I AM - John 8

Intro

Middle School Story - Rocks

It can be easy to find ourselves on the other side of the stone.

What side of the stone feels like home?

Setup

Section of the temple known as the treasury

In the Court of Women where all Israelites could gather.

Main Text

John 8:20 NLT

Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

I AM Grace - John 8:1-11

John 8:1–5 NLT

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

Deuteronomy 22:22 NLT

“If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil.

Either Jesus contradicts the law or contradicts His reputation.

John 8:6–8 NLT

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

Deuteronomy 17:7 NLT

The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.

Exodus 31:18 NLT

When the Lord finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.

Jesus reminds them of the stone tablets written by the finger of God by writing with the finger of God.

Exodus 34:1 NLT

Then the Lord told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed.

By writing twice Jesus reminded them of their need for grace.

John 8:9–11 NLT

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

It can become easy to find home in condemnation.

Jesus calls us to go and sin no more and go and make disciples.

Sin does not define our story, but the way that we respond to the forgiveness of our sin is what does.

I AM Light - John 8:12-14

John 8:12–14 NLT

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.

Light bears witness to itself; it tell you it is there.

To fully appreciate the light, we must understand our need for the light.

John 1:4–5 NLT

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Darkness speaks of death, ignorance, and sin: light speaks of life, knowledge, and holiness.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

When we follow and believe and trust Him, the results are life and light.

Matthew 5:14 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

We need to KNOW the light to be the light.

I AM God - John 8:54-59

John 8:54–56 NLT

Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

Hebrews 11:10 NLT

Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

John 8:57–59 NLT

The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

The chapter begins and ends with people wanting to throw stones.

Jesus’ claim to be God was considered blasphemy and was punishable by death.

John 5:18 NLT

So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

Exodus 3:14 NLT

God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

John 1:12–13 NLT

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Closing

Jesus gave His life for people on both sides of the stone.

We don’t find home in either side of the stone, we find home in eternity with Jesus.