One author called John chapters 7 and 8 a record of one “confrontation” after another, Jesus’ enemies attacking Him from many angles! The core of their hatred, however, was directed at our Lord’s claim to Deity! “My Father,” Jesus said of God, in a personal sense!

In verses 38 and 39 Jesus in fact uses the exact expression “My Father,” while the enemies retort with “Abraham is our Father!” (Which was true in a genealogical sense, but only in a biological sense.)

But Matthew 1:1 pronounces Jesus as the true “Son of Abraham” … in an even greater sense! (“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”)

In verse 45 Jesus bluntly says: “I tell you the truth.” But the “Jews” continue in their error, for the most part. This dichotomy reminds me of 1 John 4:6. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

The Holy Spirit promotes Truth! (In John 14:17 His Name is even “the Spirit of truth!”)

The devil promotes error, lies! (Verse 44 explicitly says of Satan … “He is a liar, and the father of it.”)

Then in Verse 46 I had (in class) very little time to mention Jesus’ unique challenge to his enemies … “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?”

In other words, tell me something I have done wrong (in God’s Eyes)! Then “prove” it,” the idea behind the verb “convinceth.” Of course, no one responded, because Jesus is sinless!

Let John the Baptist speak to this crown of Pharisaical “big heads” … self-diagnosed “Abraham’s children” …

Matthew 3:7-9 … “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

Wow!

I love this quote … “The Cross had two beans, one vertical and one horizonal!” My first allegiance …, Heavenward, to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father! My second, to lost souls (my peers) all around me!

Now, if you will take the time, watch the entire class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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One verse I forgot to use in the video Lesson was Joshua 1:8. It’s classic, as far as living “in” the Word is concerned! “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” See those two promises?

Two verses I omitted (lack of time) about the Veracity (Truthfulness) of the Bible ,,,

“And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true.” 2 Samuel 7:28, amazinbg!

“Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.” Psalm 119:151, where “commandments” and “words” are identical.

The fact that we are no longer “slaves” (servants) but “sons” of God is well illustrated in the Parable of the Prodigal son. That returning boy, ready to be his father’s “hired servant,” was instead: robed with a garment of honor, had a pair of shoes placed on his feet, a ring placed on his finger and a banquet planned for his pleasure! All of which are prerogatives, privileges of a son, not a slave!

Wow!

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1

One Preacher wisely said … “To serve the dear Lord is the apex of true freedom!”

No longer slaves, but sons … we Christians … yet sons who would serve our Lord any minute we should be asked!

In fact, for eternity …

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM.” Revelation 22:1-3, with honor!

Take 30 minutes now, and watch the whole class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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And they are in verses 24 and 28. Believing that Jesus is “I AM!” And knowing that Jesus is “I AM!”

“Jesus here claims to be the Very Presence of God!”

Verse 25 … “Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.” Jesus just said, “My Teaching is My Person!” Or “My Words are My Identity!”

God’s main “Meeting Place” … the Cross of Calvary! “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth (crucified), will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32, all sinners who believe in Jesus are saved there!

In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus predicted His upcoming Death and Burial and Resurrection three times! Mark 8:31, Mark 9:31 and then in Mark 10:32-34! In the Gospel of John Jesus is “lifted up” three times, a revelation of His Death on Calvary! John 3:14-15 then John 8:28 here and then one more time in John 12:32, as quoted above.

Here’s a “Key” Old Testament Verse that might have had a great impact on John as He presented Jesus in his Gospel …

“Isaiah 43:10 … “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I AM HE: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”

If Jesus is not the Son of God, His claiming to be Such would constitute blasphemy and invite God’s fierce Wrath! As in … “Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I AM, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.” Isaiah 47:8-9

Jesus deriving His Words from the Father … “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me.” John 14:10

If these “bits” of Truth interest you, you might want to watch the whole Lesson, video Bible Class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Since there is no Textual “change of location” … we assume the debate, confrontation in this Text to still be in the Temple area of Jerusalem and still during or near the Feast of Tabernacles.

One of the key Points of John’s Gospel is the fact that Jesus mediates, reveals, exposits God the Father. Actually there is no other way to “know” God the Father than through Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.” John 14:6.

In today’s Text notice John 8:19 … “Then said they (Pharisees) unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” See … Jesus is THE WAY to God the Father!

John 1:18 offers further evidence … “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he HATH DECLARED him.” That verb “hath declared” is a blend of “ek” and “ago” in Greek, Jesus “leads out” (in English “exegetes”) God the Father!

We will soon be studying John 14:10 along this line … “The WORDS that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Jesus speaks what the Father says!

Jesus even reveals the WORKS of His Father … “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” John 5:36, if you recall.

I love this Quote … “Jesus as the Light of the world simply means Jesus is the great Shekinah Glory Cloud of God in these days!”

Yes, Jesus is Light!

But so is God the Father, Psalm 27:1 … “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

And so is the Word of God, the Scriptures … “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

What a BRIGHT Godhead!

Sometime today take 30 minutes and watch the entire Class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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When comparing John 7:53 with John 8:1-2 we immediately want to know the distance between the Mount of Olives and the Temple in Jerusalem. Looks like Jesus slept (or prayed) there all night long!

“And every man went unto his own house. But Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them.”

The distance is nearly two miles! Quite an energizing early morning walk! Jesus was a strong young man, yet God the Son as well!

Stoning a woman for adultery?

Yes, according to the Law … Leviticus 20:10 … “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

But do note that the guilty “man” is not mentioned by the hypocritical Pharisees, who were just using the woman anyway, to trap Jesus in some kind of error! (They once again failed.)

The only words this woman needs to say (in the whole Narrative) is “No man, Lord!” (Apparently calling Jesus “Lord” …from the depths of her heart in faith … got her “saved!”)

1 Corinthians 12:3 applies here … “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

One writer here called Jesus the “Public Defender!” Reminds me of Luke 15:2 … “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners.” (We had all better be glad He does!)

Jesus showed the woman “Mercy!” And He furthermore showed her accusers their “sins!” What a Saviour!

I mentioned in Class that some (liberal) professors deny that our Text (John 8:1-11) is really in the Bible! Missing in what they call the “best” manuscripts! I long ago decided that if any Paragraph or Word (verb or noun or whatever) is in my Bible, I will take it as genuine! I will preach and teach it!

“ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Besides, John chapters 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 each begin with a factual “Story” then proceed with a Sermon. So, it sure looks to me like John 8 just might be doing the same thing! The “Woman taken in adultery” stays in my Bible!

Here we have the enemies of Jesus (the Pharisees) quoting Scripture! “They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” John 8:4-5

But in reality, the devil also quoted Scripture that day he tempted Jesus so sorely! “And (Satan) saith unto him (Jesus), If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6, the deceiver quoting Psalm 91:12.

It’s not just what the mouth says … but what the heart believes as well!

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell