April 2, 2020

Believe, Receive, and Walk in the Light of HIS Forgiveness

John 8:1–30

Jhonda Johnson
Thursday's Devo

April 2, 2020

Thursday's Devo

April 2, 2020

Central Truth

Where Jesus is, there is grace, forgiveness, and compassion. The God we serve is perfectly merciful to us and also perfectly just in every aspect.

Key Verse | John 8:7, 10-12

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:1–30

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

I Am the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father 1 8:16 Some manuscripts he who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Footnotes

[1] 8:16 Some manuscripts he

Dive Deeper | John 8:1–30

We all can relate to a time when we were deep in the darkness of our sin, when we knew it was wrong even if the world would tell us it was right.

In those moments, it's easy to become consumed with guilt and shame. Think of how this woman felt at the start of John 8—humiliated, ashamed, and embarrassed as her sin was on display to be judged, condemned, and stoned according to the Mosaic law.

During this time for this woman, her sin would possibly cost her her life.

Jesus enters into the story and completely changes the trajectory of this narrative. It is what He has done and always does for us. And in this story, it is no different.

Even in the midst of her sin and the Pharisees' efforts to test Him, Jesus was the light in the darkness of her sin. As He told the people immediately after this encounter, "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12) He did not condemn her but called her to "go, and . . . sin no more." (John 8:11)

Many of us might be able to recall a time we heard the leading of the Spirit of Jesus telling us, "This is not the way; leave this life of sin and come into the light of truth, confession, repentance, and total transformation."

Scripture calls Jesus our redeemer, but how many times do we forget that? We often need reminding that He is our light, our salvation, and, most importantly, the one who took our place and bore our sin so that our debt would be paid eternally. 

Walking in the darkness of our sin is never fun. We can find ourselves entangled in all sorts of darkness that sin brings when we lose sight of our source of true light—Jesus!

The redemption, restoration, and reconciliation that Jesus brings is our greatest gift that we didn't have to ask for—it was freely given when Jesus paid the price for us.

The sweetest picture of the Lord's love and diligence is being our advocate, light, and the ultimate source of life eternal.

Discussion Questions

1. Who do you most identify with in the story and why:

  • Jesus—compassionate/forgiving, but calling this woman to leave her life of sin;
  • The adulterous woman—shamed, embarrassed, and condemned; or
  • The Pharisees and scribes—ready to condemn and point out the faults in another, while not considering their own sin?

2. Do you come to Jesus as if He is the light of the world? Or do you shrink back in shame or condemnation (see Romans 8:1)?

3. Do you feel free to leave your life of sin and walk in the light and promises of Jesus (see John 8:32, 36)?

4. What is one way you can imitate Christ's actions of compassion and forgiveness while still standing on the truth of His Word this week (see Ephesians 5:1)?

5. Are there any areas in your life in which you are still walking in the darkness of sin (James 5:16)? Know that others are here to help, pray, and walk alongside you. A great place to explore healing, learn more about a gracious God that loves you, and walk in confession and repentance is Watermark's recovery ministry called re:generation.