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been suggested that He was writing the words He uttered in verse 7, but we cannot know
for certain. One thing is clear, the Lord did not modify Mosaic law, but He ruled that
only those who were guiltless of this particular sin, could justly carry out the sentence.
And the fact that none of the accusers could face up to this showed their hypocrisy, for
they went out one by one. They were asked to judge themselves rather than the woman.
"But they, having heard (that), went out one by one beginning from the elder ones
until the last; and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing there. And Jesus, lifting
Himself up, and seeing no-one but the woman, said to her, `Woman, where are those
thine accusers? Has no-one condemned thee?'. And she said, `No-one, Sir'. And Jesus
said to her, `Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more'." (8: 10, 11).
There is no evidence that the woman knew who He was, and the Lord accepted the
charge of her accusers as being true, yet, knowing all the facts about her, Christ refuses to
condemn her, for He came not to judge the world, but to save the world (12: 47). He
discharges her without condoning her sin. The warning He gave her was similar to the
one He gave to the man who was cured at the Bethesda pool (5: 14).
Professor Bruce concludes this section by saying, "Whatever textual problems are
raised by this passage, the account has all the earmarks of historical veracity. We may
safely recognize the incident as taking place in the Temple precincts during Holy Week".
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, `I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'."
(viii.12, N.I.V.).
This is another of the great "I am" (ego eimi) statements by the Lord Jesus. Christ had
called His followers "the light of the world" (Matt. 5: 14), but that was light reflected
from Him. He Himself was the true light (John 1: 9; 3: 19). The Psalmist called God
his light (Psa. 27: 1) and all is darkness without Him. When will people learn that to
ignore Christ and walk without Him is to stumble along in darkness? And in the darkness
there can be so many falls that cause hurt and disappointment.
He Who is the Light of the whole world must include Gentiles as well as Jews. This
was doubtless startling to the Pharisees and Sadducees who despised the Gentile world
and had forgotten why they had been placed among them. The light which springs from
the Lord Jesus issues in life that is eternal.
"The Pharisees challenged Him, `Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your
testimony is not valid'. Jesus answered, `Even if I testify on My own behalf, My
testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no
idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass
judgment on no-one. But if I do judge, My decisions are right, because I am not alone. I
stand with the Father, Who sent Me. In your own law it is written that the testimony of
two men is valid. I am one Who testifies for Myself; My other witness is the Father,
Who sent Me'." (8: 13-18).
Whatever the Lord Jesus says about Himself is not unsupported. The Son was
speaking the Father's words and by His authority. It was quite a false charge to accuse
Christ of speaking of and from Himself. In 5: 31, the Lord acknowledged the need of