By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read John chapter 8

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

By Rev. Ron Purkey

Light dispels darkness. Light penetrates. Light purifies. In the scripture before us, we see Jesus dispelling spiritual darkness, discerning the thoughts and hearts of men and women and cleansing the souls of sinful people. The scripture is true: “Thy word is a lamp unto me feet, and a light unto my path.”

An old hymn says, “Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night / Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come / Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light / Jesus, I come to Thee.”

The Pharisees complained that Jesus was the only one who was making statements like: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus pointed them to the law (John 8:17). “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.” (John 8:17)

Jesus pointed to the law of Moses, which declared the testimony of two witnesses to be true. (John 8:17) There are two witnesses to Christ. “I am one that bears witness of myself, and the father that sent me beareth witness of me.” (John 8:18)

His words passed this requirement. He testified about himself through his messianic claims, and the father also testified about him through his miraculous deeds.

First, a woman was caught in adultery (John 8:1–11). But where was the man? According to the law both of them deserved to die (Leviticus 20:10). It was a trap and Jesus knew it, but he ended up trapping the trappers. Did he write on the ground to remind them that he had written the law (Exodus 31:18) or to refer them to Jeremiah 17:13 (see Luke 10:20)? Here is our wonderful assurance: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Second, religious leaders were spiritually blind (John 8:12–29). The religious leaders did not know where they were going or where he was going because they were in the dark spiritually. They had the light of the Law (John 8:5; Proverbs 6:23) and of conscience (John 8:9), but they did not have the light of life. Consequently, they did not know God the Father or understand what Jesus taught them.

Third, people were in physical and spiritual slavery (John 8:30–59). The people were in bondage to Rome and to the law of Moses, yet they said they were free. In John 8:35 Jesus may have been referring to Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 21:8–21), since the religious leaders had mentioned Abraham (John 8:33). The son makes you free (John 8:36), so trust him and follow him. His truth makes you free (John 8:32), so study it, believe it and obey it. Satan imposes slavery that seems like freedom (2 Peter 2:19); but Jesus gives you a yoke that sets you free (Matthew 11:28–30).

Have you been set free? To gain true freedom, give your life to Jesus Christ.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at rcpbibleoutlines.com free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.