This is a really interesting passage. Do your bibles say that the first part of this passage was not included in earlier manuscripts? "That is, the earliest Greek manuscripts, the earliest translations and the earliest church fathers all lack reference to this story. Furthermore, some manuscripts place it at other points within John (after 7:36, 7:44 or 21:25), others include it in the Gospel of Luke (placing it after Luke 21:38), and many manuscripts have marks that indicate the scribes "were aware that it lacked satisfactory credentials" (Metzger 1994:189). Furthermore, it contains many expressions that are more like those in the Synoptic Gospels than those in John." (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Jesus-Forgives-Woman-Taken)
vs 1-11 A woman caught in adultery brought before Jesus by the Pharisees. It was written in the law of Moses that you would stone a woman for this. They were asking him about this because they wanted to trap him. But I hope by this point that you know enough about Jesus that he did not fall for it. Jesus bent over and wrote something in the sand. Jesus said, "if any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." The sluggishly left one at a time knowing they were not in the position to judge. Jesus would have been the only one that fit that description, but he did not condemn her as well. But he added onto it to "leave your life of sin."
No one I know is in the position to condemn. Jesus could have but felt that grace and love were more important. But with the grace he also wanted to see transformation in her life. He wanted her to change her ways.
vs 12-30 Jesus says, I know who I am. I can appear as my own witness. I know where I came from and where I am going. You judge by human standards. I also have the witness of my Father. "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be."
Jesus never really comes out and says who He is. In a way it is really cool, He has all the power and authority He needs but never really broadcasts it... at least not yet, it is just not time.
vs 31-41 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." It is interesting how many people use the second part of this verse to set their own agenda. But if you look at the context of the two verses together we find out the truth is God's teaching. This freedom that Jesus is talking about is freedom from sin.
vs 42-47 Jesus is talking about the lying deceiving ways of the devil. Even though these people claim that God is their only Father. Jesus tells them that they belong to the devil rather to God.
vs 48-59 The Pharisees accused Jesus of being a Samaritan and demon possessed. Remember last week I told you that Samaritans were looked down upon. Well this is proof. The Pharisees ask Jesus who He is. Jesus responds by, "I cannot glorify myself, my Father glorifies me. before Abraham was born, I Am." This the Pharisees took as ultimate blasphemy. They picked up rocks to stone him but Jesus hid and slipped away.
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