Spiritual Food for Women

John 8:22-25

22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 

24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

“Believe in Me or Die in Your Sins”

“Will He kill Himself? Is that why we cannot go where He goes?” The Jews believed that anyone who committed suicide would definitely not go to heaven, and would automatically go to Hades. They were certain that they were going to heaven, so, in their minds, Jesus had to be going to Hades. Jesus knows exactly what they are thinking, so He reversed the order. In verse 23, He said, paraphrasing, “It is you who are from Hades (beneath). It is I who am from heaven (above). You belong to the world. I don’t belong to the world. I may be in the world right now, but I don’t belong to it.” Then Jesus told them why they couldn’t go where He was going. It was because they were “of this world”, or they belonged to the world. Satan was/is the god of this world, so if they belonged to the world, then they belonged to Satan, who is from “beneath” or Hades. Instead of going where Jesus was going, which was “above” or heaven, they would go where Satan was, which is “beneath” or in Hades. What about me? We can’t belong to both Jesus and the world. Let’s ask ourselves some questions. What consumes my thoughts? What do I spend most of my time on? Where and what is my treasure? I can’t love the world and still expect God to bless me with eternal life with Him and His Son. 

In verse 24, Jesus again tells them, paraphrasing, “Since you are from beneath, and are of this world, you will die in your sins, because if you don’t believe I am HE, then you will die in your sins.” Jesus placed special emphasis on the statement, “you will die in your sins,” by repeating it twice! There is also a special emphasis on the word “He”. When Jesus uses the word “He”, He was connecting Himself to the prophecy in Isaiah 43:10-13 where the phrase “I am He” is used twice. It reads, “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” Jesus wanted them to believe that He was the one that they had learned about in the Scriptures. Jesus is “HE”. “HE” is GOD. These Jews had to believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of everything that the prophecy in Isaiah 43:10-13 claimed, or they would die in their sins. They had to believe that there was no other Savior besides Jesus, just as Isaiah says. That last part of Isaiah 43:13 is powerful. It reads, “there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” The answer to that question is “no one”. No one will reverse the work that God has done. No one will reverse the work that Jesus has done in saving our souls. No amount of unbelief, plotting, scheming, or testing by these Jews would reverse who Jesus was or what His purpose was for being on earth. The plan was and is set. Nothing God decides can be reversed or changed by humans. Our only hope of not dying in our sins is our belief in and obedience to Jesus. Nothing will ever change about that! Do we put our hope in worldly things or ideas? Do we worry too much about our physical, material, or financial hopes and dreams rather than our spiritual hope? Where is our hope found?

In verse 25, after all Jesus has said and done up to this point, the Jews dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” Jesus simply answered, paraphrasing, “I am just who I have been saying that I am from the beginning.” The tone with which the question, “who are you?”, was asked was more than likely a sarcastic tone with a disrespectful underlying meaning like, “Who do you think you are to tell us, the Jews, how to live? How dare you tell us that we will die in our sins if we don’t believe in you?” Sooooo disrespectful and defiant! If they would only open their eyes! Don’t we feel that way about the world today? If only they could see who Jesus is! If only they would open their eyes to the truth! But, like the Jews back in the day, they don’t want to be told what to do, or they have too much pride to admit they are wrong. They want to live life on their own terms. I am so thankful for Jesus’ patience in my life, because I lived that way for a long time. I know I have certainly required a lot of patience from Him over the span of my life. Where would I be without Jesus? I shudder to think about the answer to that question. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 8:18-21

18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

“The Choice…Jesus or the World: Without Jesus, We Will Die in Our Sin”

Jesus told His accusers once again that He is His own witness, and His Father who sent Him is also His witness. How do these people respond? They ask where His Father is, to which Jesus tells them in verse 19 that they would know His Father if they knew Him. The only way to know God is through Jesus Christ. By rejecting Jesus, these people are rejecting God. God and Jesus are a package deal. Verse 20 says that Jesus was teaching in the treasury of the temple. Again, we see God’s timetable. No one was able to lay hands on Jesus, because His hour had not yet come. The timing had to be perfectly in line with God’s plan, as is everything in our lives, even today. 

In verse 21, Jesus repeats something that He said earlier in John 7:33-34, where He said, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” However, in verse 21, He adds another mic drop statement to this. He said that He is going away, and they will seek Him, but where He goes, they cannot come. Why can’t they come? And this is the mic-drop! Because they are still in their sins, and they will ultimately die in their sins! So, it is possible to seek Jesus, but still die in our sins. There are many people who are seeking Jesus today, or at least they think they are seeking Him. But, they aren’t willing to give up their sinful lifestyles to be in heaven with Him someday. We can’t seek Jesus and live like the world. We might seek Him, but we will never find Him unless we first die to sin. These Pharisees and scribes didn’t want to humble themselves before Jesus and accept Him as God’s Son. They were being prideful and arrogant instead of being meek and humble. This is sin. They are puffed up and think that they are better than everyone else. Again, this is sin. They may even believe they are without sin because of who they are. One more time, this way of thinking is sin. Many have fooled themselves into thinking that because they say they love Jesus, they will be fine on judgment day. But what did Jesus ask in Luke 6:46? “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” And what does He say in John 14:15? “If you love me, keep my commandments.” We have to love Jesus instead of the world…..not equal with or more than the world…..instead of the world. If the love of the world is in us at all, then the love of Jesus is not in us. (1 John 2:15-17) I can’t serve two masters, or else I will love one and hate the other. (Matthew 6:24) This verse specifically mentions money, but it can mean anything that we are trying to be devoted to along with God. It could be money, possessions, status, sinful activities, people, etc. It can be anything. Jesus doesn’t want to share my heart with anyone or anything. If Jesus is the sole resident in my heart, then I will be the sister in Christ, wife, mom, grandma, daughter, niece, friend, teacher, etc. that I need to be. The love of Jesus will mold me into the person I need to be for all these roles in my life. Where does my loyalty lie? With the world or with My Savior?

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 8:14-17

14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 

15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 

16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 

17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

“My Witness is True…My Judgment is True”

The Pharisees and scribes would not budge in their unbelief in Jesus. They were stubborn and spoke lies about Him. They said in verse 13 that because Jesus was His own witness to whether He was speaking the truth, His witness wasn’t true. This was a lie because Jesus had already listed His witnesses in chapter 5, and it was a fourfold witness. So, does Jesus list those witnesses again for clarification? No, He doesn’t! Because He knows their hearts, and knows they have already made their minds up. They were not going to believe in Him! So, Jesus says this in verse 14, paraphrasing, “Even if I am My own witness, which I’m not, My witness of Myself is true. It is true, because I say that it is true. I know where I am from. I am from the Father. I know where I am going. I’m going back to the Father. But you don’t know any of this, because you refuse to believe.” Jesus is God’s Son, and He doesn’t have to prove who He is to these people. Jesus’ Words are God’s Words. That is all the proof that anyone should need. Since Jesus’ Words match up with God’s Words, then God is Jesus’ witness, which He had already stated in chapter 5.

Then in verses 15 and 16, Jesus brings up the subject of judgment again. He says, paraphrasing, “You judge according to the flesh. You judge people by where they come from, how they dress, how educated they are, what their occupation is, who their parents are, etc. None of that matters at all. I never judge anyone by any of these worldly things. I judge people by the condition of their hearts/minds. And when I do judge a person, My judgment is true, because I know the person’s heart/mind. And, I don’t judge any person alone, because My Father is always with Me, and we are always in agreement in our judgment.” Jesus and the Father are of one mind in power, in truth, and in judgment. They are 100% on the same page in everything. Hasn’t Jesus spoken about judgment before? It is the same song, second verse. Back in John 5:30, Jesus said, He does nothing on His own. His judgment is just because His will is to do the will of the Father. Jesus’ judgment is based on the Father’s will. Then in John 7:24, Jesus tells them not to “judge by appearances”, but to “judge with righteous judgment”. Isn’t it like talking to a brick wall with these people? How many times does Jesus repeat Himself to these people? Jesus then reminds them in verse 16 that in the old law, the testimony of two men is true. (Deuteronomy 17:6) What Jesus means is that He has the testimony of two, Himself and the Father, and that is all that He needs. What more do these people need?

Question for myself: Do I judge by appearances? I can’t read thoughts, so I can’t know the condition of a person’s heart.  But, I also can’t just assume the condition of a person’s heart based on the person’s outward appearance, where they are from, who their family is, or any of that superficial surface-level knowledge. I should assume the best about a person, not the worst. Am I saying that we just throw caution to the wind and possibly put ourselves in physical danger? No, we have to be cautious, because we are not mind-readers. But I don’t need to let a person’s appearance lead me to think that they are any less worthy than I am of salvation, because the truth is, not a single one of us is worthy, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift to the world… the gift of Jesus (2 Corinthians 9:15). 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 8:10-13

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

12 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.”

13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

“Go and Sin No More…I AM the Light of the World”

One by one, the adulterous woman’s accusers walked away after Jesus convicted their hearts of sin. They knew they hadn’t gone about this in the right way. They knew their motives were not pure. Their sin was just as bad as the woman’s sin that they had brought before Jesus. In verse 9, as the Pharisees and scribes walked away, Jesus was again bent over writing in the dirt. In verse 10, Jesus stood up and saw the woman alone, and asked her where her accusers were. “Has no one condemned you?” Jesus asked her. Jesus addressed her as “woman”, which was another word for “miss” or “ma’am” back during that time. If someone addressed us as “woman” today, we would probably take offense and think the person was being disrespectful, but that wasn’t the case back then. The woman replied, “No one, Lord.” And then Jesus says some powerful words that resonate with us today. I can picture Him saying this to me! Can you picture Him saying this to you? “Neither do I condemn you.” That, my sisters and friends, was/is hope…..for this woman…..for me…..for you, and for everyone! Jesus was God in the flesh. He had the power to forgive sins while He was on earth. This woman was guilty of sin, just as we all are. We know that God hates sin and cannot tolerate it. We know that there can be no sin in heaven. God would have no one in heaven with Him if He hadn’t sent Jesus to forgive our sins. Let that sink in. We are all in the same boat. Jesus is our Advocate…our Intercessor, who stands between God and us, and forgives us so that we will be acceptable to God. Jesus cleanses our filthy robes so that they will be white when we stand before God on judgment day. 1 John 2:1-2 says this, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 

Does this mean that we can willfully sin, and Jesus will forgive us no matter what? Do we have a free pass to sin? Let’s listen to Jesus’ next few words to the woman in verse 11. After He said, “Neither do I condemn you……”, He then spoke five profound words that so many today want to overlook. He said, “Go and sin no more.” That doesn’t sound like a free pass to me. He forgave her, but in the same breath told her not to be involved in sinful behavior anymore. Look back at 1 John 2:1. It says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.” John is basically saying, “You need to try your best not to commit sin.” And Jesus knows if we are truly trying to stay pure. In Romans 6:1, Paul is adamant about this very thing. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should”… what? Walk however we want to walk? No…..we are to ”walk in newness of life.” Again, in Romans 6:15, Paul emphasizes this again by saying, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” What Paul is saying is that we cannot use and abuse God’s grace. According to Titus 2:11-14, God’s grace should teach us or train us in how to live. Listen to the beauty of God’s grace in these verses, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14) Because of what God has done for me, I should make it my top priority to live the way God wants me. Jesus showed grace to this adulterous woman. Now, she is expected to live her life for Jesus, and “sin no more” to the very best of her ability. Who else did Jesus tell to “sin no more”? He told the man that He healed at the pool of Bethesda to “sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” In my own words, Jesus is saying, “Do your best to sin no more, or the worst thing imaginable will happen to you. You will lose your soul for eternity.” And the man’s 38 years of sickness would seem like nothing compared to being lost for eternity. 

In verse 12, Jesus changes gears a bit and begins talking to the people again. It is odd that in verse 9, it says that Jesus was alone with the woman, but in verse 12, He is suddenly talking to a group of people again. This may be why this account of Jesus and the woman seems out of place. But it is all God’s Word, and that is all that matters to me. In verse 12, Jesus makes His second “I am” statement, “I am the light of the world”. The first “I am” statement was “I am the bread of life” in John 6:35. This “I am” statement that Jesus makes in verse 12 is symbolic in the same way that Jesus’ statement in John 7:37, where He says, “If anyone thirsts, let Him come to me and drink,” is symbolic.  The Feast of Tabernacles had the water ritual during the day to symbolize God’s provision of water to His people in the desert. At night, there was a lamp lighting ceremony that symbolized the pillar of fire that God led His people with at night when they were in the wilderness. This happened every night during the 8 days of the feast. Each night, the people would take torches to four huge candelabras in the temple court. The entire city was lit up each night as this ceremony went on. So, this leads Jesus, the Master Teacher, to make this statement, “I am the light of the world”. By calling Himself this, He is saying that He is God. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Isaiah 60:19 says that, “the Lord will be your everlasting light”. Only God gives light. God created light on the first day of creation by simply speaking the words, “Let there be light”. And now Jesus of Nazareth is claiming that He is THE light! Next, He says, “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Here is the parallel. The Israelites needed God’s pillar of fire to see in the wilderness at night. If anyone had walked away from that pillar of fire and walked off into the darkness, they would have been lost. Each person had to stay within the light which God provided for them. Those people back then had the light of God as long as they walked in the path of light that God’s pillar of fire provided. If we follow Jesus, then we have His light within us. But we have to stay on the path of Jesus’ light. We can’t say we are followers of Jesus, but walk off into the darkness of sin whenever we feel the urge. Sometimes we have to fight to keep the light of Jesus within us. Satan will try his best to snuff it out. We can’t see clearly anything in life without the light of Jesus inside us. Everything about our view is distorted when we are in the darkness of the world. And… we can’t have it both ways. I can’t have the light of Jesus and still try to hang on to the sinful parts of the world. I can’t go back and forth between light and darkness. It just doesn’t work that way. 

In verse 13, the Pharisees continue to reject Jesus, saying that He is bearing witness of Himself, and His witness is not true. So basically, they are calling the Son of God a liar. They don’t want to accept Him, so they come up with a reason to discredit Him. In my own words, they are saying, “You are saying this about Yourself; we can’t know that any of it is true without more witnesses. You are your only witness.” What more do these people want? Jesus gave His witnesses in John 5:31-40. John the baptist was the first witness that He named. Then, he said that His “works” or miracles bore witness to who He was. Next, He said that God Himself bore witness to who He was. This happened when Jesus was baptized, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and God said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) And finally, the Old Testament Scriptures bore witness to who He was. Jesus had plenty of proof of who He was, but it didn’t matter because these Jewish leaders, Pharisees, and scribes had their minds made up. They were too prideful and stubborn to admit that they might be wrong about Jesus. Similarly, some people today have the same problem accepting God’s Word as truth. Jesus is the Word, and the Word is from God, and the Word is God (John 1:1). God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit-filled Word are equal and ONE. If we reject one part of God’s Word, then we are rejecting Jesus, and we are rejecting God. 

Questions for all of us from these verses: Am I staying in the light of Jesus? Or am I venturing off into the darkness at times? Am I trying to have it both ways? Am I willing to admit when I am wrong and humble myself before Jesus? Am I accepting everything in God’s Word as truth? 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 8:6-9

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

“Which one of you is Perfect and Will Throw the First Stone?”

In verse 6 of this account, the writer reveals that the Pharisees and scribes are testing Jesus. We could infer that fact before ever reading this verse. They wanted something to accuse Jesus of. They wanted to be able to say something like this, “He is not following the law! He should be arrested! This woman is an adulteress, and the man who claims to be the Son of God is okay with that!” In verse two, we read that Jesus was sitting while teaching the people at the temple. The people were probably standing around Him. I read that this was a common way for people to teach in those days. Instead of looking up at the woman’s accusers, Jesus looked down at the ground, bent over, and wrote in the dirt as if He didn’t hear a word they said. I wonder…how did the Pharisees and scribes react to that response from Jesus? Did they continue to press Him on the issue? Probably, because they wanted an answer. 

Then, Jesus stood up and made what I like to call a “mic-drop” statement. He said, paraphrasing, “Anyone who hasn’t sinned in this group, you can throw the first stone at this woman.” Then Jesus bends back down to write in the dirt again. Is Jesus giving this woman a free pass? No, He most definitely is not, as we will see later in this account. Does Jesus mean that we have to be sinless, perfect people to correct/judge/rebuke others’ sinful behaviors? Not at all. If this were the case, then no one would ever be able to correct anyone else. Even elders in the Lord’s church would not be able to use church discipline to correct behavior, because no one is perfect. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus advised us on how to handle sin within the church. If a person sins against us, we are to go to that person and discuss it alone with her as sisters in Christ. I say “her” because, as a woman, I believe if a brother in Christ has sinned against us, then we shouldn’t go alone. We should take our husbands with us. If we are not married, we should take a trusted male member of the church, such as a family member, an elder, a deacon, or a close male friend. I don’t know how anyone else feels about this, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to a brother in Christ to point out sin alone. If she or he is willing to acknowledge the sin and repent, then it is settled, and everything is fine. If she won’t acknowledge the sin, we are to take two or three others with us to be witnesses of our efforts to help this person acknowledge the sin and repent. If the person still won’t acknowledge the sin and repent, then we are to take it before the church. If the person still won’t repent, then the elders/church is to withdraw fellowship with them. So, if Jesus meant that only perfect people could point out sin, then we couldn’t utilize the church discipline tactics that Jesus commands in Matthew 18:15-17. For that matter, the preacher couldn’t step on our toes either, because preachers aren’t sinless either. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells young Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Paul told Timothy to rebuke. That wouldn’t be possible if only sinless people could rebuke, because no one is sinless. 

When Jesus says that the one without sin should throw the first stone, He is referring to Deuteronomy 13:9 and 17:7, where the law of Moses says that those who actually witnessed the sin are to be the first to initiate the death penalty, aka throw the first stone. After that, everyone else is to join in. If these Pharisees and scribes were the witnesses of the woman’s sin, then they should be the ones to throw the first stone at her. In verse 9, we see that the accusers were “convicted by their conscience” and went away one by one until Jesus and the woman were alone. What were the accusers convicted of? What had they done wrong that convicted their conscience? It doesn’t say, but we have already determined that they had judged this woman unrighteously by not having pure motives for bringing her before Jesus. The only reason that they were doing this was to test Jesus. They wanted to see if Jesus would break the law of Moses, so they would have a reason to arrest Him. They also took the woman prisoner, but let the man who was involved go free, which is unfair and a double standard. And another question… to what lengths did these Pharisees and scribes go to catch this woman in the very act of adultery? Hmmmm… not sure about that either! Was the woman guilty? It appears that she was. She didn’t argue or fight back, plus Jesus later acknowledges her sin. However, the way that this was handled by the Pharisees and scribes was equally as sinful as the adultery of this woman. 

So… why do we judge others? There is a right reason and a wrong reason for judging another person. The wrong reason is selfish, and usually involves us trying to make ourselves feel better about our own sin, or we have ulterior motives like the scribes and Pharisees did. “At least I have never done what she did!” Oh no, that kind of thinking should never enter our minds, but I’ll be honest, I’ve had that thought in the past when I was trying to justify myself. “I may have _______, but at least I didn’t _________.” This type of thinking gives the impression that one sin is greater or worse than another. This is not true in God’s eyes. Now… the consequences of some sins are worse than others. But all sin separates us from God if we don’t acknowledge it and repent. The right reason for judging another person is unselfish and has nothing to do with us. The whole reason for the righteous judgment of a person is to help them get back into a right relationship with God. We are to go to the person in love because we care about that person and want her/him to go to heaven. Here are a couple of questions for myself. Can I help someone else get back into a right relationship with God, if I myself am not in a right relationship with God? Don’t I first have to get the beam out of my own eye so I can see clearly to help my sister in Christ get the speck out of her eye? (Matthew 7:3-5) Do I need to check my motives at the door?

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 8:2-5

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 

4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 

5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

“All the People Came to Jesus”

First of all, I have a footnote in my Bible that says that this story was not in some of the earlier manuscripts. My Bible footnote says it is found in about 900 manuscripts. Here is some information that I found explaining possible reasons why it is not in some of them. 

This does not mean that this story is not historical or accurate. There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of this story. What is being noted is that this story is not in this location in early manuscripts. Some think the story was taken out by people because it seems to condone adultery. Some think the story was never in John’s gospel but tradition attached it at this point. Either way, the historicity of this text is not in question. It is simply a question of whether this story belongs right here, somewhere else in John’s gospel, or in a location in one of the other gospels. (West Palm Beach church of Christ)

The bottom line is this…..God’s Word is perfect, so this story is meant to be there. Man may have tried to omit it for whatever reason, but God meant for it to be there, or it wouldn’t be there. 

In verse 2, we find Jesus back in the temple early in the morning. It says “all” the people came to Him. This tells me that a fairly large number of people must have been there, and they were hungry for Jesus. They were there early, hoping to hear the Master Teacher speak more Words of Life. Jesus didn’t waste any time. He sat down and began to teach them. Jesus had something that people craved. His teachings were satisfying to their souls and filled a void within them that the law could never fill, and they wanted more. Jesus’ teachings on everlasting life, living water, and the bread of life were positive and soothing to the people. The people’s curiosity about Jesus kept them coming back for more. I can just hear the people talking amongst themselves when they awoke that morning…..“What will this man, Jesus of Nazareth, teach next? Let’s go to the temple and see if He is there teaching, so we can hear more! Do you think He is really the Messiah?” 

Then, in verses 3 and 4, the Pharisees and scribes interrupted Jesus’ teaching by bringing a woman into the temple who had been caught in adultery, not just accused of adultery, but actually “caught in adultery, in the very act.”  In verse 5, they tell Jesus that the law of Moses commands that she be stoned. Then they proceed to ask Jesus, “But what do you say?” Here is what the law actually says about the penalty for adultery. In Leviticus 20:10, it reads, “The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.” In Deuteronomy 22:22, it reads, “If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die—the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.” So the penalty is death for adultery, not necessarily by stoning, but that was the common way that they did it. We know that the Pharisees’ and scribes’ motive was not to uphold the law, but to try to put a stumbling block in front of Jesus. How do we know that their motives weren’t pure from these verses? We find out their motives in verse 6 of tomorrow’s writing, but we can infer that their motives aren’t pure, even if we don’t have verse 6 to confirm it. How do we know? Look at Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22 again. Who is to receive the death penalty in these verses? Is the woman the only one at fault? My question is… where is the man with whom this woman had committed adultery? I mean…it takes two! Shouldn’t he have been brought to the temple with the woman if true justice was to be served? I am seeing a double standard here! This is not about justice at all! I also find it so hypocritical that these Pharisees and scribes wanted to not only discredit Jesus but have Him arrested and killed, yet they called Him “teacher” or “rabbi,” which is a title of respect. They, in fact, had no respect at all for Jesus. 

What lessons can we glean from these verses alone? On the surface, these verses just seem to be purely informational, but since I have been involved in this scripture writing, I see lessons in everything! It is amazing! What can we learn from the people who came early to the temple to hear Jesus? Well, they were obviously hungry for Jesus. Am I hungry for Jesus? Am I hungry for His Word? Matthew 5:6 reads, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Where do we find righteousness? We find it in Jesus. We find out how to live a righteous life through His Word. Here is a comforting thought from Psalm 107:9, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Nothing about the world could ever satisfy my soul or fill my hungry soul with goodness! Only Jesus can do that through His Word. 

What can we learn from the Pharisees and scribes in these verses? Our motives for judgment of others are everything. This is another lesson in righteous judgment. The judgment that they were placing on this woman was not righteous, because their motive for bringing her before Jesus was not pure. They didn’t care about this woman’s well-being. They didn’t care about her soul. They certainly didn’t care about the man’s soul who had been involved in adultery with the woman. Fairness was certainly not present in this situation since they were condemning only the woman. Are my motives pure in my judgment of others? Is my judgment righteous? Do I have the person’s soul in mind? Am I fair in my judgement? Is it ok for a person that I know and care about (maybe a member of my family) to commit a specific sin, but not ok for someone I don’t know or care about? Do I place double standards on others?

What can I learn from Jesus in these verses? No matter how many times the Jewish leaders disrespected Jesus, He just kept on teaching the people who would listen. He kept on coming to the temple and feeding the people the Words of Life. He never stopped trying to get people to see the truth while He was alive on earth, because He loved them and wanted them to have eternal life, just like He wants us to have eternal life. He never gave up until He took His last breath. We can never give up either. We fight the good fight, we finish the race, we keep the faith, and take as many others over that finish line along with us as we possibly can. (2 Timothy 4:7)

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:51-8:1

51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

53 And everyone went to his own house.

8:1  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

“Can You Judge Someone Before You Truly Listen to Him?”

Nicodemus, whom we read about in chapter 3, speaks up in defense of Jesus by saying, “How can we who follow the law, judge someone before hearing him and knowing what he is doing here?” This shows that Nicodemus is different from the rest of the Pharisees in that he takes the law seriously and believes in giving Jesus a fair chance to explain Himself. In other words, Nicodemus is saying that Jesus deserves a fair trial. Maybe Nicodemus thought of Proverbs 18:13 at this moment, “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” The law did not advocate the practice of arresting someone without cause. We see that Nicodemus’ heart is much different from the other Pharisees. He came to Jesus by night so that he could find out more about him (John 3). I believe he came to Jesus at night for two reasons. One, to be alone with Jesus so that he could speak from his heart and ask him the questions he had without an audience, and two, to protect himself. He knew that the other Pharisees wouldn’t be on board with Nicodemus giving this Jesus person the time of day. These Pharisees were arrogant and quick to belittle anyone who questioned their authority and views on the law. 

In verse 52, we see a scornful attitude in their answer to Nicodemus’ question. They said, paraphrasing, “Are you from Galilee also? You must be, since you are speaking up in defense of this man! Don’t you know that no prophet ever came out of Galilee?” Do you hear the hateful sarcasm and prejudiced tone in their voices? These Pharisees have a contempt for people from the region of Galilee, so much so that they won’t even consider that the Messiah would come from there. They were also wrong in their statement about no prophet ever coming from Galilee, because Jonah was from the town of Gath-Hepher, which was in the region of Galilee. (2 Kings 14:25) I feel fairly certain that they knew that, but were just grasping at straws to try to discredit Jesus because of where He was from. This could be a mini-lesson on being prejudiced against others because of where they are from, what they look like, how they dress, how wealthy they are, their status in the community, etc. God shows no partiality, and neither should we (Romans 2:11, James 2:1-8). Galatians 3:28 says all we need to know about showing partiality, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

After this discussion, everyone went to their own homes, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is the site of some major events in Jesus’ life. In Luke 21:37, it says, “And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.” It seems that this was the home base of Jesus during this time. Jesus taught His disciples from the Mount of Olives, including the famous Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25. The Garden of Gethsemane is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus prayed the night before His crucifixion. Jesus ascended back to heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Acts 1:9-12) 

There are a couple of applications for us that I took from these verses. We need to have the courage of Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee himself. Think about the courage it took for him to question his fellow Pharisees on matters of the law! Were there other Pharisees there who felt the same way as Nicodemus, but were afraid to speak up? How did they treat Nicodemus after this confrontation? Will I speak up for the truth when everyone else in the room is against it? Or will I stay quiet, and just let it go? Doesn’t it seem like it is acceptable for everyone else to say what they believe “their truth” is, except for us, the members of the Lord’s church? Yes! It certainly does seem that way! But the bottom line is, we can’t stay quiet. We have to get into the conversation if we want to affect any kind of change.

The second lesson that I got from these verses comes from the Pharisees. It is a lesson in what not to do. When responding to Nicodemus, the Pharisees were sarcastic and belittling towards him, just because he had a different view than they did. When talking with others about the gospel who have different views than we do, we have to be careful not to have any kind of argumentative or sarcastic tone, even if the person we are talking to becomes argumentative and sarcastic towards us. We have to rise above, continue to speak the truth in love, and stay calm, cool, and collected. The truth is so clear to us, but let’s always remember that it is not clear to others who have been raised in a denomination, or possibly haven’t been raised in any kind of religious environment at all. Personally, I know that I took the fact that I was raised to know the truth for granted for a really long time, and I still feel guilty for that, even though I know I’m forgiven. I often think, why me? Why did I get to be raised to know the truth, and others have not had that opportunity? Don’t get me wrong, I am so very grateful, but I’m humbled by it also. The fact that I took my upbringing for granted the way that I did when others haven’t had the same opportunity to learn the truth really bothers me. Will I speak up for the sake of others’ souls? Will I be like Nicodemus?

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:47-50

47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 

48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 

49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,

“Will I Let Fear Keep Me From Speaking Up For Jesus?”

In the previous verses, the Pharisees wanted to know why the officers had not arrested Jesus, to which the officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this Man!” The Pharisees then proceeded to belittle the officers by saying, in today’s language, “Really, guys? Are you letting Him trick you, too? Don’t you see that no one who really matters believes in Him? This crowd doesn’t know the law as we do. We are the authority on the law. These people are cursed if they listen to this Man instead of us.” In verse 50, we see Nicodemus mentioned. We know that he came to see Jesus by night back in chapter 3, because he was curious about Him. He is about to speak up for Jesus in the next verse. He hasn’t proclaimed belief in Jesus, because verse 48 says that none of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him. Of course, if any of them did secretly believe, they would not let it be known for fear of what would happen to them if they did. 

So what is the lesson from these verses? Well, here’s a question for myself. Do I let fear of what others will think about me or say about me keep me from sharing my faith in Jesus? Do I let fear of confrontation keep me from speaking up when the truth is being twisted? For example, when someone says they are saved but haven’t been baptized yet, should I let that slide or join the conversation? I know there’s a time and place for discussions like this. Sometimes, in the workplace, we can’t engage in conversations such as this, can we? But can we approach the person and say something like, “Hey, I heard you talking about being saved. I’m so glad you are getting to know Jesus. Could we talk more about this after work sometime?” Is this doable for me? They might not accept what I say. They might even get offended. But I planted a seed. Who knows? They might go home and look at those scriptures again. They might come back to me and want to study more. I won’t know until I try. I can’t stay in my box. I have to step out of it. Fear has always been a big problem for me. I have been so afraid of offending someone or saying the wrong thing. I really don’t want to be this way in the future. Everyone’s soul matters. I can’t be afraid to help others. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” This verse is one of my favorites. If I could only live by it! Will I remember it when I’m in the moment, and that fear starts to creep in? Lord, help me step out of my comfort zone and help others by speaking the truth in love. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:43-46

43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 

44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

“No man ever spoke like this Man!”

The people certainly were divided about Jesus. Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one did. Why? Maybe they were afraid of how the people who believed in Him might react. We don’t really know what they were thinking, but we do know one thing. We know from verse 30 that Jesus’ time had not yet come. It was not according to God’s timetable for Him to be arrested yet. Everything had to happen according to God’s plan. 

In verse 45, the chief priests and the Pharisees asked the officers why they had not arrested Him. And they said an interesting thing, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” Was there some belief underneath that statement? Maybe not belief, but curiosity for sure! Curiosity can be the beginning of belief. It is almost as if they couldn’t stop listening to Him, even though they wanted to arrest Him! 

The reason Jesus’ words were so powerful is that they were the Words of everlasting life. He spoke in a way that these people had never heard before. His Words were confusing to them, but comforting at the same time. Phrases like “living water” and “everlasting life” brought them comfort even though they didn’t believe in Him. Jesus’ words were rooted in the Old Testament Scripture, even though some of what He spoke of was new to them. They were thinking, “The Words that this Man is speaking are rooted in the Scriptures, so they have to have some truth to them, right?” 

Jesus also spoke with such confidence and boldness, but coupled with just the right amount of love and kindness. Oh, the lessons we can learn from Jesus about teaching the truth to others. Jesus used what the people already knew to teach them the new concepts that would be coming after His death and resurrection. He used their background knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures to introduce new information to them. Peter did the same thing in the first gospel sermon in Acts 2. He talked about what they already knew from the past before teaching them the truth about how to be saved. 

My teacher friends, isn’t this what we do in the classroom? We build on what our students already know to teach new material. So… when we are teaching others the gospel, we begin where they are and move forward from there. We begin with what they know about Jesus. We begin with scriptures that they know, and move forward from there. And we always, always, always, speak with kindness and love in our voices, no matter what. I pray for opportunities to help someone learn the truth, and I pray that I recognize those open doors and walk through them without fear. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:39-42

39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 

41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 

42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

“Confusion over Jesus…Some Things Never Change”

Remember in John 7:38 when Jesus said that whoever believes in Him would have rivers of living water flowing out of him? Well, John, the writer, goes on to explain what Jesus means by “living water”. He said that Jesus was speaking about the Spirit. Anyone who believed in Him would receive the “living water” or Spirit, but not yet, because Jesus hadn’t been glorified yet. The Spirit, or living water, that Jesus referred to was not about miraculous spiritual gifts, since not all believers received them (Acts 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12-14). But, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the apostles preached that anyone who repented and was baptized would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It makes sense that the writer would explain this to us since Jesus would not be glorified until his death and resurrection. The “living water” that Jesus spoke of in verse 38 is the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the Spirit are the same. The Spirit, or the “Helper” as Jesus called it in John 14:16-17, would come after Jesus ascended back to heaven. 

Listen to Titus 3:4-6 where Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior….” When is the Holy Spirit poured out on us today? When do we, as Christians today, receive the living water?” When we are baptized into Christ! Belief leads to obedience. Obedience is confession, repentance, and baptism into Christ. The Holy Spirit for us today is accessed through the written word of God. God’s Word is our “Helper”, our “Comforter”. We feed ourselves the Holy Spirit when we feed ourselves with God’s Word. We need to be in His Word so much that the Word is actually “in us” even when we are not actually “in it,” if that makes sense. We are living it and breathing it. It is within us, and it shows in how we live. 

In verses 40-42, there was a division among the people about who Jesus was. “He’s the Prophet.” “No, He’s the Christ.” “But, could the Christ actually come from Galilee?” “Don’t the Scriptures say that the Christ will come from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, like David?” They were completely divided about Jesus. What they didn’t realize was that Jesus was from the seed of David and was born in Bethlehem. They were basing their assumption on where Jesus was from at that time. I wonder… if they had asked Jesus the question, “Where were you born?”, and He had told them He was born in Bethlehem, would they then have believed He was the Christ? Probably not. They would have probably talked themselves out of believing in Him in some other way. They did not want to believe that Jesus of Nazareth, a lowly carpenter’s son, was the Messiah. He did not meet their expectations, and they could not get past that. 

Jesus was resurrected and ascended back to heaven more than 2000 years ago to sit at the right hand of God. But people are still confused about Him to this day. Some believe and obey Him. Some believe in Him, but don’t obey Him. They say belief is enough. Some believe He existed, but was just a man, not the Son of God. There may even be some who don’t believe He existed at all. So, see… the confusion is still here. That hasn’t changed. The doubt and confusion are Satan’s way of keeping people trapped in the darkness. He did it back during Jesus’ time on earth, and He is still hard at it today… still keeping people in doubt about who the Messiah really is. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)