SCRIPTURE: John 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. [John 8:58-59]
There are so many things that I could write about in today’s reading, which one do I pick?
Technically, the Pharisees were right, the Law did require that this woman be stoned for committing adultery – how could Jesus go against what the Law commanded, even if the others were also guilty of sin?
In this whole chapter, Jesus seems to place Himself at the level of God, this is why they want to stone Him.
He has the bold audacity to use the holy Name of God – the I AM name from Exodus 3:14.
Every time He uses this phrase (including the other “I AM” statements – I am the light of the world, I am the bread of life, I am the way, the truth and the life, etc.), He is equating Himself with God.

Only God can condemn, and only God can release from condemnation.
And this seems to be exactly what Jesus is wanting people to understand.
He represents God, and God is His witness; He comes from God and will return to God, and in the meantime He is God’s light in the world for all to see.
The whole Jewish bible anticipates His coming, and Abraham – the father of Israel – looked forward to His coming.
Every true Jew eagerly expected His coming; yet the irony is that when He finally comes, they reject Him.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [John 1:10-11]

Jesus explains why people reject Him, because in their hearts they are committed to Satan, he is their true father.
This is a shocking accusation, but we need to remember that all of us are born into this status – slaves of sin and slave of Satan, in this way he is our father.
But some people do not want this, some people hate sin and Satan and want to be restored to God.
Those seeking freedom look with desperate longing for God to come to their aid; those content in their selfish, sinful, broken condition look away from God, look away from His offer of help.
Despite their religious devotion, the Pharisees were quite happy with themselves and were quick to point the judgmental, accusing finger at others – this was proof that their hearts were closed to God.

It seems to me that humility and honesty are the primary indicators of a God-open heart.
To know and to hate the power of sin and Satan and selfishness, and to eagerly long for forgiveness and freedom.
God comes to such people with all of His heart, and offers to them everything they need:

• If you are lost, I AM the way,
• If you are struggling in the dark, I AM the light of the world,
• If you are spiritually hungry, I AM the bread of life,
• If you are crushed by death and dying, I AM the resurrection and the life.

The Pharisees left Jesus with their pride and guilt intact, while this “sinful woman” went away free, forgiven!
Which one do I want to be?

PRAYER:
Lord, You are everything I need, everything I want. Thank You for coming to me when I could not reach You, and for forgiving and setting me free – free indeed!