The Expositor and Expiator of Sin (John 8:1-59)

Introduction
Like it or not, you and I often bear the marks of the environment in which we grew up. Have you ever had someone tell you that you remind them of your father? Their observation may be due to certain physical characteristics that you have inherited genetically from your dad. Or it may be some gesture, mannerism, or phraseology you use that reminds them of your father. I am not trying to suggest that everything we are, as human beings, is a result of our upbringing or environmentally induced. But what I am suggesting is that we bear the marks of where we came from -- our life experiences, thought patterns, and presuppositions about reality.

As we look at the life of Jesus through the lens of John's Gospel, it's plain to see who his Father is. His purpose and direction in life, as we've seen numerous times this year, was to "do the will of Him who sent me" and "to complete the work". His single purpose in life was to glorify the Father which in and of itself is a multifaceted task concluding with Jesus death, burial and resurrection. And he accomplished this life with absolute perfection in all he did -- never wavering from the will of the Father.

In chapter one, John spoke of Jesus as a light shining in the darkness and the darkness not understanding it (John 1:3). Chapter eight vividly illustrates this truth in many ways. As Jesus is confronted with the teachers and the adulterous woman, Jesus sheds light on the Jews' hypocrisy in judging with wrong motives. The remainder of the chapter exposes godlessness of religious leaders but at the same time reveals the need for a Saviour. Ultimately, Jesus points out that their act of lifting him up -- crucifying him -- would bring about the greatest revelation of his person. All through this dialogue, people witnessed the truth of what he was saying and many put their faith in him.

Note: Sorry about the rambling paragraphs above, I plan on rethinking their structure and content and will update in the near future. This chapter is such a deep chapter, it's hard to wrap you mind around it. There are many concepts that can be explored:
1. Sin, its exposure, and Jesus sacrifice and forgiveness
2. The humanity and deity of Jesus
3. Related to 2, Jesus being and the statements he makes in regard to his Father and what he says about himself
4. The natural state of man and the effect of absolute truth on his attitudes and actions
5. etc, etc, etc,

The Hidden Revealed and Exposed Forgiven (John 8:1-11)
Jesus' word reveals sin but only the repentant receive forgiveness.
Who have you been judging lately? Is your motive pure? Is it for the name of Jesus and his honor? Is it out of love for the one you're judging?
What have you done for God's honor lately and for the sake of His holiness?
What sins do you have that you are calling by another name? When are you going to repent and turn from them?

The Light and His Twofold Effect (John 8:12-30)
Jesus is the only light that can expose my greatest need and his sufficiency to meet it.
Are you walking in the light or are you still in darkness?
What are you putting into practice from the study of John that will help you to remain in the light?
What has exposure to Jesus revealed to you about yourself and what do you need to do about it?
What has John revealed about Jesus and what are you going to do about it?
If you died tonight, would you die in your sins or has Jesus taken care of that penalty for you?

The Son: His Person and Provision (John 8:31-59)
Freedom from sin is not a state of mind but a state of being.
Are you a legitimate member of the family or are you still a slave?
What sins are you still bound to in spite of your freedom in Christ?
What religious practices are you trusting in addition to or in exchange for what only the Son can give?