Read these Chapters
John 7: Jesus
at the Feast of Tabernacles
In John 7, tension is palpable concerning Jesus’ identity and mission. The
chapter begins with Jesus moving in Galilee, avoiding Judea because the Jewish
leaders sought to kill him. However, the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem
draws near, and even His brothers challenge Him to go there and show Himself to
the world. Jesus responds that His time hasn’t come yet, emphasizing the
world's hatred towards Him. Nonetheless, He later goes to the festival
secretly.
At the festival, there's a great division among the masses about Jesus. Some
believe He is a good man, while others believe He deceives the people. The
Pharisees and the chief priests send officers to arrest Jesus, but they return
empty-handed, captivated by His words. Jesus teaches openly in the temple,
astonishing many with His wisdom, considering He hasn’t been formally educated.
He proclaims that His teachings are not His own but come from God.
Jesus announces on the last and greatest day of the feast, “If anyone
thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” This refers to the Holy Spirit, though
the Spirit had not been given yet. This chapter ends with more divided opinions
about Jesus, with some wanting to seize Him and others believing in Him.
John 8: Woman
Caught in Adultery and Jesus as the Light
John 8 continues to underscore the tension between Jesus and the Jewish
leaders. It begins with the scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman caught in
adultery to Jesus, trying to trap Him in His words. Jesus famously responds,
"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at
her." Convicted by their consciences, they leave one by one. Jesus,
displaying grace, does not condemn the woman but exhorts her to leave her life
of sin.
As the chapter progresses, Jesus declares Himself the “light of the world,”
asserting that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. The Pharisees
challenge His testimony, but Jesus maintains that His testimony is valid
because He knows where He comes from and where He's going. He also indicates
that if they knew His Father, they would recognize Him.
The chapter culminates in intense exchanges between Jesus and the Pharisees.
Jesus speaks of being set free by the truth, prompting the Pharisees to
question Him about their lineage and Abraham. Jesus makes a profound statement,
declaring, "Before Abraham was, I am." This clear reference to
divinity recalls God's self-identification to Moses in Exodus, highlighting
Jesus' claim to deity. The Jewish leaders react with hostility, attempting to
stone Him, but Jesus eludes them.
