him, and people will attempt to throw stones at him as a result of what he says.

Jesus Forgives An Adulterous Woman

[John 8:1 ESV] but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
[2] Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
[3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst
[4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
[5] Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
[6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

Here we set the scene, the pharisees have come to Jesus with the woman who allegedly committed adultery. We read that they have an ulterior motive, to try and catch Jesus out in something he said so they could bring charges against him.

And Jesus just bends down and writes in the dust on the floor with his finger, seemingly disinterested in what is happening but aware of it. But they press on and keep asking him the same question expecting him to answer them. And so he does.

[John 8:7 ESV] And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
[8] And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
[9] But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

He tells them essentially whoever has never sinned can be the first to cast a stone. Then bends back down to keep writing and checks back out of the situation. He allows them to make the call, and in the process declines to judge her. So the Pharisees begin to leave one by one. And Jesus forgives her.

[John 8:10 ESV] Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
[11] She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

How do you think the woman was feeling in that situation both being accused of something that could cost her life, and being used as a prop by the religious leaders for their twisted game? What does this action teach us about Jesus's character? For the people watching, what do you think they felt in that moment? Why do you think she called him lord here despite the pharisees not doing so?

Jesus Is The Light

[John 8:12 ESV] Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
[13] So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

Jesus makes a claim that he is the light and those who follow him will have the light of life, however the Pharisees make the argument that he can't bare witness to himself and thus what he says is not true. However Jesus does have a witness, and begins to explain how the father is the second witness.

[John 8:14 ESV] Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
[15] You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
[16] Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
[17] In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
[18] I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
[19] They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
[20] These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come

Is God preventing Jesus's arrest because God wants Jesus to do more? This is only the beginning, what does reading verse 14-47 teach you?

Jesus Claims To Be Divine

[John 8:48 ESV] The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying 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] Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.
[51] Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
[52] The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’
[53] Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”
[54] Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
[55] But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.
[56] Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
[57] So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
[58] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
[59] So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

The Jews are claiming that he is not a Jew but is a Samaritan and demon possessed, which is quite a strong claim. However Jesus does not get angry, instead he just talks with them, and refutes the claim of being demon possessed, because he honors the father while they dishonor him. Because of his past claims of being sent by God, this is implying that the Jews are dishonoring God in the process.

He continues and adds a claim that those who keep his words will not see death, but this gets the Jews a bit more worked up since Abraham and other prophets died. This becomes a debate about Jesus and his claims. But it all changes when Jesus makes a statement that the Jews clearly understand to be a claim that Jesus himself was divine. "before Abraham was, I am."

Because of this claim of divinity, essentially that he himself was God, the Jews tried to stone him to death. The standard punishment for blasphemy.

Why do you think the Jews went straight to stoning rather than challenging Jesus further? Do you think Jesus's claims of being divine is true? If so, why do you think it's true? If not, what evidence are you missing to accept this to be fact?

What do you dear reader think of this chapter in the bible? What draws your interest, raises questions, or speaks to you? Leave a comment below with your thoughts as you read the bible. God Bless you 😄