Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness ...

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. -John 8:12-14 NRSV

Many think that Jesus was just a man. A good man for sure. A great teacher. Some think him to be a prophet. His words in this passage indicate that he was much more. You would think a person was insane if they described themselves as the light of the world. These words demand that we embrace Jesus as something more than a man.

The gospels make it clear that Jewish religious leaders had it wrong about Jesus' earthly origins - they were not aware that he was born in Bethlehem. They were even more clueless about his heavenly origins. They walked in darkness.

In contrast Jesus tells us that his followers "will never walk in darkness". He teaches us that these "will have the light of life". In saying this he alludes to the wonder of the new birth and the powerful light of the Holy Spirit living in his followers. These no longer walk in darkness but are filled with divine light. These have had the eyes of their hearts opened.

We follow you so imperfectly Lord. Open our eyes today that we might be led by your divine light within us.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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Neither do I condemn you.

And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” -John 8:8-11 NRSV

Act three of this moving biblical drama begins when the first stone hits the ground. All of the stone throwers have left. The adulteress is now alone with Jesus. I wonder what emotions were flooding her mind? Just a few minutes ago she feared an imminent and painful death. In her wildest dreams she never imagined an ending such as this.

Do you find it interesting that this woman did not ask to be forgiven? I wonder if she prayed as she was being dragged to Jesus? What did she think Jesus would say? Could she have ever imagined that Jesus would look past every one of her condemning thoughts? This passage speaks so deeply to me about how I am forgiven and freed from condemnation.

Thank you Lord for the forgiving love that you show me and the condemnation that you have delivered me from.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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He Straightened Up

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. -John 8:6-9 NRSV

Part two of this three act passage. The prosecution thought they had Jesus dead to rights. They had divine law on their side. How could Jesus refute Moses. This adulterous woman was certainly guilty and deserving of stoning. Jesus did not have a proverbial leg to stand on. Yet in a beautiful moment Jesus stood and everything changed.

This passage shames everyone who is thirsty for judgment. Jesus exposes each of us who would judge another human being. With the words "without sin" he tells each of us that the log in our own eye is the sin that disqualifies us from passing judgment. Christ removes all excuses and causes us to drop our judgmental stones.

Forgive me Lord. I have judged the ones that you love. Help me to offer mercy when tempted to judge.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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Moses commanded us to stone such women.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. -John 8:3-6 NRSV

This is part one of a three part story. I call this part "The Accusation". Interesting how often people use religious rules and laws to accuse another. More interesting in this case that only the woman was accused. Mosaic law commanded that the man should also be stoned. Hard to believe that religious people would act with such self-righteous cruelty.

I often hear the phrase: "Love the sinner but hate the sin". My response is: "Hate your own sin". Do you see how this applies to these religious leaders? Would that they sincerely loved this hurting woman and hated their own self-righteousness. Perhaps they would have, in humility, brought this woman to Jesus for healing instead of condemnation?

Dear Father, bring us to a place of examination where we are able to take the logs out of our own eyes.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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