Originally posted: 11/05/2019
John 8 is a fascinating chapter; its beginning and ending mirror each other. The so-called religious leaders pick up stones in judgment; intent on bringing justice on the guilty, oblivious to their own guilt and sin.
And as though to highlight God’s perfect Man when seen against the backdrop of arrogance and sin, as if illustrated and framed within the self-righteous passion and sanctimonious pride of the religious elite, we see a portrait of the very antithesis of the scribes and Pharisees, a portrait of the Son.
Even the untrained eye comes face to face with His image so distinctly portrayed, not the image of a mere man, but the very Son of God. And one cannot simply pass by without stopping in wonder; and if honestly seeking truth, one will see Him as He is, in His Deity Depicted.
Consider His Deity Depicted
- His Deity Depicted as He Extends Forgiveness:
- Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more,” (8:10-11).
- His Deity Depicted as the Light of the World:
- Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” (8:12).
- His Deity Depicted as He Bestows Freedom:
- So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” (8:31-32).
- His Deity Depicted as Conquering Death and Granting Life:
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death,” (8:51).
- His Deity Depicted as He Claims for Himself the very Name of God:
- Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,” (8:58).
- Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you,’” (Exodus 3:13-14).
How do we respond to His Deity Depicted?
Let us not rush hurriedly by; but may we linger to ponder His Deity Depicted.
We see Him as He speaks and as He does what only God can say and do. Jesus left no room for debate regarding His Identity. And in His lavish grace, He has invited us into His broad place of Forgiveness, Light, Freedom, and Life to know Him as God and Savior.
Our relationship with Christ begins in the same way as the adulterous woman. We have sinned and deserve His judgment, deserve death. But in His compassion and mercy and grace, He stoops down to extend forgiveness. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He extends His forgiveness and performs the miraculous, letting go of our past and creating us as His new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come, (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV).
- Let us walk in the truth of His Forgiveness; there is no place for guilt when we have received His Forgiveness.
- …how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).
- As we experience His Forgiveness, may we live in gratitude and deep desire to go and sin no more, and to live as light that we would bring Him glory.
- “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:16).
- He has made us free, not to fulfill fleshly desires, but we are granted freedom from the grip and power of sin. By His grace we are made new creations in Christ. Let us now choose to freely love and serve others.
- It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery… 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another, (Galatians 5:1, 13).
- In Jesus we do not have to taste death but are privileged to partake of life. Let us hunger to know His Life as revealed in the Son and the Scriptures.
- “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent,” (John 17:3).
- Let us linger long to study and consider His Deity Depicted that we would grow in holiness as we hunger and long for Him, our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
- For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds, (Titus 2:11-14).