We have a very active Bible Study Group at WYCC. We have been meeting on alternating Monday evenings at 7:00 PM for several years now. Since March, 2020 we have been meeting on the Zoom platform due to the pandemic. We are currently working our way through the Gospel of John, one chapter per meeting. The meetings typically last about and hour and quite often our discussion includes how our readings relate to present day events. You do not need to be a theologian or a Bible scholar to participate, everyone is welcome. The Study Guide for our next meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 21, can be found below. If you have any questions, or would like the link to the next meeting, please contact Pastor Chuck at csoule@comcast.net

Chapter Eight of the Gospel of John

When we left Jesus at the conclusion of chapter seven, he had upset the Jewish leadership to the point that they were seeking to arrest him. Night must have brought on a cessation of their efforts as chapter eight opens with Jesus going to the Mount of Olives, just outside of Jerusalem, to rest for the evening. We pick up the story at the Temple the next morning and Jesus’ confrontations with the scribes and Pharisees continues as well.

The first section is a story that is unique to John, the story of the woman caught in adultery. (vs. 2-11)

Jesus goes to the Temple early in the morning, what is he doing there? (vs. 2)
The scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman before Jesus, what is she accused of? (vs. 3)
Why did they bring her before Jesus? What question do they ask of him? (vs. 4-6)
What does Jesus do? (vs. 6) What do you think he was writing in the sand?
Then he speaks, what does he say? (vs. 7)
What does he do next? (vs. 8)
What is the response by the Pharisees to Jesus’ words? (vs. 9) Why do you think they reacted this way?
What does Jesus say to the woman? (vs. 10)
What is her reply to his question? (vs. 11)
What does Jesus say to her to conclude the conversation? (vs. 11)
Does anyone have any thoughts about this story?

In a rather confusing, almost a time warp type of transformation, we immediately find Jesus again contending with the Pharisees and their minions. (vs. 12-30)

Jesus gives us another one of his “I am” sayings, what does he say he is now? (vs. 12)
What are the Pharisees’ reply to his words? (vs. 13)
Jesus’ answer is a bit complicated, please try to sum it up? (vs. 14-18)
What is their reply to Jesus’ statement? (vs. 19a)
What is Jesus’ reply? (vs 19b)
Again, we hear that his hour had not come. (vs. 20)
Jesus gets more aggressive in his attacks of the Pharisees. What does he say about their fate? (vs. 21)
What do the Pharisees think he is saying? (vs. 22)
Where does Jesus say the Pharisees are from? What do they need to do to avoid dying in their sins? (vs. 23-24)
What is their reply? (vs. 25)
Now what does Jesus say to them? What was he speaking about? (vs. 26-27)
When will the Pharisees finally believe in him? (vs. 28-29)
What happens next? (vs. 30)

At this point the lines between those who believe and those who don’t become a little blurry. The balance of the chapter is made up of a back and forth between Jesus and “the Jews” that ends up with them attempting to stone him. (vs. 31-59)

First Jesus addresses those “Jews” who had begun to believe in him. What does he say to them, what can he offer them? (vs. 31-32)
What is their reply? (vs. 33)
What does Jesus tell them about their “freedom”? (vs. 34-35)
How can they be made free? (vs.36)
Why does Jesus think they have been looking to kill him? (vs. 37)
What does Jesus say that the “Jews” should do? (vs. 38) Why can’t they what is holding them back?
What is their reply to Jesus? Who do they claim is their father? (vs. 39)
Why does Jesus say that their claim in incorrect? (vs 39-40)
What do the “Jews” think Jesus is accusing them of being? (vs. 41)
What is Jesus’ reply to their claim of legitimacy? (vs. 42)
Why does Jesus think they cannot understand him? (vs. 43)
He does Jesus think their father really is? (vs. 44 - 46)
Once again, he states why the “Jews” cannot understand him, what is his reason? How do you think this affects them? (vs. 47)
What do the “Jews: accuse Jesus of being at this point? (vs. 48) Are these the Jews who had begun to believe in Jesus?
What is Jesus’ reply? (vs. 49-50)
Now the “Jews” really think he has a demon, what is their reasoning? (vs. 52-53)
What question do they ask of Jesus? (vs. 53)
What is Jesus’ reply? (vs. 54-56)
Again the Jews get confused, what is their confusion now? (vs. 57)
Jesus’ answer contains another “I Am” statement, what is it? (vs. 58)
What is the reaction of the Jews to his statement? (vs. 59)