07 November

Bible In 365 Days                     

John 7-8

John 7

So far, John has recorded incidents in the first year of our Lord's ministry. We now come to a comparatively brief section in which he records happenings happenings in the central and crowded two years. He arrived in Jerusalem at the feast of Tabernacles. His fame had spread, and there was discussion concerning Him there. Having arrived, He taught in the Temple precincts. In doing so He rebuked their attitude, and referred to the miracle wrought on an earlier occasion in the Bethesda porches. On the last day of the feast He stood and made His great utterance concerning the flowing of the rivers, claiming that He was able to satisfy thirst, and, moreover, that those who received such satisfaction from Him should become channels through whom the overflowing rivers should pass.

The religious authorities had sent officers to arrest Him, but owing unquestionably to the wonder of His speech they were unable so to do, for they said when they were asked why they had failed, "Never man so spake." One voice was raised at this point in His defense, the voice of Nicodemus.

At the close of the day "every man went to his own house."

John 8

The end of chapter 7 is closely linked with this, in that after declaring "every man went to his own house," the writer said, "But Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives."

Here we have the story of a return to the Temple, and of Jesus' dealing with the woman in the presence of the rulers. With matchless skill He showed that these men had no right' to judge this woman. This He did Himself in matchless grace.

At verse John 8:12 we have a continuation of the line of thought broken off by the introduction of the narrative of the woman. Our Lord made a stupendous claim, "I am the Light of the world," and declared that men following Him would not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. On the basis of that He went on with His teaching, in the course of which He again claimed to work in harmony with His Father, and uttered supreme words revealing His claim for Himself, and showing the blindness and wickedness of those who were opposing Him. His enemies were angry, and asked Him, with evident scorn, "Whom makest Thou Thyself?" It was then that He emphatically said, "Before Abraham was, I am."