In John 8, the controversy around Jesus deepens, with several exchanges between Jesus and the unbelieving Jews, and starkly different responses to Jesus’ words - believing in Him (v30) and trying to stone Him (v59).
Let us reflect on the words of Jesus to the Jews and our own responses as we read them.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
Does this episode cause us to raise our eyebrows? Do we question why Jesus forgave this woman of her adultery and wonder if adultery is not really a mortal sin after all?
Sometimes when we read the Bible, we focus on the legality or technicalities, and miss the main message. What did Jesus tell the woman? That what she had done was alright? No! Jesus says to her, “go and sin no more”. If we focus on the boundaries of what is sin or what is forgivable, we miss the fact that all of us are in sin, and Jesus calls us to repentance, not to use liberty as a cloak for vice.
In fact, this is the same mistake the accusers in this episode made. Being so obsessed with finding fault with Jesus, they forgot the purpose of the law they were claiming to uphold - righteousness and justice. In fact, what they were doing - conspiring to find fault with a blameless man - Jesus - was something the law condemned! Only when Jesus told them, “he who is without sin”, did they realize their folly.
When we read the Bible today, let us read with humility and purity of heart, lest we read our own intentions into God’s word and deceive ourselves.
Jesus’ Discourse with the Jews
When we read v12-59, it may feel like Jesus is purposely not answering them plainly, or is being very abrasive - calling the Jews the children of the devil, as compared to his gentler responses to others.
Does this also raise questions within us? Do we think to ourselves that perhaps Jesus should have said something else, or phrased His words differently, so that maybe more people would be convinced and believe Him?
And once again, a deeper reflection on the passage gives me some insights for self-reflection. v30 tells us that many believed in Him after hearing His words. Why did these Jews believe and not disbelieve? Did they already have some prior prejudice to accept or reject Jesus?
In fact, unlike us, Jesus already knows the hearts of men (John 2:24-25). And the Jews that were questioning Him actually already knew and understood who Jesus was saying He was. They had seen the great miracles He performed that no one else could. And yet they hardened their hearts and rejected Him as their Messiah. When they asked “Who are You?” or “Where is Your Father?” It was not out of curiosity or a genuine desire for the truth. They were looking for ways to accuse Jesus of some fault to put Him to death. Jesus did not need to play their game and answer them plainly, because to those who did not harden their hearts, His message that He was the Messiah was clear as day.
In fact, to those who were truly ignorant, Jesus had no problem telling them clearly who He was. An example of this is the man born blind in the next chapter (John 9:35-38).
Our hearts determine our response to Jesus’ words. It can open to be transformed by His words, to truly go and sin no more. But if we harden our hearts, it can close our eyes even to great miracles so that we fail to see God’s grace.
Let us open our hearts with humility to see the will of God for us today.