The light of the world
John 8:1-12
The clamour behind them caused every head to swivel round about. Attention was diverted from the master teacher to a ragtag group of men standing menacingly over a dishevelled women. She was young, barely dressed with torn clothes; she had been crying and looked scared. Dragging her by the arms, stern religious men with serious and gruff expressions dropped her in the middle of the group that was seated cross legged on the floor. “Master,” they growled, “This woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses commands her death, what do you say?” The above dramatized account is how I picture the first part of John 8 being played out; religious leaders willing to destroy a life of a young woman simply to lure Jesus into trap. The law did demand her death, but it actually demanded the death of both the participants. (Lev. 20:10). If Jesus denied the punishment, his detractors would cry out that he had blasphemed the Law of Moses. If he upheld the death sentence, it would cause to him lose face in front of his followers. The tension rose as they waited for an answer. But instead of answer, Jesus did something incredible. (John 8:6-7) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. We have no idea what Jesus wrote in the dust, but evidently that with the calm way he asked the accusers if they were sinless caused them to leave the area of the temple that they were in. Jesus then turning to the woman asked her question. (John 8:10) When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. When she had gone, Jesus must have gone back outside to face her tormentors, for his next words were directed at them and again ignited a firestorm of controversy. (Joh 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees immediately objected to his statement but his point had been made. Notice as before his words immediately following the “I AM” statement. (John 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Here we have a promise from Jesus that following him as the light will not only have him as the light of their life (as Saviour), but also won’t walk in darkness. This is fascinating to see that the Lord is emphasizing a right behaviour fitting of following Christ in light of the recent episode of harsh judgmentalism by religious zealots. John says something similar to this in I John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
“The tension rose as they waited for an answer. But instead of answer, Jesus did something incredible.”