Since the Pharisees were questioning him about the Law, it is possible the author wanted to show God writing the perfect Law. This Law is the Law of mercy and love, rather than the Law of fear.
Lord, reveal to me the perfect Law - the Law of mercy and love.
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God's Mercy
When they came to him, the leaders were arrogant and self-righteous. But Jesus revealed to them the truth and they were “convicted by their conscience”. They slowly left until there was only Jesus and the woman.
At the start, Jesus was sitting with his disciples when the scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to him. Now he stood up, saw her and talked to her. When Jesus stood, he assumed the posture of a king ready to pass judgment. But instead of judgment, the woman received mercy. Her dignity was restored by the mercy of God.
God defends us and pours out his mercy and love. St. Paul says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” For those who trust in Jesus, those who strive to live in union with Jesus, there is no condemnation. Our past sins are forgiven and we are restored to our dignity. Such is the mercy of God.
| Lord, as far as the east is from the west, you have thrown away my sins. Such is the greatness of your mercy. Let me be mercy to others in my life. |
Light of the World
When the woman left, Jesus spoke to the crowd. Some Pharisees were still in the crowd. “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” This was too much for the Pharisees.
Jesus spoke the truth and they would not accept it. Even when his accusers confronted him, Jesus would not take back what he said. The Father was with him. Jesus knew he had the truth so he left judgment to the Father. The important thing for Jesus was the presence of his Father. Nothing else mattered.
Jesus was not lying. He does not lie because he spoke only what the Father wanted him to say.
Father, let me hold on to you. Let me cling to you because I find life only in you. Lord Jesus, teach me to hold on to the Father. Teach me to obey hiim. Only in doing so can I come to know him.
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Repentance: Responding to God
The Pharisees now asked Jesus who his Father was. Jesus said they had to know him first before they could know his Father. Jesus then said, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins.”
For those who do not believe, even if they want to, they cannot find Jesus. It is interesting when they asked Jesus, they did not ask about dying in their sins. They were more concerned about where Jesus was going.
For them, they had no sin. They could not understand Jesus because they could not accept they had sinned. They refused to repent and so, could not understand him.
Jesus continued, “unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” The phrase, “I am he” is literally written as “I AM”. So, another way to read this is, “unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” To know Jesus, one has to believe he is God. Without this belief, everything Jesus says will mean nothing.
Slaves to Sin
They continued to ask Jesus who he was. Jesus took them back to the beginning.
God had been revealing himself from the beginning. The only question is whether we are willing to respond to him. Those who do not respond to God’s revelation are still in sin. They are still slaves to sin.
When Jesus is lifted up, then people will know him. The crucifixion of Jesus is the fulfillment of God's revelation. Symbolically, if we lift Jesus up, put him above ourselves, humble ourselves, we will be able to know who he is.
Accept the truth and it will set you free. The Pharisees did not want to accept the truth - that is why they lived in their sin. They were still slaves of their preconceived ideas.
| Lord, teach me to accept the truth. Teach me to get rid of my preconceived ideas about you. Teach me O Lord, to raise you up, to accept you as you are so I may see and know myself. |
Knowing the Truth
Jesus spoke the truth, but many did not believe him. People wanted to kill him because he spoke the truth. Truth cannot be killed. The messenger might be killed, but truth will always find a way to get through.
The leaders first claimed Abraham as their father. Then they claimed God as their father. Jesus refuted that. He said Abraham believed and rejoiced when he saw that day.
To be a child of God, one has to understand Jesus. Understanding comes from hearing the word of God. The reason why one does not hear is because one is not of God. This is a choice one has to make: do I want to belong to God or not?
Sit down in silence and listen to Jesus. Believe in him and you will know the truth. The woman caught in adultery remained silent before Jesus. She trusted in his mercy.
Those enslaved to sin are those who refuse to accept Jesus. A repentant sinner is one who continues to work for his freedom. The slave is one who is complacent and therefore, arrogant of his faith. This person is not willing to change his view. That is the slave.
Knowing and listening to the truth is a choice. One can choose to listen or one can choose to reject it.
Lord, I choose to listen to you. I want to know the truth so I can be set free. Lord God, help me. Guide me and teach me. Strip away my arrogance so I may see you and accept you at your word.
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