John 8 Explained for Beginners

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Have you ever wondered who Jesus really is? Not what people say about Him, not what religion tells you, but what Jesus Himself says about who He is? That’s exactly why John Chapter 8 is such an important chapter to read. In this chapter, Jesus gets into some seriously deep conversations with Jewish leaders who didn’t believe in Him. They challenge Him, question His identity, and even question His relationship with God the Father. And Jesus doesn’t back down. Instead, He makes some incredibly bold statements about Himself.

These are questions that matter—not just for Christians, but for anyone who has ever wondered whether Jesus really is who the Bible says He is.

John Chapter 8 takes us right into the conversation.

If you’re curious about Jesus, questioning your faith, or simply want to know what the Bible actually says about Him, this is a chapter worth slowing down and exploring.

I Am the Light of the World

John Chapter 8 begins with the story of the woman caught in adultery, which you can read below.

Next, Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world, which takes us back to the Book of Genesis. Remember the story of the 7 days of creation?

➡ Did you know: In 7-day creation story, there was only one uncreated element? God made the sky, made the vegetation, made the sun and the moon, created the sea creatures, made the beasts of the earth and made mankind. But on Day 1: God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.

➡ The light on day one was uncreated. This light was what separated the darkness, even before the sun and moon were created on day four.

Why is this important?

Jesus in John 8:2 says,

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Bible Mystery: Jesus is the Light in Genesis who separates us from the darkness – since the creation of the world.

Jesus is the light who separates us from the darkness and this was also John’s opening statement in the Gospel (John 1:1-9). To this, the Jews get angry and say that Jesus’ testimony is not true because He has no witness who can testify that He is telling the truth. So the Jews refused to believe this “one man” statement. Watch Jesus’ answer in John 8:14-17,

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. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.

➡ Jesus is not from this world, but from above.

Jesus first clarifies that He is not a mere man from this world (also read: John 3:31-32) but has come from above. Jesus says so again in verse 23,

 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

Jesus further clarifies that unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins. Here is why our faith in Jesus is so important. In John 3:16 Jesus says,

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

When you read John 8:14-17 closely you will see that not only does Jesus say that the Father bears witness about Him, He confirms that He and the Father are two separate people (in verses 17 and 18).

Now, it gets even more interesting. Jesus begins to foretell His death and resurrection, however most of them could not understand what He was saying. You can read this in verses 27-29.

After making bold claims such as “I Am not of this world”, Jesus made another statement that shocked the Jews in John 8:31-32,

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This statement shocked the Jews, who believed they did not need to be saved as they were children of Abraham, the chosen ones of God. While this is true in part, there is also a component of faith involved. In Matthew 3:9, John the Baptist tells the Jews,

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.’

They were unable to grasp the idea, that though they were God’s chosen people, they were still slaves to sin in this world – like everyone else. As God’s chosen ones, they were to bring the light of Christ to the world, but this didn’t guarantee their own salvation. And this salvation is through Jesus alone, which is why Jesus says in verse 36,

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Our freedom to eternal life is through Jesus alone, who was our sacrifice on the Cross.

The Light and Darkness

After all that Jesus said, the Jews continue to claim that they are in good standing with God because they have Abraham as their father – the chosen lineage. This back and forth between Jesus and the Jews will be eye-opening.

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

Jesus cannot get any clearer than this. He is trying to make them understand, that this world has two kingdoms, the kingdom of Darkness (the evil one) and the kingdom of Light (Jesus). The only way we can enter in to God’s kingdom of Light is from the true Light Himself – Jesus. Read verses 42-47 where Jesus explains why it is important to choose God’s Kingdom and the consequences of not choosing Him.

God has Given us Free Will to Choose

In the Old Testament, God lists a series of blessings to those who follow Him and curses to those who disobey Him.

“1 call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

He is giving us the options to make the decision for ourselves and tells us to choose life, by loving Him, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, otherwise we may fall into the alternate kingdom.

Before Abraham was, I Am

While many claim that Jesus is using a divine title of God who called Himself “I AM WHO I AM” in the book of Exodus. In John 8:58 Jesus says,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Whether this is the same reference to God or not, here is something much bigger than that. Jesus is said to have seen Abraham (verse 56), where He elaborates that Abraham rejoiced in seeing Jesus. This led to the Jews picking up stones to stone Him.

Sometimes even if Jesus never explicitly claimed that He was God, the body language of the people at the time like the Jews, the disciples and the followers of Jesus is important to study and learn what they thought of Him and how they responded to His teaching.

For example, the disciples who deserted Jesus at the time of His crucifixion later came back together, stronger and more united than before, boldly preaching the Gospel. Why do you think that was? Could it be because they had personally witnessed the risen Jesus and were living proof of His resurrection?

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