It appears that Jesus was still in the temple after showing grace, mercy and love to the woman taken in adultery. As He begins speaking, Jesus shows the difference in light and darkness. The word light is mentioned 52 times in John’s Gospel. All four gospels show the controversy between light and darkness.
John 8:11-12 NKJV Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Remember the crowd that was around the woman who was taken in adultery contained scribes and Pharisees.
They had developed a strict interpretation of the Mosaic law and the oral traditions of the law. The Pharisees were devout separatists who were known as the “righteous” or “pious.” It is understandable why the Pharisees maintained their own scribes. This group of the Jews esteemed themselves to be the only truly righteous party. They practiced many rituals and traditions that came down to them from their elders. In an attempt to be pure, their practice of ritual purifications involved many washings of their hands, cups, pots, and eating utensils. They publicly demonstrated piety by wearing phylacteries and fringed garments. They ascribed titles of distinction and positions of honor to themselves. The Pharisees believed they had a perfect understanding of God’s Law. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and “ruler of the Jews,” (John 3:2).
When Jesus took the action He did with the woman who was taken in adultery, His actions were an affront to these men. After He said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,” then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Remember that the scribes and Pharisees believed that no one had greater enlightenment or knowledge of Moses’ Law. They believed they had legal grounds to challenge Jesus.
“I am the light of the world,” is the Lord’s declaration of His knowledge, authority, and person. The Pharisees immediately challenged Him.
John 8:13 NKJV The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
They said: “You are bearing witness of Yourself; so, Your witness cannot be true.
Darkness always has a controversy with light. The reason for that is very clear. “Light” is a symbol of God and His holiness. Darkness is a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance.
1 John 1:5 NKJV This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Jesus is “the Light.” He is not merely a light or another light. He is the only Light, “the true Light” for the whole world.
Jesus said: John 8:12 NKJV “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
When Jesus said, “Whoever follows Me,” He meant whoever believes and obeys.To follow Jesus means to believe in Him and to be born again. Jesus is speaking of the new life that comes by believing and receiving Him. Following Jesus requires personal trust in Him as the Lord and Savior, and commitment of one’s life to Him. Those who follow Him, “shall not walk in darkness.” The NIV says, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we become committed to the Light, it is impossible for us to pursue darkness.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 12:26 NKJV If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Coming to Christ results in a different kind of life. A true believer will never walk in darkness. He will not live in darkness. He cannot remain in the realm of evil and ignorance and walk in the light. He has been called out of darkness into this marvelous light and life. He is following the light.
John 12:46 NKJV I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
1 John 1:6-7 NKJV If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Within the crowd of Jews were some who believed Him.
John 8:29-32 NKJV And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Those who believe receive a special administration of grace and mercy. Anytime we believe and obey, we receive the benefit of His fellowship, protection, forgiveness, and love. Continuation in His word produces many benefits that are unknown by those who reject Him. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The word “free” indicates release from the bondage and power of sin.
John 8:33-36 NKJV They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Jesus was referring to the power of sin to hold people captive. Although these scribes and Pharisees were religious leaders and teachers of the Law, they did not know the truth. They were captives to the bondage of ignorance, error, sin, law and superstition. Many of their beliefs and actions had been passed down from traditions of their fathers. They had substituted the wisdom of man for the wisdom of God.
The Apostle Paul spoke about this.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Jesus strikes the root of their problem.
John 8:31-32 NKJV 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They felt they had all of the light they needed. They had been educated by the strictest teachers of the Law of Moses. They had spent their lives studying the Law and the traditions of their fathers. Yet, the response of the scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders, revealed how little they understood. They were living by the light of the world and felt superior. They could trace their lineage to Abraham and presumed they were superior. As a result of their feeling of superiority, they questioned and doubted everything Jesus said. They were walking in darkness with their eyes closed. They had shut their ears and could not hear. They had isolated themselves from the light and life that was in Christ. This is an age-old problem with some people.
John 3:19 NKJV And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 8:30 NKJV As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
This is a message of good news that anyone can be saved and made free, if they will believe the truth. What does it really mean to believe in Him? I believe the answer is in verses 31-32. When we really believe in Him, we abide in Him and His Word.
John 8:31-32 NKJV 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Much of the remainder of John 8 discusses the word of Christ. Their controversy is the same issue that many people have with Jesus Christ today. If they believe Who He is, then they would hear His word. If they hear His word, they would have to change. It is easier to accept old beliefs and traditions than believe Christ.
John 8:37–38 NKJV 37“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
John 8:42–47 NIV84 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
John 8:51 NIV84 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
These verses reveal the impact of hearing the word of Christ. His word is Spirit and it is life. The words of Christ are truth and sets people free. His word has the power of life in it. When His word abides in us, it has transformative power. It can convict of sin and draw people to God. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. His word brings healing and salvation.
Jesus told them they were not able to hear what He said. He was speaking their dialect, but their ears were in tune with the native language of the deceiver. Unbelief had made them deaf and blind. Not only did they reject His word, they denied that He was the Son of God. As a result of their unbelief and rejection, these Jews were ready to kill Him. Each of us have the same option. We can deny and reject Him or accept Him as the Son of God.
John 8:58-59 NKJV Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The last two words Jesus spoke to them identified Him as the eternal Son of God. When Jesus said, “I AM,” it was the same words that were spoken to Moses. “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) “I AM” comes from the Greek, egō eimi. The meaning is, “I am eternal.” Jesus was claiming the eternal existence of God.
When they took up stones to kill Him, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them, and so passed by. In the original language, the word “hid” means to cause something to be invisible or hidden.
Here is the condemnation. Jesus Christ the Messiah was standing in their midst and they would not have Him.
John 3:19 NKJV And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Each of us must choose. If we will hear Him and believe, we will receive all of the benefits of being called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
John 12:46-48 NKJV I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
