Likely after spending the night in Bethany at Lazarus' home, Jesus returns to the Temple the following morning after the Solemn Day of 7:37, thus (10/23/29?).

From the many possible events he could have selected for his writing, John has chosen to bring together Jesus with our 2 representative extremes introduced in Chs.3 & 4 -- the most self-righteous Pharisee and the overtly sinful adulterous woman (this time different ones). The former's sin is unseen, the latter's self-evident (she was caught in the act). One is unwilling to confess, the other freely receiving Christ's forgiveness. It is possible here that these Elders were guilty of the very sin they were charging this woman of committing, else how were they able to have such close contact for personal discovery of a sinful one?

Jesus is aware of their conspiracy in at least two obvious ways:

Indicated in their sentence and desire for her stoning according to Mosaic Law are 2 possibilities for this woman's identity that further support the argument for one of their own's guilt:

If neither of the above were true, then they were acting in haste and in violation of their own law. Only the above subjects were commanded to be stoned in such cases, all others simply put to death.

Another indication of their conspiracy was the fact that they brought her into the Temple specifically for this confrontation with Jesus. This was not the site of such judgments; their Council quarters were immediately next door to the Temple. It was there she should have been taken (along with her partner in this sin), as Jesus will later be taken by them after His arrest (and all others suspected in violation of Jewish Law). What hypocrites!

His wisdom confounds them. They knew they had been exposed! Further words would have been pointless, and may have focused His Light directly upon each of them, and, possibly, the guilty one. They could not take that chance. All silently slipped away, beginning with the wiser (older).

A major truth needs to be said here. It is one that should stand above all else when putting forth the Gospel of Christ. And it is for the one who wishes to be set free from the guilt of their own sin and the fear from their misperception of God's displeasure and attitude of poised punishment for their slightest infraction of His Natural, Civil, Ethical, Moral, and Spiritual Laws.

In this case, it was from the rigidity of a Law without mercy. But for others, it may be an aberrant life of sin, a judgmental attitude, a moral bad habit, a lying spirit, a domineering personality, an addiction to a drug, a criminal way of life, or a fear of something. Learn this: God is not an insecure parental figure hovering over His little creatures, just waiting to pounce upon them at the slightest evidence of flawed human nature, but "is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." To all these chains (and whatever yours may be), Christ has the key. If all could just see the open arms and forgiving expression on His face as He looks into the eyes of any one "caught in the act," that spirit and fear of His rejection would vanish in one breath, permitting their own spirits to soar in their new found freedom. This is what is meant when He said that He came to loose the captives -- to set men free! No, if you have committed a crime and are presently paying its penalty, you will not be released until your debt to society is paid. But, there are no bars, walls, fences, guards, wardens, or hostile cell-mates who can restrict the flight of your spirit in its daily adventure into the Heavenlies, high above the fraction of time the body is now restrained within, even in solitaire. Or, it may just be from the prison of your own living room, bedroom, or place of work. Dare to be set free!

We must continue. As mentioned in our previous study, another major event that occurred each day (in the evening) during the Feast of Tabernacles was the lighting of 8 immense lamps (4 each atop 2 tall lampstands), that not only illuminated the Temple but cast their light far out into the city. Much singing, dancing, and celebration occurred throughout the night. As with the previous ritual of the water, Jesus likely used this occasion with these enormous lights, still vivid in the minds of the celebrants, for His appeal on the day following their last night's use, the one following that Great Solemn Day when the people were still within the city. He declares Himself to be that Eternal Light which neither dims nor ever is extinguished ( 3:19-21).

Using the two indelibly familiar experiences of the people (the water & light), Jesus has shown that He is the Living Water who gives Life Eternal ( 7:37-38), and now The Light which leads the way from men's darkness to His Heavenly Father ( 8:12). It should be clear to the crowd. With these two most recent illustrations, how much plainer could He have put it?
He is all men's hopes!

The still unbelieving Pharisees now demand an additional witness other than Himself (Jewish law required confirmation of two witnesses of cases in question). Having learned the 7 authorized witnesses to Him, let us consider for a moment where these Pharisees stood in relation to them.
( Deu.19:15, 1:26.)

There is no other witness to come for man's benefit beyond Him (the Holy Spirit), and we have record of His coming (at Pentecost) and its results (the fire of Christianity that yet alters the course of secular history and world civilizations). Any witness who arises after Him, the 7th and final Who came, is false. He is called by Him, an antichrist -- one who comes after Him who is not genuine. And just as sure as He was sent as a Witness to men and for His work of convicting men of their own sins and the authenticity of Christ as their hope, who now restrains the evil of men in a hostile world, He, likewise, will be removed when this Work is done. At that time and in that vacuum of unrestrained sin (advanced evil), a final and ultimate false one will appear and win to himself the masses of superficially impressionable ones who resist Light and deny Truth. This will set the stage for the final conflict between evil and good. Already men have attempted this down through the centuries, and although they may claim large numbers of the masses, what they offer their followers is a false hope and demand and enforce blind obedience to their new religions. (Study: Lk.17:22-37, key vs.26; Gen.6:1-8, key vs.5; II Th.2:7-8; & Mt.24:3-28, key vs.22.)

It is Absolute Truth, Truth that does not attempt to disguise itself for acceptance, Truth that is not afraid of the light of day and that is spoken to its fullest in open courts, that frees men from the control of others, allowing only Christ as its Master and Head. As a result, cooperation is the byproduct of His Spirit who joins men free to choose a union for like-identification and achievement of common goals -- all equally originating from the basis of His One Commandment carried out in His Great Commission. This is what He taught, and we are charged to continue; and as receiving Him, it is by man's own choice he freely does so. When this is accomplished and men are set free, hope springs eternal and their hearts are overjoyed in the unparalleled Good News, causing a gratitude toward its bearer unreflected in any other.
( Mt.28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Rom.10:15, Acts 3:8.)

Study history. Only under Judeo-Christianity, when it is preached and practiced as Christ intends -- to set at liberty the captives, to free men's souls, to heal the bruised and downtrodden, etc. -- do nations flourish and all their people are permitted to live in unparalleled individual freedom. It is precisely this case in America that has produced this democracy for men's souls that it is still viewed as the beacon that draws millions more each year. However, this very freedom is being threatened in America by some of the very ones who have come to its shores for protection, while importing and imposing their own brands of religious oppression. When men (or governments) arise and attempt to rule others under the cloak of religion, or what they as an elite may think is best for the masses, it is precisely then that the individual and social freedom men have enjoyed under the liberty of a co-operative union produced from unshackled souls comes into jeopardy. All other religions (and governments) seek to enslave men to their regimes, doctrines, practices, and laws, some who even offer edicts or contracts against the life of one whose discordant voice may have caused him temporary or permanent loss of favor among his own ranks. Furthermore, militant (or political) reaction will never recapture that climate of freedom and spirit of cooperation that is initially produced when men's hearts are freed in the freedom only Christ can offer. Never once did He (nor does He still) win anyone to Him through psychological persuasion, physical coercion, or lawful mandation.

People and their societies have not changed. There will always be those, who through their desire for power, will seek to enslave those about them, whether in government, religion, at work, or even in the home. These are the captors of men's souls that Christ came to break the chains of, as it was even in the case of His own Judaism as it existed in His day. This is what makes His message relevant to all the peoples of any land in any day, not what a modern preacher may do to "keep up with the times" in order to appeal to the popular culture or current whims, typically marrying His message to the theatrical in the name of making Him relevant -- Jesus Christ, Superstar! Nor a political leader who offers the king?s table to all citizens just to remain in power and popularity.

One might ask: Why does He even bother with these blind religio-authorities of His day? Why does He bother, you ask? Let the Spirit speak Himself here to your own heart His reasons. Think on these things as He goes into great length to teach these seemingly unworthy ones. Just remember: Jesus never wastes His time, nor His words, neither in His actions or conversation. Both have their purposes; it may be that we just don't see them at that moment. Let us observe Him now and you draw your own conclusions.