The Gospel of John Lesson 24 (3-03-2013) John 7: 53-8:1

The Gospel of John (3-03-2013)

Lesson 24 – John 7: 53-8:1

It is important to bring out a couple of comments or observations as we begin chapter 8 before we look at the details and important lessons found in this chapter. Often there is important information and details between the lines so to speak found in a word or two that is easy to pass by if we are not careful.

These seemingly insignificant words or phrases that are easy to pass by when reading Scripture passages often add rich meaning and important details when we slow down and with the Holy Spirit’s aid savor them. These details add color, meaning and/or perspective that will help us get a richer meaning and, understanding of the truths contained.

It is important when looking at Scripture passages that we get the full content of what is written by the Gospel writers. There is a lot that you might not see in mere words on paper vs. words that might be spoken by someone in person. When conversing in person words can take on a whole different perspective or have a richer meaning by the use of gestures, inflection and or body language. Also, by referencing and referring to the other Gospel writer’s accounts additional details may be gleaned from their perspective of the event that are often quite significant adding meaning to the passage at hand. We need to be careful not to miss details that may not be obvious at first, but can shed at times seemingly volumes of valuable information concerning a Scripture passage or spiritual principles.

Unfortunately it seems that we have no way to receive the messages and meaning of the Scriptures first hand. But it is important to remember that we do have a tutor and instructor that helps to reveal the full meaning intended in Scriptures if we are willing to seek out His guidance and listen to His prompting.

The words of the Scriptures are not just understood with our intellect only. These are Living Words and although we must be careful not to read more into what we find in the Scriptures, we also must have our heart open to the Spirit’s teachings and interpretations as He reveals the Truth of the Scriptures to us. I Cor. 2:9-14 In other words, we must study and read the Scriptures listening and relying on the Holy Spirit’s Present prompting and instruction using His inflection, gestures to us and images backed up and supported by the rest of Scripture to get His full meaning in any Scripture passage.

Such is the case found here at the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8. Some Bible expositors believe that v. 53 in chapter 7 and verse 1 of chapter 8 should have been kept together and should not have been separated by the beginning of a new chapter. There is a lot contained in these two verses that is easy to miss if we pass by these verses too quickly on our way to the important account of the woman taken in adultery.

At the end of chapter 7, the very last verse, the Apostle John makes an important statement and observation which may appear to be as an observation in passing, but in reality it was a detail that he felt was significant to include. Why did he include this? He tells us that at the end of the discussion between themselves, the Pharisees including Nicodemus’, that he thought it was important to include that those present went home unto their own houses.

This is significant for a couple of reasons. First in making such a statement John tells us that festival had indeed ended. This was a festival in Jerusalem and some of the brothers of the religious leaders had likely traveled from some distances to be at this feast as it was a national observance. Now being over and the follow up meetings ended John tells us that those present went home not just residing locally as they would during the festival. Even though they did not answer the questions concerning what to do with Jesus, this Jewish observation/religious holiday broke up and those that were there disbanded and went to their own homes. In other words, normal life as well as day to day Temple life was about to resume.

But, it is the next verse that intrigues me. The Apostle John follows John 7:53 with these interesting words ‘but, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives’. At first you might say ‘so what’, what’s so important about that. Think about his comment here for a minute. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I think not,…John thought it important to include this as a contrast and follow up to the action that the religious leaders took following the festival. They went to their homes, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Why is this so significant?

In making this statement John could have implied several things and it is statements like this that are not often easy to figure out what their true meaning really is. This is what Paul Harvey referred to as the rest of the story!

In 8:1 it says that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives at night or that night. Why was this significant? First we must assume that because He was going there at night that one of the obvious reasons for going there was to sleep or reside for the night. It is pretty much safe to assume that on this night He in all probability was looking for or going to a place to rest. He had had a long day and sometimes we forget that although Jesus was fully God that He was also fully human and as such did get weary.

We also know from Scripture that this place, the Mount of Olives, was a place that He went to often to pray, the garden of Gethsemane being located at the foot of the Mount of Olives on its western side. But, let’s go one step further by asking the question where did He actually end up?

At first you might state the obvious…’the Mount of Olives’ and you would be right. But, let’s be more specific. Exactly where did He end up? Was it at someone’s house, or…was it outside somewhere? You might say ‘What does it matter?’, but I say this is a good question for in its answer are the details of Jesus’ life.

In looking at some of the details and history concerning the Mount of Olives we find that the Mount of Olives was just that,…a mount or hill within walking distance about a mile East of the temple that contained many olive trees. It is said that the composition of the ground in this area then, as it is now, was unsuitable for building. In actuality in all probability it was a grove of olive trees on a mount or hill, hence its name, possibly resembling a park or wooded area adjacent to other areas that would have been more developed or inhabited. It is said that Mary and Martha lived near this location not far from the Mount of Olives, but John would have mentioned Jesus going there if Jesus would have ended up or gone there.  So, it is unlikely that He went to this place to reside in someone’s home for the night.

Luke sheds some light on this place in his Gospel and our Lord’s use of it when He tells us in Lk 21:37 that John’s reference to Jesus’ retreat to this place was not a onetime event telling us that it was His practice to spend the night here when in Jerusalem. In all likelihood He would have passed the night out of doors or under a temporary shelter as one would if they were homeless. In thinking through this scenario Jesus at this time in His life might actually be classified as ‘homeless’. Jesus Himself gave insight to His lifestyle in Matthew 8:20 when He gave this response to someone that wanted to become a follower of Him: Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Why? How? Why did He adopt this lifestyle?I find it interesting that One so capable and totally able to succeed at any lifestyle that He chose to chose or had to live this way at this time. It is worth mentioning that John the Baptist seemingly also chose this lifestyle during his ministry years.

Jesus was not a rebel without a cause, but we do see in His lifestyle that He was a rebel with a cause and in fulfilling His mission given to Him by the Father we find that He did not fit the mold dictated by this world. He was on a mission. And, in pleasing His Father, fully fulfilling the Father’s will and mission for Him it was necessary to adopt this lifestyle for reasons we may not fully understand. In other words in living His life in service and on mission to His Father He found Himself adopting a lifestyle that on the outside looked a little strange to those around Him especially those who did not know Him personally.

In reading through these passages the Holy Spirit impressed on me to ponder and consider the plight of Jesus and those in this situation remembering that He Himself much of the time did not fit into this world or what we consider normal lifestyle. In considering this there were a few questions that came up in my mind:

•  How do we view those who do not fit into what we term the norm of this world?
• How did/does Jesus fit into our image or view of norm?? What about John the Baptist?
•  If Jesus lived His life perfectly obeying and serving His Father, and He did, then what might that say about our life of perceived normal? Christian normal?
• How does our perception of so called normal actually fit into God’s actual desire and plan for our life?
• Note: Studying these passages made me think of Chris Rise's song 'Face of Christ'.

In v. 2 of chapter 8 we see Jesus leave where He resided for the night and come back to the Temple. We saw earlier that everyone else who had come for the feast had gone home, 7:53, but Jesus had not come as much for the celebration, but for the people, so He returns to the Temple.

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He shares a room outside with a dozen other guys
And the only roof he knows is that sometimes starry sky
A tattered sleeping bag on a concrete slab is his bed
And it’s too cold to talk tonight
So I just sit with him instead and think

How did I find myself in a better place
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
‘Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

After sixteen years in a cold, gray prison yard
Somehow his heart is soft, but keeping simple faith is hard
He lays his Bible open on the table next to me
And as I hear his humble prayer
I feel his longing to be free someday

How did I find myself in a better place
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
‘Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

See you had no choice which day you would be born
Or the color of your skin, or what planet you’d be on
Would your mind be strong, would your eyes be blue or brown
Whether daddy would be rich, or if momma stuck around at all

So if you find yourself in a better place
You can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
You gotta stoop down low, look him square in the eyeS
And get a funny feeling, ‘cause you might be dealing ...

How did I find myself in a better place
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
‘Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

With the face of Christ, yeah

With the face of Christ