In the last part of this study of John 8, we left on a hopeful note: John 8:30 As he spoke these things many believed on him. Now, this is not anything new. All the way back in chapter 2, John told us: John 2:23 And when he was in Jerusalem, at the Passover, at the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he wrought. How firm was their belief back then?

We live in a world where it seems there is no easy win: The cure is often painful; the prize is won at great cost; no worthwhile venture is without risk. That is the way it is. Jesus acknowledged that in several parables. Before getting the field with the hidden treasure, the man had to sell all his goods. Before buying the priceless pearl, the merchant had to sell all his other jewels. To find the one lost sheep, the shepherd had to leave the other 99 alone, unguarded. Is it any easier with what Paul calls the “free gift of eternal life”?

The story at the beginning of the eighth chapter of John is one of the best known and best loved stories about Jesus. It is also, in part, controversial: Some modern translations (and some “Bible answers” websites) tell the reader it is probably not in the original version of the Gospel because it is missing from many of the earliest Greek manuscripts. Once this statement is made then other reasons are found to reinforce this verdict. That is unfortunate…

If you have ever been in Sunday school, you know Nicodemus’ name. Usually, we only remember him for coming to see Jesus at night. But he appears in the gospel more than once… as a believer embedded in the Sanhedrin. He was one of the religious leaders. He worked with them. He understood how they thought. And so, he witnessed first-hand how many of his colleagues – possibly even close friends – chose to blind themselves and reject Jesus. Sometimes I think he is a good picture of our lives as believers living in the world.

Gospel of John, chapter 7: Jesus is in the middle of the escalation. And it is having its desired effect. The crowd is divided: some on His side, some against Him. He can no longer be ignored. And the Pharisees are alarmed. The status quo is in danger of being shattered.

Have the rulers then indeed recognised that this is the Christ? This is where we left off last time, partway into the 7^th chapter of John’s gospel. In the face of conflicting opinions, with eyewitnesses testifying to the merciful (and miraculous) deeds of Jesus on one side and His detractors claiming that He is misleading the crowds on the other, the people want an answer, they want to make a decision; but they are afraid to make it on their own…