The Truth About the Son (John 8:1-59)
Two hundred years ago, one of the first modern economic crises took place. Called the “Panic of 1825”, it was partly caused by one of the most brazen cons in history. At that time, European investors were pouring money into Latin America hoping to get rich. Into this frenzy of speculation stepped Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and — as it turned out — conman.
MacGregor claimed to be the prince of “Poyais”, a territory in Central America. He launched a marketing campaign, selling Poyais as a land of opportunity. MacGregor advertised, did interviews with big newspapers, and got endorsements from the rich and famous. He even had songs about Poyais sung on the streets of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Attracting investors with the promise of high returns, MacGregor made a lot of money selling land in Poyais. He even convinced people to migrate there. But it was one big con. Poyais did not exist; MacGregor had created an entirely fictional country to cheat investors. People lost all their money. Some even lost their lives. Instead of a land of rich promise, those who had moved to Poyais were shocked to find a desolate, unliveable wilderness. Many died of malnutrition and disease.
Jesus tells the truth about Himself, so remain in His word.
The Poyais fraud was one of the biggest cons in history. Gregor MacGregor, like other conmen throughout history, make false claims and promises. What about Jesus? Was he also a fraud making staggering claims about himself? Some in his day thought so. They did not believe Jesus’ claim to be God’s Son. They did not believe Jesus had the authority to forgive sins or give eternal life. What do we think about Jesus? In John 8, Jesus says some astounding things about himself. Some dismiss Him as a demon-possessed lunatic. Some show only superficial interest. But what if Jesus is speaking the truth that can truly set us free? Shouldn’t we at least give Him a hearing to learn who He is and what He has come to do? This is the big idea: Jesus tells the truth about Himself, so remain in His word. Two points: (1) Jesus tells the truth about Himself; (2) Remain in Jesus’ word.
Jesus tells the truth about Himself (Jn 8:12-30)
We will skip over the first 11 verses and begin in John 8:12. The word “again” connects our passage with John 7:37, where Jesus speaks to the people who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). Here, in John 8, Jesus is still speaking at the festival, which was celebrated in September or October. It marked God’s faithfulness to Israel during the exodus from Egypt. While journeying through the wilderness to the promised land, the Israelites lived in tents (also known as booths or tabernacles). God provided His people with bread (manna) for food and water to drink. Notice how John’s Gospel connects Jesus with the exodus? This shows Jesus is the Redeemer who accomplishes an even greater redemption. As we have seen from John 6 and 7, Jesus is the Bread of Life and the giver of Living Water. Whoever comes to Him shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Him shall never thirst.
The Feast of Booths lasted for seven days. On the climatic last day, the great day, a water-pouring ritual took place. The priests poured water at the base of the temple altar. There was also a lamp-lighting ceremony. Four lamps in the temple court would also be lit. Their light would have been visible from all around Jerusalem. They symbolised how God led His people through the wilderness by the light of the pillar of fire by night.
Amid the deep symbolism of these rituals, Jesus tells the truth about Himself. He says in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This is the second of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John’s Gospel. The first is, “I am the Bread of Life. (Jn 6:35)”
Why are these “I am” statements so important? They bring to mind God’s words to Moses in Exodus 3. When Moses asks what he should tell the Israelites about God, God replies: “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exo 3:13) God is the great I AM, the sovereign, self-existent One. Since He made all things, He has no beginning or end; He always is. He is the Lord — gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He saves a people to be his treasured possession, joining them to Himself in a covenant relationship.
These “I am” statements reveal who Jesus is. He is the Word, who was in the beginning. He is full of grace and truth. Jesus is the Lord, the covenant-making, promise-keeping Redeemer. Jesus says He is the “I am” in John 8:24, 28 and most clearly in John 8:58: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” He is greater than Abraham for He existed before Abraham. Scandalised by what they thought were blasphemous words, the Jews wanted to stone Jesus. But Jesus is simply telling us the truth about Himself.
Jesus is the light. This recalls God leading His people by the light of the pillar of fire. “Light” represents God’s presence with His people. God is with us, supremely in the person of His Son. Jesus saves and brings us to the promised land of the new creation. “Light” also represents God’s revelation. His word is a light to our path. Jesus is the Word made flesh, who reveals the glory of God the Father. We can know God by knowing Jesus. To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, we believe in Jesus not only because we see His light, but because by His light we see everything else.
To appreciate how Jesus is the light, we must see our sinfulness and need for a Saviour. In John’s Gospel, “light” is contrasted with the darkness of sin and death. We have all sinned against God. We have fallen short of the light of His glory. We deserve God’s judgement. But God sent His Son for us and for our salvation. Jesus came to die for sinners. He took God’s wrath on Himself so that sinners likes us can be rescued from the darkness of our sin and brought into God’s glorious light if we repent and believe.
Jesus is the light of the world. This fallen world is in rebellion against its Creator. Yet, while we were enemies of God, He sent His Son to save sinful humanity — both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus is the Servant promised in Isaiah’s prophecy, who will be a light for the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Jesus saves a people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. Regardless of who we are or where we come from, Jesus invites us to follow Him and have the light of life. Jesus tells us the truth about Himself: He is the God who saves. He is the light of the world, who gives light and life to all who repent and believe in Him. Without Jesus, we will die in our sin.
In John 8:13, the Pharisees refuse to believe in Jesus. It is not as if they were ignorant. As religious leaders and teachers, the Pharisees did not lack knowledge. In fact, Jesus says they “search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life” (Jn 5:39). But we can know a lot about the Bible without knowing the One whom the Bible is about. Does our Bible reading and study help us to know and love Jesus more? To justify their unbelief, the Pharisees cited a legal technicality: Jesus’ testimony cannot be true because He bears witness about Himself. What reasons do we give to excuse our unbelief? The Pharisees expose what they really think about Jesus. If they knew who He was, they would have listened to Him.
Look at John 8:15. Jesus says the Pharisees “judge according to the flesh”. This means they evaluated Jesus based on worldly standards. To the Pharisees, Jesus was a nobody without the proper religious credentials or qualifications. Why should they listen to some poor carpenter’s son from a Galilean backwater? Prejudice prevents us from listening to Jesus. Do we reject Him because He does not conform to our expectations?
When we judge according to the flesh, it actually reveals more about us than the one whom we are judging. It exposes our spiritual condition. Look at John 8:23. The reason why the Pharisees judge by worldly standards is because they “are of this world”, worldly. If we are of this world, we will prefer the darkness of our sins to the light of God’s glory. As it says in John 3:19, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”
Jesus’ testimony is true because of where He came from and where He is going.
But Jesus is “from above”. He is “not of this world” (Jn 8:23). Jesus’ testimony is true because of where He came from and where He is going. Therefore, believe in Jesus because of His origin and His destination. Look at John 8:14 — 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.”
Let us first look at Jesus’ origin. Where did He come from? Look at John 8:16-18. God the Father sent Jesus. The Father bears witness about Him. Jesus’ word alone ought to be good enough, but we have another witness: God the Father speaks for His Son. At Jesus’ baptism, God spoke from heaven saying. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). In the Old Testament law, a testimony is confirmed by two witnesses. So, the truth about Jesus is confirmed by the testimony of the Father and the Son. Jesus has come with the Father’s power, presence, and pleasure (Jn 8:28b-29). Jesus says, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 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.”
The Father sent Jesus to reveal his glory, “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14b). Because Jesus is the Son, He is fully God and also at the Father’s side. Therefore, only Jesus can make God known to us. To know God, we must know Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Living in a pluralistic, multi-religious world, it may seem proud or narrow-minded to insist on this. But it is actually loving to tell the truth about Jesus because only He can bring us to God. We cannot come to the Father except through His Son. Hence, Jesus says in John 8:19: “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
By calling God His own Father, Jesus makes Himself equal with God. These are blasphemous words to the Pharisees. But despite saying these things in the temple, no one arrested Him (Jn 8:20). Why? It was because His hour had not yet come. The “hour” refers to Jesus’ death on the cross. He is following the timing set by His Father. The cross is ultimately God’s plan, not man’s. This tells us where Jesus is going.
Jesus tells us the truth about Himself: He is the light of the world. Jesus’ testimony is true because of where He came from and where He is going. We heard about Jesus’ origin, so secondly, let us consider His destination. In John 8:21, Jesus says to the religious leaders, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Ironically, the Pharisees know Jesus is speaking about His death. But they are badly mistaken in thinking Jesus is going to kill Himself (Jn 8:22). Jesus’ death is not suicide. Rather, Jesus is obeying His Father’s will by laying down His own life to save sinners. Jesus is going to die and then be resurrected in glory. If we do not believe this good news, we will die in our sin. “Sin” is singular because it refers to the one sin of unbelief. This one sin leads to other sins (plural) (Jn 8:24). Unless we believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection to save us, we will perish. Jesus is going to glory, but we cannot come to Him. Dying in sin means facing God’s judgement.
Jesus’ identity is most clearly revealed in His death and resurrecti
Jesus’ identity is most clearly revealed in His death and resurrection. Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he.” (Jn 8:28). Literally, “then you will know that I am”. Jesus’ death and resurrection shows He is the Lord who saves. Jesus came for this purpose: To glorify God the Father by dying for sinners and rising from the dead so that all who believe in Him can receive eternal life. If we do not acknowledge Jesus now as our Saviour and Lord, we shall one day have to face Him as our judge.
Believe in Jesus for now is the day of salvation. Jesus says, “I judge no one” (Jn 8:15). This echoes John 3:17: God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. In John 8:11, Jesus says to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Jesus’ mercy is meant to lead us to repentance. While this account of the woman caught in adultery is a helpful illustration of Jesus’ grace and compassion, it is important to note that John 7:53-8:11 is actually not found in the earliest copies of John’s Gospel. The common view among Bible scholars and historians is that these verses did not belong to the original text of John’s Gospel. They are a later addition, only showing up around 400 years after John was written. How, then, should we view these verses? While they are not part of Scripture, we can still read them as a historical account of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They portray Jesus as the merciful Saviour who has the power to forgive sins. We have heard how Jesus tells us the truth about Himself. In John 8:30, it looks like many believed in Him. But did they really?
Remain in Jesus’ word (Jn 8:31-59)
Many seem to believe in Him, but Jesus is not looking for popularity or numbers. He is not interested in chalking up scores of “easy decisions”. What Jesus seeks is true disciples. So, having spoken the truth concerning Himself, Jesus now clarifies what it means to believe in Him as His disciple. By drawing a line in the sand, Jesus confronts the crowd and provokes conflict. Tensions between Jesus and the Jews grow throughout John 5-10, culminating in the plot to kill Jesus in John 11. Jesus makes us uncomfortable to shake us out of our complacency: We must go all in. If we are not for Jesus, then we are against Him. We cannot remain neutral. May we be challenged to examine where we stand with Jesus.
To abide in Jesus, we must abide in His word. This is how a disciple remains faithful and fruitful.
In John 8:12, Jesus says whoever follows Him will have the light of life. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus. What does it mean to follow Him? Jesus tells us in John 8:31: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” Continuing to trust and obey what Jesus says is the test of a true disciple. Many professed to believe in Jesus because they were impressed by His miracles. But a true disciple remains in Jesus’ word and perseveres through the trials, troubles, and temptations of life. Jesus has told us the truth about Himself. Do not turn aside to false teaching or be distracted by the world. Take the words of 2 John 9 to heart: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” To abide in Jesus, we must abide in His word. This is how a disciple remains faithful and fruitful. Listen to what Jesus says in John 15: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
By remaining in Jesus’ word, we will “know the truth, and the truth will set (us) free” (John 8:32). Jesus’ word is the truth. He tells us the truth about Himself. And, He tells us the truth about ourselves. His word convicts and corrects us. Jesus says we are not free. The truth cuts us to the heart and undermines our pride and self-righteousness. The Jews, who had just professed to believe, are immediately offended. In John 8:33, we see how they get defensive: “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” The Jews took pride in their pedigree, like those who boast in their own goodness, morality or religiosity. They are like long-time church goers who consider themselves superior to others. Because they are right in their own eyes, they do not think they need a Saviour. It is easy to “believe” when it does not cost us anything. It is easy to believe when we do not have to change. It is easy to tack on a bit of Jesus and get on with life as usual. It is easy to believe in a “Jesus” who affirms us and tells us what we want to hear. It is easy to believe in a “Jesus” who makes our lives happier and more comfortable, but who does not demand anything from us.
But the Jesus of our imagination is not the true Jesus. The true Jesus has come to save sinners, not those who think they are well. “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (Jn 8:34). Without Jesus, we are not free but we are in bondage to sin and death. In our fallenness, we are bent away from God. We are addicts who cannot break our addiction to sin. We sin because we are slaves to sin. Sin is a terrible master. It pays the wages of death. Do we realise our dire spiritual condition apart from Christ? Do we see our desperate need for Him? The Jews thought they were OK. Thinking they were sons, they were actually slaves. So, Jesus warns them in John 8:35 that their days of imagined privilege are numbered: The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. Unless we believe in God’s true Son, we have no part in God’s family. If the Son sets us free, we will be free indeed (John 8:36). Only by believing in the Son are we given the right to become children of God. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). Only Jesus can set us free from slavery to sin and death. For freedom Christ has set us free. If we are free in Christ, then abide in His word and stand firm in our freedom. Do not sell ourselves back into slavery.
So, remain in Jesus’ word because this shows we truly belong to God. Jesus clearly distinguishes true disciples from false followers. If His word finds no place in us, then we cannot be Abraham’s true offspring (Jn 8:37). The Jews thought they were safe because they could trace their lineage back to their forefather Abraham. But what matters is not outward, physical descent, but inward, spiritual regeneration. We must be born again by God’s Spirit. A true Jew is one who takes Jesus at his word. Abraham listened to the truth and believed God (Jn 8:39-40). Therefore, God counted Abraham as righteous because He trusted in God’s saving promises. The true children of Abraham will share His faith in God’s promise of a Son to bless the nations.
The reason why the Jews refuse to believe is because they belong to a different father. Hear what Jesus says in John 8:38: “I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” The Jews angrily respond in John 8:41, “We are not illegitimate children; God is our Father.” But simply saying we belong to God is empty if we do not trust, and obey Jesus’ word. Ironically, it is not Jesus who is the fraud but it is these Jews. They are self-deceived. Jesus exposes their spiritual state in John 8:42: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.” If we belong to God, we will love and listen to His Son whom He has sent.
The problem of unbelief is not intellectual but spiritual.
Jesus drives the point home in John 8:43-47. The problem of unbelief is not intellectual but spiritual. The people do not understand Jesus because they do not want to hear Him. They cannot bear to hear His word is because they are of (their) father the devil (Jn 8:44). The devil murders and lies. He cannot tolerate God’s word because there is no truth in Him. From the beginning, the devil has sought to deny and sow doubt about God’s word. He has sought to murder men and women by inciting them to turn against God, who gives life. Who would we rather serve: God or the devil? Jesus, who is light and life, has been sent by God to tell us the truth. Will we not believe Him? We cannot sit on the fence. Listen to John 8:47 — “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Their self-esteem undermined, the Jews attack Jesus, calling Him a demon-possessed Samaritan in John 8:48. They view Jesus as a crazy social and religious outcast. But in dishonouring Jesus, the Jews are opposing God Himself, for the Son honours his Father (Jn 8:49). And, the Father honours the Son. Jesus says in John 8:50: “Yet I do not see my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.” Look also at John 8:54-55. Jesus says, “It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him.” The Father will judge us according to whether we have honoured His Son. The Father will glorify the Son through his death and resurrection. This is why Jesus can offer us the wonderful invitation in John 8:51: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Jesus’ word testifies to the good news of what he will do to save sinners. So, keep His word and live! The wages of sin is death, but Jesus can forgive sins and give us eternal life.
Jesus can say this about Himself because He is no ordinary man. But the Jews only view Jesus in worldly ways (Jn 9:53). Like them, do we only see as far as the horizon of this life? Are we so concerned with the here-and-now that we neglect what has eternal value? God forbid that we should be so short-sighted. Blinded by unbelief, prejudice, and hatred, the Jews refuse to believe the truth about Jesus. In John 8:59, they want to kill Him for telling them the truth concerning Himself. So, Jesus went out of the temple. God’s glory leaves His house. The light has come but people preferred the darkness. May it not be so for us!
Instead, may we respond as Abraham did. Look at John 8:56. Abraham rejoiced that he would see (Jesus’) day. He saw it and was glad. Abraham believed God would bless the nations through a promised Son. He was glad when he saw the promise fulfilled in the birth of his son Isaac. But Abraham was also looking forward to the gift of a greater Son. In John 8:58, Jesus says this of Himself: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus is the greater Son who existed before Abraham. He is the eternal God who is strong to save. Jesus is not a fraud. He has told us the truth about Himself. He is the light of the world who gives life to all who believe in Him. Will we believe in the Son and remain in His word?