Session six of eight is my favorite association with the number 8 and the ministry and character of Jesus.
This session is centered on the gospel of John Chapter 8.
Some scholars debate whether the first part of this chapter was part of the original text, but it is such an integral part of the whole gospel and I hope by the end of session 7 that no doubts will remain that this is the case, as we connect this chapter with John Ch 20.
Prior to the start of this chapter Nicodemus has come on the scene for the 2nd time. Nicodemus famously, came to Jesus at night in John Ch 3, and is mentioned a third time in John Ch 19 v39 when he comes with myrrh and aloes to anointed the body of Jesus.
Nicodemus is mentioned by name five times and all in Johns gospel. Five is the number of grace, and this religious Pharisee, came to see that Jesus embodied the true heart of God, a fullness of Grace not compromised at all by truth as he was lifted up upon the Cross as the perfect atonement for all of men and women’s sins. Thus the enmity of sin and Gods righteous judgement against it was resolved by a perfect sacrifice – this is the fullness of Gods truth and Grace.
In this second appearing of Nicodemus, we must acknowledge that his first encounter with Jesus has had a profound impact upon the very trajectory of his life, as he crosses the Rubicon publicly in defense of the law & Jesus’s adherence to it.
This statement of Nicodemus was colossal, as he was disagreeing directly with the statement of his peers that none of the Pharisees had believed in him.
And if we have ears to hear it, Nicodemus is speaking prophetically, as hearing and learning from Jesus leads us to the Cross where the law and Judgment meet and Jesus gloriously finishes the work his Father had given him to do – this man fulfilled the laws demands on are behalf – Hallelujah what a Saviour.
After this statement of Nicodemus in defense of Jesus’s ministry the Pharisees are enraged, and rile on him: ‘Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee’.
Then the scriptures state that every man went unto his own home.
Thus Chapter 8 of Johns gospel starts with this wonderful statement: Jesus went unto the mount of Olives!!
Now the mount of Olives is that place from whence the Lord ascended into heaven & it is also where he will descend at his second coming. Therefore, we can conclude that the mount of Olives is significant in relation to Jesus’s home, his heavenly home.
We could stipulate that Jesus felt nearest to home at the mount of Olives.
And in character, in nature, what is Jesus at home doing? What does Jesus love to do for sinners here upon earth that will prepare them for a home throughout eternity?
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a women who had been caught in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, ‘Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up Himself, and said unto them, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her’.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own , went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: And Jesus was left alone with the women standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the women, He said unto her, ‘Women, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee’?
She said, ‘No man, Lord’. And Jesus said unto her, ‘Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more’
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world: he that followers me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’.
The temple was a place designed for God to be at home in, but the ark of the covenant was not within this temple, it having been prophetically removed as Jesus himself was coming into this world.
Jesus was seated teaching in this temple, and he stooped down lower to write upon the ground. Then he ‘lifted himself’ up, just as he told Nicodemus the son of man must be, that those who believe should not perish but have everlasting life.
And after stooping down again to continue writing he lifted up himself again to speak with the accused, once all her accusers had departed – Jesus is the answer to all the handwriting of ordinances that condemn us and accuse us! His ministry is a law of life of love – not condemnation.
Twice he lifted himself up, twice he stooped down to write and at the end he was left alone, one man and one women his perfect purity and virginity a covering no other man could bring. The law of God was written on two tablets of stone, as the image of God is for both the male and the female, but it was the man who abdicated his headship in Eden – so here in the temple we have the kinsmen redeemer.
Now when Noah was looking forward to the resurrection and regeneration of the earth, he sent forth a dove. On the doves second flight it returned unto Noah with an olive leaf in her beak. Now Noahs ark was ‘lifted up’ upon the waters of judgement and condemnation, and when this dove returned with a fresh olive leaf, the olive tree and the ark where on the same level, due to the laws of nature, the laws of physics and gravity.
Jesus is at home, lifting people out of Judgement and condemnation, and sharing his nature with them, the truth of his love from the beginning, that God has withheld no good thing from his image upon this earth.
Face to face in the temple, the laws of physics came into effect, no longer could she ever be happy in sin having caught sight of the pure and tender love within this man.
The temple was lit by the menorah, a light that by commandment had to be supplied by pure olive oil.
Like this women, we also need a supply of the Holy Spirit and the magnetism of Holiness found within his home, to enable us to purify ourselves with the hope of heaven and being found like him.
O thank God, thank God that he speaks from the mercy seat: the Holy of Holies, the sprinkling of blood – Jesus Christ the beloved and only begotten Son lifted up and STANDING before the Fathers throne on are constant and perpetual behalf.
Note: This is slightly different post as it’s not written primarily for this site. However, it is posted here for this week, in case it has content that is edifying.
May I also request if the drop in sound, on live youtube, is linked to a concern for my welfare that it is relinquished – it appeared to frequent last week’s worship.
eternalrays 