 Okay, so welcome once again, we will begin with the word of prayer Would like to request Anyone in the class to pray that to bless this time of studying God's word So anyone just feel free and meet yourself and please leave in prayer, please Okay, who is able to lead? I will pray Okay, yes Kiran Father God we just coming for you once again you're thrown father God father God thanking you for the old days father God thanking you the weekend thanking you the class thanking you the Family and everything father God thanking you father God father God best each and every student Also, man father God and whatever we are just going to learn father God help us to understand father God Give you wisdom knowledge and understanding father God that we can receive and we can apply to our You kingdom work father God for the God thanking you the moment and time for the upcoming time I'm just submitting to your hand. You just take care of every side Almighty Jesus name we pray amen Amen. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Kiran so we've been going through the the Recall it gospel. Yeah gospel of John and we are looking at the Eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus We've seen how he went about Doing his miraculous works manifesting his glory and you know, we saw how the works that he did where Received by some people but a lot of people were actually offended by his works They were offended by his words and we saw how Jesus was talking to them trying to convince them in the last chapter John chapter 7 we saw how people there are trying to Give him different names Trying to assess who he was and then know his identity But you know, Jesus was quite firm in saying that he's related to the father and that he is the son of God So we'll continue and see what goes on because still now the work of Jesus is becoming very clear The Jews are getting very angry with him and in fact, they are waiting for an opportunity to kill him And the last chapter we also saw that when the Jews Wanted to get a hold of Jesus Even though, you know, it was possible for them to Put him in trial and then proceed to killing Jesus the time was not perfect I so there are many other things that God really wanted to Release through the life of Jesus. So Jesus said my time has not yet come like even if you want to kill me This is not the Moment in which my end is going to occur. So Jesus continuously Went on doing his work and he was very bold about his identity and he was very bold about his relationship with the father And he proceeded with his work So now we are in John chapter 8 and we'll see what works. He has what You know claims about himself. He makes because so far We've seen that you know, he is revealing his identity and particularly when he talks about his Relationship with the father, you know, he is Claiming that he is God. He's dating. So even in John chapter 8 We will see one incident but that incident leading to questions and the responses of Jesus The Jesus has been claiming so far that he is the son of God. So here also boldly He's going to make some claims. Okay, when we say claim it's like saying, you know Owning up owning up to something. So if I say That I am the owner of this house or you know, I am the Air of this house. I'm making a claim, you know, and I'm staking my claim and I'm saying that this is true Okay, I believe it. This is true. I own this. So Jesus is going to make some claims some statements through which he's going to show that he is God and That you know, he is in authority. So let's go to John chapter 8 in our notes You can actually refer to and during word of David cozy, which I've already posted on our Stream page for the online students and for the learning students. There is a mention of this in our You know the document that I've posted about the syllabus So you can use that as one of the main commentaries But of course you can you're free to refer to many other commentaries on the book of John So mainly we are looking, you know, some of the insights that I've been sharing so far from that Commentary also. Okay, so you could look at that or just you know turn to the Chapter John chapter 8 in the Bible Okay, so here We saw in John chapter 7 that Jesus was in Jerusalem Okay, he attended the Feast of Tabernacles when he talked about the Holy Spirit that would be released on Holy Spirit which we poured out on the people and the Holy Spirit which you know indwells the believer After the baptism that it can also flow out like a river blessing the lives of the People around so he saw that now Where is Jesus? Jesus is in Jerusalem That's very clear because he went up for the Feast of Tabernacles now Jesus now, you know He's in that area. He's still in that area even though it was not safe because the Jews were slowly plotting to kill him so it wasn't a Very conducive environment, but he stays on in Jerusalem for some more time And you know, we know that Jesus was led by the Father And he wanted to do the works of the father So I'm sure that you know, he knew that there was something more to be done In Jerusalem before he proceeded and you know moved off to other places So let's see so we see here at the very beginning of John chapter 8 that he went to the Mount of Olives Now early in the morning He came again into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat down and taught them So we see the boldness of Jesus, you know Jesus would have Been attacked by the Jews quite a lot and yet he's continuing with his teaching He's continuing with this worker ministry. So what is he doing in the temple? He's spending time with people. He's imparting from the word of God into their lives He's strengthening them in the faith. So he's doing his work So shows his attitude of boldness in the midst of opposition now when he is continuing this We noticed that the scribes and Pharisees scribes and Pharisees are the so-called Custodians of the of the law because they they used to keep the law and They used to teach the law. They used to propagate the law So these are the people who who felt that they know so much about God's word So these people know they come and what they're doing right now is they're bringing a woman who's caught in adultery and When they bring her to Jesus They are asking him this question they said to him teacher This woman was caught in adultery in the very act Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned But what do you say? This day said testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear so Now what's happening is Part of the plot of catching Jesus was to You know traffic So this was a trap They bring a woman who was caught in adultery And based on the law Moses they're asking him whether they should go ahead and stone her because she is guilty now so if Jesus Says yes He is upholding the law of Moses if Jesus says no then he's not upholding the law of Moses. So then they can immediately Accused him and say oh, how can you be from God? Oh, you've claimed to be from the father, but you're not upholding the law of Moses So that was the trick they wanted to see what Jesus is going to say now Jesus also knew no and it says that a woman who is caught in our beltry in the very act so it's little funny because They brought One person who's engaged in the sin, but the other person is not there as if you know It was only the woman who was engaging in the act of adultery So it shows us right there that the way the the scribes and Pharisees planned this was also something very Unusual because they must have caught the couple and brought the couple to Jesus Maybe with a married or it was a act of fornication. We don't know whatever it was So the couple should have been brought but when they bring only the woman like Jesus also probably understood that Something fishy about this. So we don't know if that that woman was kind of I mean, obviously, you know, they're saying that she was caught in the act of adultery So that is a sin no doubt But the way the trap was made for the woman. We are not very clear who knows maybe You know one of one of the scribes or somebody set up this whole situation And then they wanted to catch only the woman and bring her and accuse her so Jesus is mindful of the dignity of the woman while he is not condoning the sin because if he were to condone the sin He could have easily said, okay, let her go It's okay. Forget it. But you know, our God is also a God of justice He cannot look at sin and shut his eyes and ignore it God will deal with the sin in the lives of the people but he is also mindful of the the dignity of the Individual who's being brought and he understands that in a way, it is very one-sided The way the accusation is being made. So If you were to say that yeah stoner Then we realize that there's no sensitivity in the way he has assessed this You know this this simple act that has taken place. So on the one hand He has to uphold the law on the other hand He has to be fair in the way he judges the situation. So what is Jesus going to do? Okay, so that was exactly the kind of scene that the Leaders wanted to set for Jesus to trap him So here is Jesus and you see that when he is told about the situation He is writing something on the ground. Okay, and a lot of Historians theologians wonder what was Jesus writing apparently some Commentaries they say that he was drawing something on the ground now we don't have clarity on what he wrote on the ground but He was meddling, you know, he was he was writing something It could have been some text that he wrote or it could have also been, you know Something that he was sketching or drawing on the ground We are not clear about that and we don't know what the implication of that would be on this particular matter But the way he Responded that is quite clear. He responded as a to say that you know As if he didn't hear they're coming So seriously to get a Judgment on the matter, but when he's carelessly, you know, when somebody's talking to us and I'm just like reading my Bible It's as if I'm not listening to them. So that way, you know, Jesus is writing something on the ground So he is processing it within himself, but he's just appearing like, you know, okay Yeah I'm not worried about this or I'm not Disturbed or anxious because of what you all are trying to do. So that is his attitude now When they were continuing to ask him, okay What he did is he just stood up. So he's speaking to them I to I now for a while He was not looking I to I now he's looking I to I he stood up He raised himself up and said to them So he is giving them a response on this particular matter So he says he goes without sin among you Let him throw a stone at her first Okay. Now We as God's people when we hear the words of Jesus, we are amazed What a what a wise way to deal with the situation, you know, we could go back to the way Solomon used to answer the difficult Probe, you know that the problems which would be brought to him to waste all the mood would answer And display the wisdom of God even in the life of Jesus when he is dealing with these difficult Circumstances, we are able to see the wisdom of God unfolding So look at this statement. How beautiful, you know, it's like you have to see which side is the scale going to tilt guilty Not guilty. What is it's going to be but Jesus uses a statement and he says He was without sin among you. Let him throw a stone at her first So they are stuck now because the answer to this question is nobody is without sin Okay, so Obviously They cannot throw a stone because they are all guilty Okay Now is the woman guilty or not? Now that issue was not Undressed by this because Jesus sort of covered her up Is she guilty or not guilty? That's not the question anymore If you are sinless, you take a stone and you you throw it at her first Okay, so What happens they it's like G they are trying to trap Jesus Jesus has trapped them with this one statement and Again, he goes back to the ground and you know, he's just doing this thing as if yeah, okay Continue continue with your arguments. I told you what I need to tell and this one Statement of wisdom will take care of the situation So now what happens? Those who heard it they got convicted by their conscience because they knew that Nobody was authorized to Throw a stone at her because anybody If they did it, you know the neighbors would look at them and be like How can you be such a liar? everyone has sinned so nobody is authorized to throw a stone at her and I'm firm that she is guilty. So then what happens? One by one Okay, they are convicted in their conscience and Each one of them started going out. Okay, so they all left they all left the scene now Jesus was left alone and here is the Sinful woman standing in front of Jesus Now this is what Jesus tells her did Jesus condone her sin No, he never said you're not guilty She was caught in the act of adultery. So she's as guilty as the man involved So Jesus knew that this is sin and he cannot Try to make it better for this woman So he did not let her go scot free for sure Okay, but what did he do when all the people left the scene? No, he tells her When all the people left the scene the woman is standing Jesus is standing and Again, you know Jesus raises himself up meaning he spoke I do I to all the men They left the scene now. He's speaking to the woman I do I and he's telling her Woman Where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you So in a way, it's like him preserving her dignity Okay, so he's dealing with her in a gentle way though She's a sinner. He deals with her in a very very dignified way. So she says no one Lord And Jesus said to her Okay Neither do I condemn you go and sin no more Okay, now we might also wonder why is it that Jesus didn't take a stone and you know stoned her Okay, but then see the question was not for himself He didn't say that I will throw the stone if she's guilty But he had presented it to the to the people who are watching so it was not for him to take up a stone and throw It and accuse her But you notice he tells her Go and sin no more. It's as if to say You have sinned Okay, he didn't throw a stone at her, but he Acknowledged the sin and he said you're not you're not guilt-free. You have sinned. So this is what I want to tell you You have sinned, but I will not condemn you Go and sin no more. So Jesus understands that Everyone right we have to live our lives righteously before God What he said it convicted the people who came to trap Jesus and here he is Speaking a word to this woman was she convicted? No, we don't read that, you know She left or she said oh, yes, Jesus none of that. We don't read all that but obviously, you know His word would have committed her heart. No If this case were assessed and they would have found out that yeah, she's an adulteress or whatever whatever situation happened That simple situation happened The woman would have definitely been convicted just like the accusers Okay, so Jesus dealt very beautifully with the situation He dealt fairly with the situation and at the same time he did not approve of the sin Okay, and that reveals to us how he was moving about by the wisdom of God in his life and really, you know in a Setting now when people are doing the works of God today, you and I we are doing the works of God No, just as he is we should be in this world and as we do the works of God There will be a lot of opposition that could be people who try to trap us with words. They try to trap us with situations But look at Jesus. He was bold enough to continue his work. Well, he went back to the temple He was doing his teaching work and all that because he knew about the times so You know, he knew that these people cannot trap him and kill him right now There is more time available for him to do the ministry So he was very sensitive about the calendar of the father and at the same time to wisdom of God through his life where He knew exactly how to deal with a sticky situation So when we go through sticky situations, so he must pray must ask God Okay, God, what do we do now because if you say this then we are in trouble if you say something else We are in trouble. Okay, but just the right statement Jesus put forward and he dealt fairly in every sense So we too can flow in the wisdom of God. This wisdom comes through The practice of God's word through our lifetime. We are studying God's word applying his word That brings us into a place of wisdom. You know how to apply the word You can walk in the fear of God, you know scripture says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom So when we do that there is wisdom in our lives and at the same time we have the Anointing of the Holy Spirit so at times when we don't know what to answer, you know, the Holy Spirit can impart things into us and Suddenly, you know word comes out of our mouth and we are only surprised. Wow How did I say that you know? It could be the working of the Holy Spirit who gives us the right answer for that moment and Jesus told us right that We must not worry and when we are questioned particularly when we are questioned, so That's the manner in which Jesus is actually dealing with this situation. So now let's just continue I'll just drink a little bit of water. I don't know why I'm having a little bit of issue here So, please give me a moment. Sorry Yeah Almost regular throat issues now, but I think it's getting better. I'm sorry about that everyone Okay, so we saw how we dealt with the situation now Proceeding forward. What is the scenario that Jesus is in? Excuse me, it's one of opposition Yeah, so the Pharisees kid a day Continue to oppose him. So now they are coming back to Jesus and They're saying see you're talking all these things but Whatever witness you're bearing till now you're saying that you know the father And the father and you are one but they say that Your witness is not true Okay, you're bearing witness of yourself and your witness is not true We are not going to agree that you are from the father So here is Jesus's response to Jesus answers them and he says that Even if I bear witness of myself my witness is true But I know where I came from and where I'm going you see these are all the claims I told you know Jesus start clean that he's God that he's one with the father Okay, he does only what the father tells him to do and and things like that. So he is very clearly expressing to the Pharisees that he is the son of God that he is the Messiah But we've talked about the hardness of their hearts, right? We said when they saw the miracles instead of being amazed about the miracles that questions were more about Who is this man who healed you? Why is he doing this on the Sabbath day? So hard heartedness so they are coming with a hard heart before Jesus. So they are looking at Jesus Jesus said that If you don't believe me, it's fine believe the works I can't believe the works because they bear witness of me And now these people they are saying that what witness are you bearing? Your witness is false So Jesus, you know, he's so bold in making the claim. He says I told you to believe at least the witness of the works They're not even ready to believe that. So let me tell you I Don't even need a witness. So he says If I bear witness of myself, you think I don't need another person or I don't need anything else to help me prove to prove that I am I'm The son of God, even if I stand by myself, whoever I am the person that I am No, my witness is true So he's come to that place where he's very bold before the Jews and he says my witness is true And now he's not missing words. He's not confusing the people. He's telling them. I Know where I came from. So what is he saying? He's saying I am God I have come from heaven and he continues to add to that and he says I know where I am going. So The Jews must have understood the point Here is a man. He's claiming to be God. He's saying I came from heaven. I'm going back to heaven I'm the Messiah, but You do not know where I come from and where I'm going you judge according to the flesh and I judge no one And yet if I do judge my judgment is true for I am not alone. So he's just claiming that You know, I am Firm in myself and who I am that is Witness enough that I am from God and he says that generally it is said that you need two witnesses, okay to Prove that something is true. That's what the Old Testament says But Jesus is saying I by myself. I can give you the confirmation that I am the Messiah But if you want one more witness, okay, again, it is like We say right rocking the boat Things are very much at peace, but you say something which which makes things worse or more difficult So Jesus is saying over here That was 18. He says I am one who bears witness of myself and the father who sent me bears witness of me So you want one more witness, isn't it? Okay. Here is the other witness the father Distant how furious the the Jews would have been They are not very upset. They like how dare first of all Yes, you are claiming that you are the messiah and when we are asking you You know, we're telling you that your witnesses falls Now you're saying the other witness is the father which is Jehovah God, you know He is the witness that you are the messiah. So we were very very angry So they ask him the next question now. We must understand that in their community, okay? To ask a question like Where is your father? Okay, it was insulting Disrespectful because that is to kind of doubt Whether you are a legitimate child It's to say that oh, you're born out of sin or something like that So it was not a good question to ask anybody but this is what the Leaders, you know, the London men, Pharisees, scribes, the people against Jesus, they are asking him now They're very upset with him. So they are asking where is your father? Okay, so that's a very offensive question, which they are asking him and Jesus answered He he tells them, you know, neither me nor my father If you had known me, you would have known my father also. So Jesus's response is also very firm Authoritated and it's like he's giving them a rebuttal for the the offensive question, which they have asked. So They might have expected. What is he going to say? You know, he might say my father is a carpenter His name is Joseph. Okay, but also, you know, we know that there are speculations about the birth of Jesus because the Incident right when the angel comes to Mary and says you know the child and Give him the name Jesus Jesus was born of the part of the Holy Spirit. So who is the father? Earthly father. Yes, Joseph was the was the earthly caretaker of Jesus But Joseph was not the real father of Jesus. So Is Jesus giving the right answer to their question, it sounds like he's trying to offend them But this is the truth. He asked the question. So he's giving them the truth. He's saying look God the father, he is my father and you don't even know him, right? Because if you had known me or if you are accepting of who I am, you know You would also know my father, but you are not accepting of me. So Why do you even ask this question about my father? So in this way, you know Jesus spoke and he just it's like they are trying to rock Jesus's boat He is giving them, you know bang bang. He's giving them answers and for a moment. It is Taking care of the situation. They tried to trap him with that adulterous woman He took care of the situation now They asked who is your father? He took care of the situation and he is continuing with God's work. Okay? And that is his priority. He's here to do God's work. So he's he also knows the timing. This is not the time these people will try to Say a lot of things, but they won't be able to get me. So he's continuing this work So then we read, you know Jesus, he continued to teach in the temple He taught in the temple and nobody was able to lay hands on it because it was not the Timing when he must be Persecuted okay moving forward now Jesus okay, he tells them that I'm going away and you will seek me and You know, you will die in your sin where I go. You cannot come. So he is referring to his Redemptive work on the cross which he's going to do very soon and he knows that he's going to heaven but also knows the hearts of the people we know already that Many of them many of them they didn't believe many of them who used to believe left him So that was the scene So he is looking at those who don't believe and he's saying you will die in your sin So he is kind of making a connection and saying look if you believe The sin in our lives can be dealt with the sin can be taken away the sin can be Cleansed we can be cleansed of our sin. So again the claims of Jesus I said even there are some direct claims where he says I am the but in other things what Jesus does is he basically says that you know in an indirect way or You have to understand what he's saying to recognize the claim but he is claiming that he is the Messiah again He's saying that you know I am going away Where I go you cannot come in indirect ways. He's claiming and he's the Messiah. So the Jews said What does he mean, you know that he is going away? Is it that he is planning to come in suicide? He's saying I'm going away. No, so you see they they were Listening to Jesus, but they were not understanding No Understanding believing these are the things that Jesus wants. He just does not want listening or listening also is a little more Deeper thing but hearing no hearing means It falls on your ears and it doesn't make any sense and that is the kind of audience that Jesus is dealing with here When he says I'm going away. Look at the question. They're asking you seem to come in suicide Because he says where I go you cannot come. What is this? So they are lacking understanding They're lacking that ability to listen. What what is the see listen is? when somebody is talking They are trying to make a point That is listening But what is hearing? But you said you said you're going away somewhere from beneath. I am from above You are of this world. I'm not of this world. It's a claim It's not direct, but it is indirect. So he's saying I'm the Messiah. I'm from heaven You are from earth, but I'm from heaven. I'm from above Okay, so let's see How this is going to be processed Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins for if you do not believe That I am he you will die in your sins. So so unfortunate, right that even today there are lots of people They know about Jesus. They hear about Jesus They hear the words of Jesus That is not enough No, superficially knowing Jesus said this Jesus. This is how he lived his life. He did the miracles But what is the need? He's saying look If you don't believe You will die in your sins So is Jesus being hard with the people is being harsh with the people? Actually, no, he's being very kind to them because he's trying to pull them To understand that you need salvation Stop resisting stop being hard hearted If you don't believe, you know, you need to see that I'm the Messiah You cannot save yourself from your sin. I will save you from the sin So you need to believe so he says if you do not believe that I am he You will die in your soul in a way though it comes across as if Jesus is being rude or Jesus is being very Stern see what kind of answers he's giving these people, but it is his compassion. He's trying to show them Why can't you understand? I'm the Messiah then Still they have a hard heart. So what are they saying? After saying so much Who are you? You know, it's like insult after insult Who is your father? No, they come to the question about his Very identity. I've heard his words. They have seen his works. They know where he comes from They've heard his claims. I've heard his witness so much evidence They are questioning his very identity and you see who are you? Insult, okay. Jesus is dealing with like very very severe Condemnation and pulling down. So let's see how he deals with it. So Jesus says Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. So just because you are trying to Make me uncomfortable. I'm not going to change what I'm telling you Same thing same thing. I am that same person So he's saying that I have many things to say and to judge concerning you but he who sent me is true And I speak to the world most things which I have heard from him again No, he is Connecting himself to the father and he's saying I have come from the father and you know I'm speaking what the father is telling me to speak So once again when he's talking about the father, they did not understand that He spoke to them about the father. They must have thought I Speak to the world those things which I heard from him. They must have thought which him is he talking about, you know What is it Joseph? Some things Joseph told him that he's coming and telling us. So it's you know, it's like the blindness The blindness which is that in the world, you know That scriptures also talk about how Satan makes the hearts of the people Unreceptive the eyes spiritual eyes are blinded. So the truth is in front of them Jesus is in front of them he's speaking his his You know truth to them, but they are not able to receive and it's very sad Sometimes I wonder if we were there When Jesus lived, you know, which category would we fall in would we be Like those disciples who believed immediately, you know, they believe Or would we be among those who are struggling? Is he a teacher? Is he a prophet? Is he a messiah? Would we be in that category or would we be among the scribes and the Pharisees? We are receiving all the information we need, but They did not understand Okay, and For for us, maybe we don't understand how people can be so hard-hearted. Now, let's move on. So Jesus sees that hard-heartedness and There's a drop in my connectivity. Anyway, I'll just continue. Let's finish that portion. So I was saying that Jesus responds and he says when you lift up the son of man, then you will know that I am he Okay, so Then you will know that I'm he and that I do nothing of myself But as my father taught me I speak these things and he who sent me is with me The father has not left me alone for I always do those things that pleased him as he spoke these words Many believed in him. So again these claims You see that Jesus is saying that I am from the father And he's also saying that there will come a time when You lift up the son of man son of man is again, you know Title that he's using for himself to describe that he's a messiah and he's saying that when the son of man is lifted up Then you will know that I am he so what is he referring to when the son of man is lifted up? No, some people Wonder whether this is about exalting Jesus because when we praise him and we worship and we adore no We are lifting up Jesus. So Is that what he's saying when we lift up Jesus that one will come to know that he truly is the son of God? But here most specifically he's referring to his Crucifixion on the cross, you know because on the cross, what would they do? They would crucify a person and they would kind of you know Make that cross stand and also they would Make a public spectacle right of that individual so being lifted up in that sense or being Put out there Publicly on display. So Jesus is referring to his very painful death on the cross And he's saying look when I do that work that the father has called me to do Then you will know that I am he he meaning the Messiah and that I do nothing of myself Obviously, that's a very difficult Assignment, which the father has given him. So unless he is committed to the father No, why would any human being agree to go through such a painful? end But only because his life was consecrated only because his life was dedicated to God You see that he is committed to that One assignment and task which the father has mainly sent him here for so he's saying when I do that That time you will understand that I am from the father and again, you know the remaining things we can talk about every small portion here for hours together But I'm just trying to avoid that You go back and meditate on on these scriptures because there's just so much this is saying in these statements in this passage He's again trying to connect himself to the father and he's trying to reveal That he has a personal relation with Jehovah God, which again is offensive for the They must have been very very offended to listen to the way Jesus is Identifying himself because what question that latest question to Jesus? Who are you? So he's saying I'm the Messiah I'm the son of the father and you have to believe in me. Okay, so with this Let's just take a break right now. We'll stop we will come back and we will continue from here. So ten minutes Yeah, it's nine forty nine. So how about we come back at Okay, let's then let's come back at 11 o'clock. Okay. Thank you