Stephan Hoffman

‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,’Jesus replied. ‘I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.’T hey did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.  John 8:25-28

The Scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus.  They brought a woman caught in adultery to him with a trick question:  “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (v5). Jesus did not answer their question, but wrote with his finger on the ground, which was sometimes done by a judge in a lawsuit. Then he said: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." They walked away dazed, leaving her alone with Jesus. He does not condemn her but says: “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees by his words and deeds. He pointed out that they did not realise who he really was. It also leads to the question in verse 25, "Who are you?” This question is central to the gospel, "Who is Jesus?” Unfortunately people only realised after Jesus' crucifixion (resurrection) (v28) who He really is.

Jesus existed before Abraham, He is the only One who really knows and reveals the Father. He is God who became man, and yet people do not recognize his true identity.

Come, let us ask ourselves anew the question "Who is Jesus to me?"  Come let us live as redeemed sinners, no longer driven by sin, but in grateful obedience.

Prayer: Lord, please help me not to judge others, but to realise that you are the great Judge who forgave me, when I didn’t deserve it.  Grant that I will no longer continue to sin, but live in gratitude and obedience to your honour. Amen