John 8:1-59

John tells the Good News about Jesus

Gospel of John

Marion Adams

Chapter 8

Jesus forgives a woman 8:1-11

v1 But Jesus walked to the place called the Hill of *Olives. v2 Early next morning, he went back to the *Temple. All the people came to him. He sat down and he began to teach them. v3 The *Pharisees and the *scribes brought in a woman. People had found her at the time when she was having sex with a man. And this man was not her husband. They made the woman stand in the middle of the crowd. v4 They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was having sex with a man. The man was not her husband. People found her in bed with him. v5 Moses’ *Law orders us to punish a woman like her. People must throw stones at her until she dies. But what is your opinion?’

v6 They asked Jesus this question because they wanted to test him. They wanted a reason to accuse him. But Jesus just bent down and he began to write on the ground with his finger. v7 They continued to ask him about the woman. So he stood up and he spoke to them. He said, ‘Only a person who has never *sinned may throw the first stone at her!’ v8 Then he bent down and he began to write on the ground again.

v9 When they heard this, they began to leave. The older people left first. One person left, then another, and then another, until Jesus was alone with the woman.

v10 Jesus stood up. He said to her, ‘It seems that everybody has gone. Has anybody *condemned you?’

v11 The woman said, ‘Nobody, sir.’

Jesus said, ‘Then I do not *condemn you either. Go now. But do not *sin again.’

Verses 1-6 The *Jewish leaders wanted a reason still to arrest Jesus. So they asked him a very difficult question. They brought a woman to him. This woman had had sex with a man who was not her husband. They had witnesses that she was guilty. She had not obeyed the 7th rule of God’s 10 special rules (Exodus 20:14). In Moses’ *Law, the punishment was death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22).

If Jesus told them to kill her, they could report him to the *Roman rulers. They would do this because the *Romans did not allow the *Jews to *execute people. Only the *Romans could *execute people. So Jesus would be in trouble with the government and they could arrest him. But if Jesus told them not to kill her, he was not obeying Moses’ *Law. So the *Jewish leaders thought that it was not possible for Jesus to give a satisfactory answer. Whatever he said, he would be in trouble!

But Jesus did not answer immediately. Instead, he bent down and he used his finger to write on the ground. It was common for teachers to write or to draw in the dust. They often did this to explain something. But John did not record what Jesus was writing. Perhaps Jesus wanted to force the *Jewish leaders to repeat their question. Then perhaps they would realise that they were cruel to use the woman’s situation in this way.

Verse 7 When Jesus answered them, they could not say anything bad about his reply. He told them to obey Moses’ *Law and to punish the woman. So he was not saying that Moses’ *Law was wrong. When a person *sins, they deserve a punishment. But Jesus was also pointing out that everybody is guilty. Everybody has *sinned and therefore everybody deserves punishment.

The *Pharisees thought that they were less *sinful than ordinary people. They were proud because they studied the *Law much. They followed all the rules. But the word that Jesus used for ‘*sin’ in verse 7 could refer also to bad thoughts and desires. So none of them could say that they had never *sinned. And their proud attitude was a *sin, too.

After he had answered them, Jesus wrote in the dust again. And again, John did not record what Jesus wrote. But some experts think that it was a list of the *Pharisees’ own *sins, or perhaps God’s 10 special rules (Exodus 20:3-17).

Anyway, Jesus’ answer had the effect that he wanted. Slowly, the leaders who had accused the woman went away. After they had gone, Jesus spoke to the woman. Of course, Jesus himself had never *sinned. So, actually, only he had the right to *condemn her. Instead, he forgave her. That is God’s attitude to us when we *sin. If we sincerely confess our *sins to God, he forgives us immediately. He does this although we do not deserve it.

But before he let her go, Jesus warned the woman. He told her not to continue to *sin. Jesus was not saying that her *sin did not matter. *Sin always matters, because God hates it. God will always forgive us for our *sins if we are sincerely sorry. But we must not continue to *sin in the same way. God will help us to defeat *sin in our lives. We must ask him to do this.

(Many of the earliest copies of John’s *Gospel did not include this passage (7:53-8:11). It seems that 8:12 follows 7:52 more easily. Some other copies included it, but in a different place in the *Gospel. And some ancient copies of Luke’s *Gospel included it. However, some copies of John’s *Gospel did include it at this point in the *Gospel. This passage emphasises more reasons why the *Jewish leaders hated Jesus so much.)

Jesus is the *light for the world 8:12-20

v12 Then Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, ‘I am the *light for the world. Follow me and you will never walk in the darkness. You will have the *light that gives *life.’

v13 The *Pharisees said to him, ‘Only you say this about yourself. You are providing evidence for yourself. Therefore, your evidence does not prove anything. So what you say is not true!’

v14 Jesus answered, ‘Yes, I speak on behalf of myself. But my evidence proves the truth of what I say. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you do not know where I came from. And you do not know where I am going. v15 You *judge me in the same way as all people *judge. But I do not *judge anybody. v16 If I did *judge, my judgement would be completely fair. I say this because I do not *judge alone. The *Father, who sent me, is here with me. v17 If two witnesses agree about something, they are telling the truth. Your own *Law says this! v18 I speak on behalf of myself. But the *Father, who sent me, also speaks on my behalf. So I am one witness and my *Father is the other witness.’

v19 They asked him, ‘Where is your father?’

Jesus answered, ‘You do not know me or my *Father. If you knew me, you would know my *Father, too.’

v20 Jesus said all this while he was teaching in the *Temple. He was in the place where people gave their gifts for the *Temple. But nobody arrested him, because his time had not come yet.

Verse 12 If John 7:53-8 belongs elsewhere, this passage follows John 7:52. It was the *Festival of Shelters and Jesus was still teaching in the *Temple.

In John 1:4-9, John described Jesus as the *light that gives *life to everybody. In this verse, Jesus described himself as the ‘*light for the world’. His sentence started with ‘I am’, which was God’s special name (Exodus 3:14 – see note on John 6:35). But this *light does more than just guide us in the darkness. This *light actually makes the darkness disappear! However, we must continue to follow Jesus all the time. Every day, we should obey him and we should learn from him.

Verses 13-14 Again, the *Pharisees accused Jesus as if they were in a court of law. They did not believe Jesus’ words. Jesus did not have anybody else to prove that his words were true (see note on John 5:31). But only Jesus knew God’s plan for him. The *Pharisees did not know that Jesus came from heaven. They did not know that he would return there.

Verses 15-16 The *Pharisees did not understand who Jesus was. They had their own ideas about God and about their religion. They did not want to change these ideas. So, because they did not understand Jesus, they *judged him. That was easier than to believe that he came from God! While Jesus was on the earth, he did not *judge anybody. However, one day in the future, he will *judge everybody (John 5:27). He will not make mistakes, as other people make mistakes. His judgement will be fair always, because he thinks *exactly the same as his *Father. And God is never wrong. He is perfect in every way.

Verses 17-19 In *Jewish *Law, two witnesses had to agree that something was true. Then this proved that it was true (Deuteronomy 19:15). Jesus had two witnesses that his words about himself were true: himself and God, his *Father. But the *Pharisees thought that Jesus was referring to a human father. An absent witness was not legal. So they asked, ‘Where is your father?’

The *Pharisees did not have a full and true knowledge of Jesus. Otherwise they would have realised that he came from God. Also, they would have realised that people can know God only by means of Jesus.

Verse 20 This room was a public place for people to meet together. It would have been easy to arrest Jesus. But God, not people, controlled what happened in Jesus’ life. And ‘his time’ – that is God’s time for them to arrest him – had not come yet.

Jesus warns about the judgement that is coming 8:21-30

v21 Again, Jesus said to the *Pharisees, ‘I am going away. You will look for me. But when you die, God will not have forgiven your *sins. You cannot come where I am going.’

v22 The *Jewish leaders said, ‘So he is going away. That is what he says. And he says that we cannot go with him. Perhaps he means that he intends to kill himself.’

v23 Jesus answered, ‘You belong to this world, which is below. But I come from a place that is above it. You are from this world. But I am not from this world. v24 So I said that God will not forgive your *sins before your death. This will happen if you do not *believe in me. I am who I am! You must believe this. Otherwise you will die and God will not forgive your *sins!’

v25 They asked him, ‘Who are you?’

Jesus answered them, ‘I have told you who I am since the beginning! v26 I could say much more to *condemn you. But I have come from someone whose words are always true. He sent me. And I tell the people in this world only what I have heard from him.’

v27 But still they did not understand that he was telling them about the *Father. v28 So Jesus said, ‘You will lift up the Son of Man on a *cross. Then you will realise who I am. You will also know that I do nothing alone. I speak only what the *Father has taught me. v29 The *Father sent me. He is with me. He has not left me alone. I do always those things that please him.’

v30 While Jesus was saying these things, many people *believed in him.

Verses 21-24 The *Jews were God’s special people. He had chosen to speak to them by means of people like Moses, David and the *prophets. But when God’s Son, Jesus, came to the earth, the *Jewish leaders did not recognise him. He came from heaven and he would return to heaven.

But because the leaders did not *believe in him, they could not understand this. They thought only about the physical world. Jesus said that they belonged to this world below. In John’s *Gospel, the ‘world’ refers to everybody and everything that opposes God.

The leaders did not understand *spiritual reality. They imagined that Jesus intended to kill himself. But he was not talking just about his own death. He was talking about where he was going after his death and his *resurrection.

They could not follow him because they refused to *believe in him. Therefore, they would die and God would not forgive their *sins. There is only one way that people can avoid the punishment from God for their *sins. That way is to *believe in the *Lord Jesus *Christ. When we *believe in Jesus, God can forgive our *sins. All that we have to do is to ask him. Then, if we are sincerely sorry, he will forgive us. We will receive his gift of *eternal life.

Jesus was urging the *Jewish leaders to *believe in him. If they *rejected him, they could not be with God in heaven, because of their *sins.

Verses 25-30 Again, Jesus emphasised that he did nothing without his *Father, God. He spoke his *Father’s words. He did only those things that pleased his *Father. To know Jesus is the same as to know God.

However, although the *Jewish leaders *rejected him still, many of the people *believed in him.

The truth will make you free 8:31-36

v31 Then, Jesus spoke to the *Jews who had *believed in him. He said, ‘Obey me. Continue to follow what I teach you. If you do this, you are really my *disciples. v32 Then you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free.’

v33 They answered, ‘But we are Abraham’s *descendants. We have never been anybody’s slaves! But you say that we will become free! What do you mean?’

v34 Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth! Anybody who *sins is like a slave. *Sin controls that person. v35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently. However, a son belongs to a family permanently. v36 If the Son makes you free, then you are really free!’

Verse 31 The *Greek words for ‘*believed in him’ have a different meaning from the same phrase in verse 30. This is because the author wanted to distinguish between two groups of people. The people that he referred to in verse 30 were sincere. They genuinely trusted Jesus. But the people that the author referred to in verse 31 did not have such a genuine belief. They were similar to those people who believed just because of Jesus’ *miracles. But Jesus did not trust those people, because they did not really want to obey him (John 2:23-25).

Some people today are like this group of people in verse 31. They may say that they are *Christians. They may attend a *church. But their *faith is not very important to them. Jesus is not the most important person in their lives. They may agree with the things that Jesus taught. But they do not allow this to affect their attitudes or their behaviour in their daily lives.

So Jesus spoke to this group of people next. He told them what to do if they really wanted to be his *disciples. They could not just agree with his message. That was not enough. They had to obey him. They had to do what he said all the time. His words had to guide them in every part of their daily lives.

Verse 32 When people follow Jesus, they will know the truth. This is because Jesus himself is the truth. He frees us from the results of our *sins. He frees us from death. He shows us how to have *eternal life with God. He shows us the ways in which we *deceive ourselves. He shows us how other people *deceive us. He shows us how the devil *deceives us.

The freedom that Jesus gives to us is real freedom. It is not the freedom to do just what we want. It is the freedom to serve God. Then, we can become the kind of people that God created us to be.

Verses 33-34 The people did not understand what Jesus meant. The *Romans ruled them. But they were not slaves. They were proud because they were God’s special people. However, Jesus pointed out that they were really slaves, not because of other people, but because of *sin. *Sin controls people. It guides what they do. It affects how they behave. Because of this, it causes people to act as if they were its slaves.

Verses 35-36 Jesus is God’s only, special Son (John 1:18). Only Jesus can stop *sin’s power over a person. Only he can say that they are not slaves still. And he also has the authority to let them join God’s family. Slaves do not belong to a family in the same way as a son. Slaves have no permanent place in the family. But a son is a real member of the family. A son knows that he belongs there always. And so, a son feels security about the future.

The devil’s children 8:37-47

v37 Jesus continued, ‘You are Abraham’s *descendants. I realise that. But you refuse to believe what I teach. So you want to kill me. v38 I am telling you what my *Father has shown to me. And you are doing the things that your *father has taught you.’

v39 They answered, ‘Abraham is our *father.’

Jesus said, ‘No, you are not Abraham’s children! You do not do the same things that Abraham did. v40 I have told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me! Abraham never did anything like this! v41 You are obeying your real *father when you behave in this way.’

They answered, ‘We are not illegitimate children! (‘Illegitimate’ means to be born from parents who are not married to each other.) We have only one *Father. Our *Father is God.’

v42 Jesus said, ‘I came from God. Now I am here with you. So if God really was your *Father, you would love me. You would love me because I came from him. But I have not come alone, by my own authority. God sent me. v43 You do not understand what I am saying. You are not able to believe the real meaning of what I am saying. v44 Your *father is the devil! You belong to him. And you want to do *exactly what he wants! He has always murdered people. He has always lied. There is no truth in him. He lies, because it is in his character to lie. Everything that he says is a lie. In fact, he is the *father of all lies, because he is the origin of all lies.

v45 But I tell you the truth. And you do not *believe me! v46 You cannot prove that I have *sinned. I am telling you the truth. So there is no reason why you should refuse to *believe me. v47 Anybody who belongs to God will want to listen to his words. But you do not want to listen. This proves that you do not belong to God.’

Verses 37-47 In this passage, Jesus’ words seem unkind. He called his audience the devil’s children. Jesus was speaking to a group of *Jews who were very angry with him. We must remember this. They had their own ideas about God. And they had their own ideas about their religion. They did not want to change their ideas. Jesus upset them because of the things that he taught about God and about himself. So to stop him, they wanted to kill him.

God had chosen Abraham to begin the *Jewish nation. The *Jewish nation belonged to God. They were God’s children because they belonged to him in a special way. The *Jewish people were Abraham’s *descendants, so they called Abraham their ‘*father’ (verse 39). But Jesus was speaking to people who were not behaving like Abraham. So Jesus said that they were not Abraham’s children. It was true that they were his physical *descendants. But *spiritually, they were not his real children. This is because real children should obey their father. And they wanted to murder Jesus because they hated him so much. Abraham was never wicked like that!

The people replied that God was their Father. They said that they were God’s real children. They said that they were not illegitimate. (‘Illegitimate’ means to be born from parents who are not married to each other.) They were probably referring to the *Samaritans here. The *Samaritans were half *Jewish. They were the *descendants of *Jews who had married foreigners in *Samaria. And those foreigners *worshipped false gods. Afterwards, the *Jews hated the *Samaritans because the *Samaritans were not loyal to the *Jewish religion. The *Jews were proud that they had continued to *worship the one real God. So they believed that they had a right to call him their *Father.

Jesus’ audience included *Jewish leaders who were opposing him. They refused to believe that Jesus had come from God. If they were really God’s children, they would have realised this. They refused to believe that Jesus had God’s authority. So Jesus said that their *father was not God. Their *father was the devil.

These men wanted to murder Jesus. God does not give people the desire to murder. It is the devil who does this. Also, this crowd refused to *believe in Jesus when he was telling the truth about himself. They were unable to recognise the truth. In fact, they hated Jesus, who is the truth. The devil was controlling them. Their proud attitude allowed him to do this. He was using them to oppose God’s truth, because the devil always opposes the truth.

The *Jewish leaders wanted to accuse Jesus of a crime. But Jesus had never *sinned. He is the only person who has ever lived a completely *sinless life. He always said and did the right things. This proved that he was God and also human.

The *Jewish leaders had never seen Jesus do anything evil. But they still refused to *believe in him. They would not listen to the truth that he told them. They would not listen to God’s words. So they could not be God’s children.

Jesus and Abraham 8:48-59

v48 The people said to Jesus, ‘You are a *Samaritan! And you have an evil *spirit in you! We have always said this and we were right!’

v49 Jesus answered, ‘I do not have an evil *spirit in me. I respect my *Father greatly. But you do not respect me. v50 I do not desire other people to respect me greatly. But there is someone who wants you to respect me. He will be the judge. v51 I tell you the truth. If you obey my words, you will never die.’

v52 Then the people said, ‘Now we are sure that you have an evil *spirit in you! Even Abraham and the *prophets died. But you say, “If you obey my words, you will never die!” v53 You are saying that you are greater than our *father Abraham. Abraham died and all the *prophets died, too. So you are also saying that you are greater than them. You believe that you are very important!’

v54 Jesus answered, ‘I am not just saying wonderful things about myself. If I were, it would mean nothing. But it is my *Father who says these wonderful things about me. You say that he is your God. v55 But you do not really know him. However, I know him. I cannot say that I do not know him. Then I would be a person who lies, like all of you. But it is true that I know him. And I obey him. v56 Your *father Abraham was really happy to see me. He saw, and he was glad.’

v57 They said, ‘But you are not even 50 years old! You cannot have seen Abraham!’

v58 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I existed (“I am”).’

v59 Then the people picked up stones to throw at Jesus. They wanted to kill him. But he hid from them and he left the *Temple.

Verse 48 The crowd were becoming more and more angry with Jesus. They called him a ‘*Samaritan’ in order to insult him. They said this because *Samaritans were not real *Jews. The crowd also said that an evil *spirit was controlling Jesus.

Verses 49-50 Again, Jesus emphasised that he had come on his *Father’s behalf. He was in complete unity with his *Father. It was Jesus’ *Father who wanted people to respect Jesus. Jesus did not ask for this for his own benefit. If people want to respect God, they must respect his Son, Jesus.

Verses 51-52 The crowd did not understand what Jesus meant. People who obeyed him would ‘never die’. This is what he was saying. But this did not mean that they would live on the earth in their same physical bodies always. It meant that their spirits would never die. Physical death is not the end. When we *believe in Jesus, he gives us *eternal life. This is a special kind of *life that continues after our death. But we will still die physically. However, in the end, Jesus will return to the earth. So the people who are alive at that time will not die physically.

Verse 53 For the *Jews, Abraham was the greatest person who ever lived on the earth. This was because God chose him to start the *Jewish nation. All *Jews were *descendants of Abraham and his family. Also the *Jews respected the *prophets greatly. But Jesus was making himself more important than Abraham and the *prophets. Jesus’ audience wanted to know who he (Jesus) was.

Verses 54-56 But Jesus did not tell them who he was immediately. Instead, he told them again that he was not saying these things about himself for his own benefit. But his *Father was saying these wonderful things about him. God himself was showing them that Jesus was greater than Abraham and all the *prophets.

However, the crowd did not even know their own God. But Jesus knew God and he obeyed God.

‘Your *father Abraham was really happy to see me’ (verse 56). God promised Abraham that he (God) would *bless all the people on the earth by means of Abraham’s family (Genesis 22:16-18). Jesus was Abraham’s *descendant. And Jesus *blessed all people because he offered *salvation to everybody. Abraham knew that God’s promise would happen in the future. Some *Jewish teachers believed that God had shown to Abraham the future, and the *Messiah, in a vision. (A vision is like a dream. But a person who sees a vision is still awake.) This vision made Abraham very happy.

Verses 57 Again, the *Jews did not understand what Jesus meant. Abraham had died 2000 years before Jesus was born. So the *Jews thought that it was impossible for Jesus to see Abraham.

Verses 58-59 This verse reminds us of John’s words at the beginning of his *Gospel (1:1). Jesus himself said that he has always existed. Also, he said that he was God. It is not possible to misunderstand Jesus’ words here. This is because Jesus actually used God’s most *holy name: ‘I am’ (see note on John 6:35).

Certainly, the crowd did not misunderstand Jesus. They understood clearly what he meant. That was why they became angry suddenly. Jesus was saying that he was God. But the *Jewish leaders did not believe him. So they thought that he was insulting God. This was a very bad crime in the *Law. The punishment was death (Leviticus 24:16). So they picked up stones. They intended to throw these stones at Jesus until he was dead. However, he escaped from them.

olive ~ a small bitter fruit. Olives are green or black. People make oil from the fruit.
temple ~ a building where people went to worship God. Jesus referred to his body as a temple. This was because God was living among people in his Son, Jesus.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews went to worship God.
worship ~ to give thanks and honour to God and Jesus. To show to him that we love him very much.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city of Israel. It was the place where Israel’s early kings ruled. Later, the kings of the southern kingdom called Judah ruled in Jerusalem.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
Israel ~ name of the land that God gave to Jacob (who is also called Israel) and his sons (Genesis chapter 35). Also refers to the Jews, the group of people whom God chose to belong to him in a special way.
kingdom ~ a place or country that a king rules. God’s kingdom is where God rules. God is the king of all Christians and all Christians are in his kingdom.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Pharisees ~ a group of Jews who thought that they obeyed all God’s commands.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
scribes ~ teachers of the Law.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
condemn ~ to decide that someone is guilty and that the guilty person should suffer punishment.
Jewish ~ the word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews. The ‘Jewish leaders’ were a group of important Jews who lived in Judah.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
Roman ~ a person from Rome. Rome was an important city. The Emperor and the government lived in Rome. Roman describes everything that belonged to Rome.
Emperor ~ the chief Roman ruler.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
execute ~ to kill a person legally because they are guilty of a crime.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Gospel ~ one of the 4 books at the beginning of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They record Jesus’ life.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
light ~ Natural light helps us to see physical things. But in John’s Gospel, the word ‘light’ also refers to that which helps us to see (understand) spiritual truths.
Gospel ~ one of the 4 books at the beginning of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They record Jesus’ life.
spiritual ~ something that belongs to the spirit rather than to physical things.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
life ~ the quality that a person has, because that person is alive. In John’s Gospel, it means to be completely alive in our spirits. When we *believe in Jesus, we receive this life as a special gift. When we have this life, we can live to please God. It is the best way to live.
Gospel ~ one of the 4 books at the beginning of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They record Jesus’ life.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
judge ~ to decide whether a person is guilty, usually in a court of law.
Father ~ God. Jesus taught us to call God ‘Father’. All Christians are God’s children.
father ~ someone whom a person respects and follows; an ancestor. The Jewish leaders said that Abraham was their father. But Jesus said that the devil was their father, instead!
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
ancestor ~ person in the past from whom one’s parents came.
Jewish ~ the word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews. The ‘Jewish leaders’ were a group of important Jews who lived in Judah.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
festival ~ when people meet together in public for a happy party to remember a special day or event.
exactly ~ completely right; completely the same; without any difference.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that someone has fixed together. Roman soldiers fixed people to crosses in order to kill those people as a punishment. Jesus died on a cross. The cross is now the sign of the Christian church.
Roman ~ a person from Rome. Rome was an important city. The Emperor and the government lived in Rome. Roman describes everything that belonged to Rome.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Emperor ~ the chief Roman ruler.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
prophet ~ a person who hears God’s words and tells them to other people. Some prophets wrote books in the Old Testament. Sometimes, they told about events before they happened.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the Jewish *scriptures. The writers wrote this before the birth of Jesus.
Jewish ~ the word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews. The ‘Jewish leaders’ were a group of important Jews who lived in Judah.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
spiritual ~ something that belongs to the spirit rather than to physical things.
resurrection ~ to come back to life after death.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah.
Greek ~ a person from Greece; the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ name for the special servant of God. It means the person whom God sent to save people from the results of their sins. Jesus is the Messiah.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
reject ~ not to accept or not to believe in someone or something.
disciple ~ a person who wants to do the same things as another person and to learn from them. Jesus had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples, too.
Baptist ~ a person who baptises people.

baptise/baptism ~ to put a person into water, or to put water on a person; it is to show that the person wants to obey God. Christians receive baptism as a sign that they want to follow Jesus.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or a nation.
Greek ~ a person from Greece; the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
miracle ~ wonderful works that only God can do by his power. A wonderful event that shows that a person’s message is from God.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
faith ~ to *believe in someone or something; to be really sure about the things of God and Jesus.
deceive ~ to tell lies. To make people believe something that is untrue.
Father ~ God. Jesus taught us to call God ‘Father’. All Christians are God’s children.
father ~ someone whom a person respects and follows; an ancestor. The Jewish leaders said that Abraham was their father. But Jesus said that the devil was their father, instead!
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
ancestor ~ person in the past from whom one’s parents came.
Jewish ~ the word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews. The ‘Jewish leaders’ were a group of important Jews who lived in Judah.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Samaritan ~ a person from Samaria.
Samaria ~ region between Galilee and Judea.
Galilee ~ an area and a large lake in northern Israel. The home area of Jesus and several of his disciples.
Judea ~ the country where the Jews lived. Judea is a Greek and Roman name for the southern kingdom that is also called Judah. It is the region south of Samaria. Jerusalem was in Judea.
Israel ~ name of the land that God gave to Jacob (who is also called Israel) and his sons (Genesis chapter 35). Also refers to the Jews, the group of people whom God chose to belong to him in a special way.
disciple ~ a person who wants to do the same things as another person and to learn from them. Jesus had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples, too.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
Greek ~ a person from Greece; the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.
Roman ~ a person from Rome. Rome was an important city. The Emperor and the government lived in Rome. Roman describes everything that belonged to Rome.
kingdom ~ a place or country that a king rules. God’s kingdom is where God rules. God is the king of all Christians and all Christians are in his kingdom.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city of Israel. It was the place where Israel’s early kings ruled. Later, the kings of the southern kingdom called Judah ruled in Jerusalem.
Baptist ~ a person who baptises people.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
Emperor ~ the chief Roman ruler.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

baptise/baptism ~ to put a person into water, or to put water on a person; it is to show that the person wants to obey God. Christians receive baptism as a sign that they want to follow Jesus.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Samaria ~ region between Galilee and Judea.
Galilee ~ an area and a large lake in northern Israel. The home area of Jesus and several of his disciples.
Judea ~ the country where the Jews lived. Judea is a Greek and Roman name for the southern kingdom that is also called Judah. It is the region south of Samaria. Jerusalem was in Judea.
Israel ~ name of the land that God gave to Jacob (who is also called Israel) and his sons (Genesis chapter 35). Also refers to the Jews, the group of people whom God chose to belong to him in a special way.
disciple ~ a person who wants to do the same things as another person and to learn from them. Jesus had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples, too.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
Greek ~ a person from Greece; the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.
Roman ~ a person from Rome. Rome was an important city. The Emperor and the government lived in Rome. Roman describes everything that belonged to Rome.
kingdom ~ a place or country that a king rules. God’s kingdom is where God rules. God is the king of all Christians and all Christians are in his kingdom.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city of Israel. It was the place where Israel’s early kings ruled. Later, the kings of the southern kingdom called Judah ruled in Jerusalem.
Baptist ~ a person who baptises people.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on the earth. It is about the things that Jesus did. And it is about the things that he taught. It is also about the church and what Christians should believe.
Emperor ~ the chief Roman ruler.
Christian ~ a person who *believes in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

baptise/baptism ~ to put a person into water, or to put water on a person; it is to show that the person wants to obey God. Christians receive baptism as a sign that they want to follow Jesus.
church ~ (1) All Christians everywhere. (2) The members of a local group of Christians.
Saviour ~ someone who will bring us back to God from the bad things that we have done. Jesus is the only person who can save us from the results of our sins. However, sometimes people used the word ‘Saviour’ as a title (name) for rulers or false gods.
Lord ~ the name for God or Jesus in the Bible. It means that he is above all other things.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
worship ~ to give thanks and honour to God and Jesus. To show to him that we love him very much.
sinless ~ without any sin.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Spirit ~ see Holy Spirit.
spirit ~ there are good spirits called angels. There are also evil spirits who work for the devil. They are alive but we cannot see them. Also, the spirit means the part of a person that continues to live after the death of the body.
holy ~ what God is like. God’s character: perfect, completely good with nothing bad in it. Separate from sin.
angel ~ God’s servant who takes messages from God to people on the earth. Angels live with God in heaven.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
bless ~ to say or to do good things for someone. To guard and to protect from evil things.
salvation ~ when God rescues us from the power and the results of our sins.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ name for the special servant of God. It means the person whom God sent to save people from the results of their sins. Jesus is the Messiah.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see the Book of Genesis); a person who follows the religion of the Jews.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.
holy ~ what God is like. God’s character: perfect, completely good with nothing bad in it. Separate from sin.
sin ~ not to obey God. Sins are the wrong things (or evil deeds) that we do against God and other people.