John 8 God-man Hugh?

It is an important note just before the beginning of this chapter of the recognition of that from chapter seven verse 53 through verse eleven are not found in the earliest of manuscripts.  This means that it is possible that these are not true, but when reading the whole of Scripture, this also seems like something that Jesus would do as He did not condemn this woman, but showed her grace.  It reminds me of John 3:17 that we had read earlier.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 

 

The rest of this chapter talks all about Jesus’ relationship with the Father.  It is such a fascinating thing and one that we can get a glimpse of understanding, but also will never fully grasp.  I am fascinated by the way both Jesus and the Father look to bring glory on the other instead of selfishly trying to gain the glory for them.  This is the perfect picture of a pure relationship without selfish intent.  It is so opposite the way most of us go through life.  Jesus is always directing the glory to His Father while knowing that His Father will glorify Him.  Imagine what it would be like if we did not worry about getting credit for our good actions and just focused on giving all the credit to Jesus.  How freeing that would be. 

 

At the end of this chapter Jesus says, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was,  I am.”  This is one of Jesus’ declarations that He is God.  He is referring to when Moses asked God what to tell the Israelites when they asked, “Who sent him?” and God responded, tell them “I am” sent you.  Now some people like to question if Jesus was really trying to claim to be God here, but I would say that it is quite clear because of the reaction of the religious leaders.  They did not have any question that Jesus was making a claim for deity because they were ready to kill Him because of it.  Jesus was either completely confident it was true, or He had a death wish. 

 

We may never fully grasp the incredible thing of God taking on the nature of man to come and commune with us, but we should definitely rejoice in it.