John 7:53–8:29: The Light of Jesus
Introduction
As the division among the people surrounding Jesus continues to grow, the discussion naturally turns to the stakes of belief one way or another. If Jesus is nothing more than a crackpot, there is no consequence for dismissing him and even for putting him to death for the blasphemy of his claims. On the other hand, if Jesus is the true representative of the Father, then the stakes rise considerably. If Jesus is faithfully revealing the message and even the person of the Father, then rejecting Jesus is tantamount with rejecting the Father himself. Is Jesus a false witness, unable to back up his testimony beyond his own delusional thoughts, or is Jesus the light of the world, giving the light of life to those who follow him? Furthermore, how can we know the truth, one way or another? Although Jesus gives many proofs to back up his claims, God’s light gives life and indicts darkness most clearly at the cross.
Discussion Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when he claims to be “the light of the world”? In what sense do we follow his light?
2. If Jesus were to prosecute a indictment against you, what violations of God’s law would he cite? On the other hand, if Jesus is the prosecuting attorney for God as Judge, what does it mean for him also to be your Advocate (1 John 2:1)?
3. We often talk about the importance of Christ’s being fully God, but why is it so important to recognize Christ’s office as (human) Mediator? What is so significant about his absolute ongoing obedience to the Father in his humanity to cause Jesus to talk about it so much?
4. In what way does the cross validate Jesus’ life, ministry, and teaching? What significance does the cross of Jesus have for establishing the truth of the gospel? What exactly do we see when we look at Jesus on the cross?
