The Light of the World, Original Sin and the Children of the Devil - Week 11

John


Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Unless otherwise noted, on scriptural references are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Read John 8:12-59

1. In verse 12 Jesus says I am the light of the world What does he mean? (See Ps. 27:1 & 36:10; Ephesians 5, Acts 9:3 & 1 John 1:5)
(a) From the Book of Psalms:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps 27:1)
For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light. (Ps 36:9)
From St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians:
6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7: Therefore do not associate with them, 8: for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9: (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10: and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11: Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12: For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; 13: but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. 14: Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." (Eph 5:6-14)
From the Book of Acts:
Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. (Acts 9:3)
From the Gospel of John:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
He means that He is the source of Salvation, that He is God.

2. The Pharisees try to invalidate Jesus' statements by claiming that he testifies on his own behalf which contradicts the Law that says that one must have two witnesses to verify his testimony. How does Jesus respond to this?
(a) Jesus replies with the following:
17: In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; 18: I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me." (John 8:17-18)


3. Speaking to the Jews in verse 21, Jesus states that he is going away; that they cannot come where he is going and that they will die in their sin. Where is Jesus going? What does he mean that they will die in their sin? Why can't they follow him?
(a) Jesus is going to Heaven, to eternal life. (b) It means that they will go to hell, to eternal death. (c) Because they don't believe that Jesus is the Christ.

4. Read verses 23-24. What does it mean to be "of this world"?
(a) It means to put the concerns of this world above the concerns of God.

5. Read verses 25-30. How did Jesus respond to their question: Who are you? Verse 30 states as he spoke thus, many believed in him. What caused them to believe in him?
(a) He responds with the seemingly cryptic reference of "the beginning". This brings us back to the first chapter of John. Also, Jesus states that "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he". This is a reference to the manner in which Jesus will die, but also to how this will fulfill the Messianic prophecies. In other words, Jesus responds that He is God. (b) The sensational way in which Jesus spoke.

6. In verse 31 Jesus says, the truth will make you free. What does Jesus mean? Did the Jews understand what he meant?
(a) Jesus means that He will "free" them from the bonds of sin (i.e. death). (b) The Jews understand this to mean physical enslavement.

7. The Jews denied that they had ever been enslaved or were in the need of being set free. Had they ever been enslaved? If so, how? Were they in bondage at this time?
(a) Yes. (b) They were enslaved first of all, as we all were, to Satan through original sin. However, they also suffered physical enslavement under the hands of the Egyptians and the Babylonians. (c) They were under an occupying force from the Roman empire, but more importantly, they were still enslaved to sin.

8. The Jews claim, again, in verse 39 that Abraham is their father. Were they descendants of Abraham? How does Jesus respond to their claims?
(a) They were genetic descendents of Abraham. (c) Jesus responds that merely physical connection to Abraham is not enough for salvation. One must a child of the promise made to Abraham. The promise of salvation.

9. Who does Jesus say their father is in verse 44? Why does he say this? Why does Jesus say that they don't believe him?
(a) Jesus says their father is "the devil". (b) He says this to emphasize that they are not merely saved by being "children of Abraham". Satan still has a hold on them, and on all of us, if we refuse the grace of God through Christ. (c) Because He speaks the truth.

10. Things get really ugly when the Jews call Jesus a Samaritan (those they despised and considered to be like dogs) and also accuse him of having a demon. Why are the Jews so upset?
(a) Because Jesus told them that they are "not of God". Given that Jews considered themselves to be the chosen people of God, they would have found this extremely insulting.

11. The Jews continue to be defiant, feeling that they are better than Jesus whom they consider to be a demonized madman while they claim to be children of Abraham, but Jesus says to them: Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad. What is their response to this statement? By their response, do you think they understood what Jesus meant?
(a) The Jews respond by saying "You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?". (b) They think Jesus meant that He was alive, in a physical sense, during the time of Abraham.

12. Verse 58 is the clincher. What does Jesus say that puts them over the edge and makes them take up stones to kill him? What two words are key in His statement and what would it mean to the Jews? Why did Jesus hide himself and leave the temple?
(a) Jesus tells them "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (b) The two key words in this statement are "I am". This is significant because the Jews know that Jesus is clearly telling them that He is God, by referring to Himself in the way God refers to Himself in the Old Testament.:
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'" (Ex 3:14)
(c) His hour had not yet come.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

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 Alfredo Nevarez
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