NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 41
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8:11
John 5:14
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J ohn
8
9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the
oldest, until only J esus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10Then Jesus
stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of
them condemn you?”
11“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus Is the Light of the World (126)
8:12
Isa 9:1-2
John 1:4-5, 9; 3:19;
9:5; 12:35-36, 46
2 Cor 4:6
8:14
John 7:28; 9:29
8:16
John 5:30
8:17-18
Deut 17:6; 19:15
John 5:37
1 Jn 5:7-9
8:19
John 14:7, 9
8:20
Mark 12:41
John 7:30
12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow
me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony
is not valid.”
14Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I
know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15You
judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16And if I did, my judgment
would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father* who sent me is
with me. 17Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is
accepted as fact.* 18I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19“Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is.
If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20Jesus made these statements while
he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time* had not yet come.
Jesus Warns of Coming Judgment (127)
8:21
John 7:34, 36; 13:33
8:22
John 7:35
8:23
John 3:31; 17:14
8:24
Exod 3:14-15
John 4:26; 8:28, 58;
13:19
8:26
John 3:32-34; 12:49
21Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in
your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22The people* asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You
cannot come where I am going’?”
23Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world;
I do not. 24That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I
Am who I claim to be,* you will die in your sins.”
25“Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be.* 26I have much to say about you
8:16 Some manuscripts read The One.
8:17 See Deut 19:15. 8:20 Greek his hour.
8:22 Greek Jewish people;
also in 8:31, 48, 52, 57. 8:24 Greek unless you believe that I am. See Exod 3:14. 8:25 Or Why do I speak to you
at all?
8:9 When Jesus said that only someone who had not sinned should
throw the first stone, the leaders slipped quietly away, from oldest to
youngest. Possibly the older men were more aware of their sins than the
younger. Age and experience often temper youthful s elf-righteousness.
But whatever your age, take an honest look at your life. When you recognize your sinful nature, you will be better equipped to extend mercy
to others who are struggling with sin in their lives. You can also look for
ways to help them rather than hurt them.
8:11 Jesus didn’t condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither
did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to go and sin no more. Jesus
stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance
mean a change of heart. With God’s help we can accept Jesus’ forgiveness
and stop our wrongdoing.
8:12 To understand what Jesus meant by “the light of the world,” see
the notes on 1:4 and 1:5.
8:12 Jesus was speaking in the Treasury—the part of the Temple where
the offerings would be given (8:20) and where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that had led the people of Israel through the wilderness
(Exodus 13:21-22). In this context, Jesus called himself the Light of the
World. The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection, and
guidance. Likewise, Jesus brings God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Is he the light of your world?
8:12 What does it mean to follow Jesus? As a soldier follows his captain,
we should follow Jesus, our commander. As a slave follows his master,
we should follow Jesus, our Lord. As we follow the advice of a trusted
counselor, we should follow Jesus’ commands to us in Scripture. As we
follow national laws, we should follow the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven.
8:13-18 The Pharisees argued that Jesus’ claim was legally invalid
because he had no other witnesses. Jesus responded that his confirming
witness was God himself. Jesus and the Father made two witnesses, the
number required by the law (Deuteronomy 19:15).
8:13-14 The Pharisees thought Jesus was either a lunatic or a liar.
Jesus provided them with a third alternative: He was telling the truth.
Because most of the Pharisees refused to consider the third alternative,
they never recognized him as the Messiah and Lord. If you are seeking
to know who Jesus is, do not close any door before looking through it
honestly. Only with a mind open to him will you know the truth that he
is the Messiah and Lord.
8:20 The Temple Treasury was located in the Court of Women. Thirteen
collection boxes were set up in this area to receive offerings of money.
Seven of the boxes were for the Temple tax; the other six were for freewill
offerings. On another occasion, a widow placed her money in one of these
boxes and Jesus taught a profound lesson from her action (Luke 21:1-4).
8:24 People will die in their sins if they reject Jesus because they are
rejecting the only way to be rescued from sin. Sadly, many are so taken
up with the values of this world that they are blind to the priceless gift
Jesus offers. Where are you looking? Don’t focus on this world’s values
and miss what is most valuable—eternal life with God.
