This text is one of the most famous in John’s gospel. The story is both ugly and beautiful. It shows us the dark, twisted nature of spiritual pride and hypocrisy, but it also shows us the glory of God’s grace through Jesus.
The big idea is that performance religion condemns us, but Jesus is the saving refuge for humiliated sinners. Through the text, we’ll see that performance religion is impossible, that Jesus is our refuge and how, and that real change is possible through Jesus.
We finish with three implications to work this out personally and within the church.
John 7:53-8:11; Galatians 3:23; Romans 3:21-26
