Day 42: John 8 (part 1)- Light and love

​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 midst4 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. 7 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. 10 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.”]]
I Am the Light of the World12 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.” 14 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.
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
 
Meditation
 
Jesus makes a bold claim, “I AM the light of the world.” (12) The “light of life” battles darkness (1:4-9), specifically the darkness of self-righteousness in this section of John 8. Men were hiding behind their self-righteousness in condemning the woman caught in adultery, trying to trap Jesus (1-11). The light of light entered with a challenge, “Let you who are without sin throw the first stone.” (7) Only the woman who knew she needed grace recognized the Light of the world.
 
The Pharisees were blind to the Light due to a focus on the law, discrediting Jesus’ claim on procedural grounds (13). With the Light of love shining in their faces they ask, “Who are you?” (25) Only those who believed recognized the Light. (30)
 
Self-righteousness snubs the Light of the world. Grace and belief snub self-righteousness. Jesus came to save, not to condemn, (3:17) and when we believe in Christ’s saving work there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). With no condemnation we are free to confess our sin (1 John 1:5-10) and repent, turning from rebellion to obedience.  We can drop our stones of judgment and walk in love, letting the light of God’s grace and love shine in a dark world.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Self-righteous people in this chapter do not repent of their good works so they miss believing in Jesus as Savior. Do you have good works you are hiding behind, trying to justify yourself before God and others?
 
-The gospel proclaims, “There is no condemnation in Christ!” Any voice you hear counter to this truth is not of God. Confess your sin, free of fear of condemnation. Walk in the light!
 
-When we are free from our self-righteous slavery we are free to love others. Who do you need to love and serve today; letting your light shine before those you live with, work with, and study with?
 
Key Verse
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.”