A Morning Cup of Tea: Continuing to Teach in the Temple

Good morning! I'm feeling a little under the weather this morning, due in part to a sleepless night. I hope you fared better. 
 Today we are finishing up chapter 8 of the book of John. The Pharisees had brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery earlier. Of course they didn't care so much about her as they wanted to trap Jesus when they asked what they should do. Jewish law stated she should be stoned, but Roman law, which they were under at the time, stated that no one but Romans could carry out the death penalty. Instead of siding one way or the other Jesus bent and wrote in the sand, then said that the one who was without sin should be the first to throw a stone. The only one qualified to do that was Jesus, and he chose not to do so. When her accusers had left, he told the woman to go and sin no more.
  Afterward Jesus was teaching still in the temple, and he told them "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."  They did not understand this. They replied that they were not slaves of anyone. Jesus' answer was that they were slaves of sin. He told them that a servant doesn't abide in the house, but the Son does. If the Son freed them from sin, they were free indeed. 
  While Jesus is talking, the Pharisees are arguing with him because they did not want to know the truth, nor did they want anyone else to know. But those who actually heard Jesus speak began to believe.  The Pharisees insisted that their father was Abraham. Jesus shot back, if you were Abraham's sons you would believe me because Abraham would not do what you are doing. Abraham was happy to see me come.
  They insisted that he had to have had a devil because Abraham was dead. And here is this man saying If a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death. They were speaking of physical death, which everyone will go through. Jesus was speaking of spiritual death. If we just believe on him and keep his commands then we will live in heaven forever. 
 Jesus was speaking to them about Abraham as though he had seen and known Abraham, and they knew Jesus wasn't even close to 50 years old. Abraham had been dead long before then. Jesus then told them Before Abraham was, I am. (v 58). This of course, made them angry. They took up stones to stone Jesus but as it was not yet his time to die, Jesus hid himself and left the temple.
  This is a really good chapter. I gave some of the highlights but you want to know all of what the conversation was about, read the chapter.  Have a great day. 

Good morning! I'm feeling a little under the weather this morning, due in part to a sleepless night. I hope you fared better. 
 Today we are finishing up chapter 8 of the book of John. The Pharisees had brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery earlier. Of course they didn't care so much about her as they wanted to trap Jesus when they asked what they should do. Jewish law stated she should be stoned, but Roman law, which they were under at the time, stated that no one but Romans could carry out the death penalty. Instead of siding one way or the other Jesus bent and wrote in the sand, then said that the one who was without sin should be the first to throw a stone. The only one qualified to do that was Jesus, and he chose not to do so. When her accusers had left, he told the woman to go and sin no more.
  Afterward Jesus was teaching still in the temple, and he told them "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."  They did not understand this. They replied that they were not slaves of anyone. Jesus' answer was that they were slaves of sin. He told them that a servant doesn't abide in the house, but the Son does. If the Son freed them from sin, they were free indeed. 
  While Jesus is talking, the Pharisees are arguing with him because they did not want to know the truth, nor did they want anyone else to know. But those who actually heard Jesus speak began to believe.  The Pharisees insisted that their father was Abraham. Jesus shot back, if you were Abraham's sons you would believe me because Abraham would not do what you are doing. Abraham was happy to see me come.
  They insisted that he had to have had a devil because Abraham was dead. And here is this man saying If a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death. They were speaking of physical death, which everyone will go through. Jesus was speaking of spiritual death. If we just believe on him and keep his commands then we will live in heaven forever. 
 Jesus was speaking to them about Abraham as though he had seen and known Abraham, and they knew Jesus wasn't even close to 50 years old. Abraham had been dead long before then. Jesus then told them Before Abraham was, I am. (v 58). This of course, made them angry. They took up stones to stone Jesus but as it was not yet his time to die, Jesus hid himself and left the temple.
  This is a really good chapter. I gave some of the highlights but you want to know all of what the conversation was about, read the chapter.  Have a great day.