The Gospel of John Lesson 25 (3-10-2013)

The Gospel of John Lesson 25 (3-10-2013)

Lesson 25 – John 8:2-11

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 only for the celebration, but for the people, so He returns to the Temple the next morning.

It is interesting to note that in v. 2 we see the people seek Him out. In this instance He did not gather or call the people to Him, but that they, the people, when they knew that He was there came to Him and sought Him out. Why? For what purpose? What were they looking for? Were they looking for the next part of the show, or, were they actually hungry for what Jesus had and had offered them the day before?

I bring this up to make the point and ask the question ‘who is following us’, or seeking us out for help, for the answers in life’? I don’t mean to say this to give the impression that our goal should be to create a following for our self. But, we should be asking ourselves the question ‘Is anyone following me or us because of Christ’ in our life? ‘Are they asking me or us questions concerning the problems and difficulties of this life? What Christ offered was very practical. It was meant to be applied to life making it better. If no one is following us for Christ’s sake or asking us questions we should be questioning the effectiveness that the Gospel is having and has had on our life.

Here we see in v. 2 that they sought Jesus out wanting to be with Him because He had something for them. He was offering to them ‘Rivers of Living Water’, offering them practical answers and applications for life…something that they could use to help them to make life better. The Bible does command us to go and preach to the nations and their people, but I personally wonder if we are preaching at those around us more than we should instead of teaching them by our lifestyle and being with them like Jesus, loving them while we show them the Way. Mt. 28:19-20

In v. 2 they sought Him out asking in essence for more of what He was about. In doing so they were ready to listen to what He had to share instead of tuning Him out from just preaching at them. We should be asking ourselves frequently who is seeking us out for answers concerning this life and God’s future Kingdom.  If those around us are not seeking us out asking us personal and at times intimate questions concerning life’s problems and perspectives we need to stop and evaluate the effectiveness of our Christian walk.

This is not a numbers game. More does not necessarily mean that we are being effective in our walk with Christ. More may be more of a popularity thing than a witness of an effective Christian walk. After evaluating this question if you only find a few who are looking to you for some input and guidance for life don’t be discouraged, you will find yourself in good company remembering that even with Jesus’ perfect example he had relatively few followers much of the time.

What we are offering them is not the easy way. Only those truly interested in following Christ will seek out the Truth. They may be few. But, after evaluating our effectiveness on those around us, if we find that we are doing all of the talking, those around us asking little to nothing of us except maybe the current weather forecast or the time of day then it might be a good idea to get alone with God and ask why.

In v. 2 of chapter 8 they came to Jesus asking for help concerning the meaning of life and how to live it, and He took them seriously and took time to be with them to guide them through the answers making sure that they got it right.

V. 3 But, as so often is the case, when you are doing something good it seems like the opposing side sends a distraction to try to side track and throw off course those who are truly seeking the truth and make ineffective the efforts of someone that is trying to do something really good.

Such is the case here in the beginning of chapter 8, 8:2-11. Make no mistake about this incident. This was an assault from Satan himself on Christ’s work. If one was to think that this was just a bunch of troublemaking religious leaders think again. We will see Jesus make it clear just who these religious leaders are working for later in this chapter, v. 44, as He will flat out accuse them of doing the devil’s work being his servants and as such intentionally plotting and carrying out acts meant to thwart or injure or harm God’s work here on earth.

These men were not only trying to protect their turf, but they were also in actually gainfully employed by the opposing side. In doing what they did they were not only attempting to get an incriminating statement that they could use falsely against Jesus later, but in reality they were just as concerned with, and if not more so, discrediting Him thwarting His work for His Father.

Right when Jesus was getting down to business teaching and sharing some good stuff these guys show up and boldly and brazenly march right to center stage and attempt to derail everything. Their actions were intentional. They wanted to ruin the party.

V. 3 says that they take the woman, probably forcibly dragging her, and put her right in the middle of Jesus’ classroom. If you were not aware of it this is one of Satan’s most common, and I might add, most effective maneuvers as a counter offense to God’s Truth when it is proclaimed…creating a diversion.

Those who are employed by him, Satan, boldly, appearing confidently, step right up to the center of where things are happening employing the use of smoke and mirrors by making mostly false statements as if they were commonly accepted as fact. They understand the principle that it does not matter if what you say is true or false, it only matters if it could appear to be true and you state it confidently as if it were really true.

In v. 3 they show up in the right cloths representing supposedly the right office, one that we see from what Jesus had to say to them and about them, they were misrepresenting, in actuality living a lie, interrupting His teaching session attempting to initiate a showdown. Imagine that, how proud can these guys be attempting a showdown with the Living God. What were they thinking?

Of course, they did not realize or recognize Who they were up against, but that is just the point. Their pride had blinded them to the reality of the Truth. It is interesting to watch Jesus’ response to enemy intrusions such as this when attempting to share His truth and minister to those that He came to save.

The first thing that we see them do is to come right up in His space, or in other words in His face attempting to force a confrontation and throw Him off balance so to speak. What was Jesus’ initial response? Ignore them and go right on with what you are doing as if nothing was happening. In James 4:7 we are instructed to do just that where James tells us to immediately submit ourselves to God when confrontation begins and to resist getting thrown off course going right on with what you are doing for the Lord as if nothing is happening.

In v. 4 we see them begin the confrontation and march right on ahead with their public presentation and plan as if it were a prearranged debate. But, what do we see Jesus do? He initially ignores His enemy’s maneuvers all together as if nothing actually happened possibly hoping that they might get embarrassed and leave. But, no such luck…so to speak. They pretty much demand Him to come into the trap that they had set. Jesus, however, did not take the bait. Instead we see Him respond to them on His own terms answering them by not answering them and making His move instead.

The image that I get here is like being confronted by a tough move in a game of chest. In responding to your opponents move you either have to respond offensively or you respond defensively. There are times that you do not have a choice and your only option is to respond defensively, but in this situation Jesus chose to sidestep their confrontation and initiated His own move acting offensively.

Here we see Him do a strange thing. He stoops down and begins to write on the ground. Rule # 1, confuse the enemy. When confronted by a false statement or accusation be careful not to let yourself get backed into a corner. If possible sidestep the situation and state the truth boldly and plainly. Truth has a power of its own.

At times, however, it may be better to act on truth by saying nothing. In the right time and the right situation silence also has its own power. Jesus by not saying anything and bending over and doing something totally unexpected confused them and they did not know what to do next. In my mind’s eye I can imagine what their response to His move looked like. I can see them standing there looking at each other in bewilderment as to what to do in response to this. This was a public confrontation. They knew that Jesus had heard them, but v. 6 tells us the He acted is if He did not.

But, these guys are really nasty! They were mean and were not going to let this go and were not going to back down so easily, so in v. 7 John tells us that they persist in forcing the confrontation. When Jesus was ready He eventually does give them a reply, however, it is a reply that they had not expected and did not know how to respond to. He encounters them with the truth of humanity making a statement that was sure to make them stop and think before their next reply or move. They were dumbfounded as to what to say.

The problem was after more time passed following Jesus’ response to them the more difficult it became to make a reply back to Him. How do you respond to Jesus’ statement except to either give up and admit you are guilty or to turn and leave fleeing the scene. They of course chose the latter. I have to believe that it was more than just Jesus’ reply to them that got to them. I have to believe that God the Holy Spirit had to be at work here convicting their hearts.

But, here is the age old question. What did Jesus write on the ground recorded here in this passage? Was He just doodling? I think not. Or, did He write something specific on the ground that made them think twice about continuing this showdown putting them in a position that they would have to either give up and surrender to Him or leave.

What He wrote we may never know and can only guess. The Apostle John does not tell us. Many have offered their opinion on the possibilities. But, one of the postulated possibilities stands out to me a little more than the others. One preacher said that he thought that what Jesus wrote on the ground was their specific offenses letting them know that Jesus knew the truth about them being sinners themselves and that they were not admitting and facing up to the truth in their life.

The truth about them was now not hidden. It was between them and Jesus, God. They could have forgiven the girl and also asked forgiveness for themselves, God was right before them. He would have received them and their request. But, they chose to turn and leave continuing to live the lie of self righteousness. How sad. They left to only dust themselves off and regroup only to return in a few verses with a fresh assault.

The woman, however, is left to face God. Christ now left her with nowhere to hide from her lifestyle and her sin. Would she flee also, or would she face the truth and come to the answer for her life. Jesus knowing her heart, apparent from His response to her indicating her faith already in Him, admonishes her. Not for her previous lifestyle but for her new life and new lifestyle to go now and live for Him. His statement in v. 10 tells her and all who come to Him as Savior that we do not stand in condemnation any longer, but are now free to follow Him. It is interesting that He does not tell the religious leaders the same, but instead makes it clear in v. 24 that if they do not change their position and believe in Him and His message that they stand condemned and will die in their sins unforgiven.