What Jesus Did! from Heartlight

'Discerning What Is False' - John 8:13-16

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

[After Jesus had said he is the light of the world, the] Pharisees replied, "You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid."

Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me."

—John 8:13-16 NLT

Key Thought

At first glance, we rush past these passages on false teaching. Many Christians today are surrounded by a culture where tolerance is highly valued. However, Christians shouldn't tolerate dangerous false teaching, especially when that false teaching is about the deity of Jesus. The LORD and his early followers knew there was a danger of false teaching. Jesus knew that the Pharisees who labeled him as a false teacher were hypocritical and self-indulgent,^[1] however, that didn't mean he was unconcerned about their accusations. Jesus's response to the allegations against him gives us some tools to recognize false teachers. Do they do the work of God? Do they know Jesus' true identity - his oneness with God and return to God? Do they have observable godliness - quality and character in their lives? Are their judgment and discernment reflective of God's truth? Jesus, when examined, showed himself to be true. Is the same true of teachers who claim to come in his name?

[1] Matthew 23:25.

Today's Prayer

Father, I believe that Jesus is your standard of truth and righteousness. Please help me discern that truth in my life. Please help me guard my steps against those who claim to come in his name but who are false. Please guard my heart against those whose teaching does not come from you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

'You Don't Have to Stumble' - John 8:12

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

—John 8:12 NLT

Key Thought

A night light is so helpful when you wake up in an otherwise dark room in the middle of the night. You don't have to stumble and fumble your way along in the darkness. Jesus comes to us, trapped as we are in a world of darkness and tells us that if we will look to him, we won't have to stumble and fumble our way along in life. In fact, not only will his light illuminate our path now, but his light will also lead us to life everlasting.

Today's Prayer

God Almighty, shine the light of Jesus into my life and help me make my way through this world of darkness without stumbling. Guide me away from any false light, and help me to find and follow Jesus' light. Use me to share that light with others so they can find their way home to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

'Forgiveness and Deliverance' - John 8:10-11

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman [caught in adultery], "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"

"No, Lord," she said.

And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Note: The oldest and best Greek copies of John do not have verses 7:53-8:11. Nevertheless, they are in nearly all translations because the content is certainly consistent with Jesus' ministry.

—John 8:10-11 NLT

Key Thought

Can you imagine anything more wonderful? This woman was caught in the very act of adultery, humiliated, and about to be killed when Jesus turns everything around for her. She is saved! Saved from the mob. Saved from the law. Saved from her sin. She has a new start. This is what Jesus does for each of us! He forgives our sin and delivers us to a new life with a new start. So the challenge for each of us is this: What are we going to do with the new start we've been given?

Today's Prayer

Help me, Father, to live as your new creation, fully taking advantage of the forgiveness and deliverance you so graciously provided to me by sending Jesus. In his name, I pray. Amen.

'Rescue and Righteousness' - John 8:7-9

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

[The Jewish leaders] kept demanding an answer [to their question about the woman caught in adultery, so Jesus] stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

Note: The oldest and best Greek copies of John do not have verses 7:53-8:11. Nevertheless, they are in nearly all translations because the content is certainly consistent with Jesus' ministry.

—John 8:7-9 NLT

Key Thought

A lynch mob doesn't want truth. It doesn't want redemption or righteousness either. With the shame of the woman, the Jewish leaders had tasted blood. Now they planned to press on until their desire to trap Jesus was satiated. It appeared as if no word could hold them back. They would press Jesus till they had what they wanted. But then Jesus spoke a word they had not expected. It was a heaven-sent word. It was a word rooted in truth and a word that struck their very souls. They knew they were not sinless. This word of truth penetrated to the hearts of those who were mature and knew both life and law. As Jesus glanced away to write in the dust, he gave them permission to leave without being shown up. For a brief moment, righteousness triumphed over hatred and self-importance. Those who were younger followed the example of the older men, leaving the woman protected and safe with Jesus. Redemption in action. The Good News portrayed before our very eyes. Jesus takes the hate of hell and our own sin and turns back the foe, leaving us safe and in his presence.

Today's Prayer

How can I thank you, dear Father, for the salvation Jesus has purchased for me? Even as I offer my sincere "thank you," the words seem so shallow and small when compared with your expansive grace. Along with my words, I also offer my life in service to you. Use me to be a conduit of that grace to others. All glory to you, O Father who reigns above all, and to you, LORD Jesus, for you have triumphed over sin and death to rescue me. Amen.

'Destroying People to Settle Arguments' - John 8:3-6

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

As [Jesus] was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

Note: The oldest and best Greek copies of John do not have verses 7:53-8:11. Nevertheless, they are in nearly all translations because the content is certainly consistent with Jesus' ministry.

—John 8:3-6 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus' adversaries were setting a trap for him. This trap involved asking a religious question intended to take the compassion of Jesus and use it to crush him against the law of Moses. It's sad how we can get so ramped up about our religious discussions that we lose sight of the heart of God. God is a God of holiness and integrity, righteousness and steadfast love. The two pairs go together. They are inseparable. Those who call upon God's name as their God must pursue his character with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The religious leaders here remind us how easily we can shift from being righteous students of God's teaching into being vicious brutes pursuing self-justification. Lost in the argument and the pursuit of Jesus was the personhood of the unnamed woman. She is no more than a token to those who took her to Jesus, the bit of cheese on their religious mousetrap. However, even in the midst of those who hate him and would trap him, Jesus finds a way to deflect their venom from the woman and restore her dignity, as we will see in the following verses. People matter to God. Do they matter to us?

Today's Prayer

O LORD, God of Israel and Father of my LORD Jesus, please forgive me. I fear, dear Father, that I haven't treated all people as you would have had me treat them. That is especially true with some people who didn't fit into my religious comfortability. Please give me a more compassionate heart to better say and do the redemptive things in the lives of everyone with whom I interact, especially those who haven't found your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

'The Gift of Teaching' - John 7:53-8:2

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Then the meeting [of the Jewish leaders] broke up, and everybody went home.

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.

Note: The oldest and best Greek copies of John do not have verses 7:53-8:11. Nevertheless, they are in nearly all translations because the content is certainly consistent with Jesus' ministry.

—John 7:53-8:2 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus gave people the gift of his teaching. His words were God's word. He spoke and embodied God's message. So when people gathered together, Jesus gave them his great gift of teaching. In this instance, he taught them with his words, and he also taught them with his life, his actions. Let's never underestimate the importance of learning the truth from Jesus, through both his words and his deeds, and let's never underestimate the importance of our deeds' being consistent with our words.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God and tender Shepherd, guide me into your truth. Conform me to the character of your Son Jesus. I especially ask for the help of your Holy Spirit to conform my lifestyle to the things that are true about Jesus. Help me to walk the talk and to put into practice the things I have learned. In Jesus' name. Amen.

'If You Can't Beat Them, Criticize Them' - John 7:52

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

[The leading Pharisees replied to Nicodemus,] "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself — no prophet ever comes from Galilee!"

—John 7:52 NLT

Key Thought

One person against a group seldom wins the short-term battle. If the group has the wrong information, its conclusion will be wrong no matter how many people speak in support of that conclusion. Rather than trying to deal with the truth of Nicodemus' statement, the rulers of Israel used a slur against Galileans and wrong information about Jesus' village of origin to try to shame Nicodemus. However, Nicodemus was right, and they were wrong. Nicodemus was a seeker, and they were satisfied with their status quo. Nicodemus stood for truth, and they wanted to stay comfortable. We must always put our conclusions up to the test of truth. Simply because a lot of other folks agree with us does not make our position right. Perhaps it even ought to make us a little bit suspicious. When Jesus enters into a situation, he nearly always shakes up the status quo and tears down unquestioned traditions. Let's NOT be like the religious hypocrites of Jesus' day who loved their positions, their teachings, and their cronies more than they loved the truth and the one who embodies that truth.

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times that I have shut my heart to the radical truth of your righteousness, justice, and mercy because I found myself comfortable with my own religious position. Please keep alive in me the heart of a seeker - a truth-seeker, a people-seeker, a Jesus-seeker. Conform me to be more like Jesus and not like the religious hypocrites of Jesus' day. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

What Jesus Did! from Heartlight

'Discerning What Is False' - John 8:13-16

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'You Don't Have to Stumble' - John 8:12

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'Forgiveness and Deliverance' - John 8:10-11

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'Rescue and Righteousness' - John 8:7-9

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'Destroying People to Settle Arguments' - John 8:3-6

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'The Gift of Teaching' - John 7:53-8:2

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings

'If You Can't Beat Them, Criticize Them' - John 7:52

Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Related Scripture Readings