Friends Church Sermons

This morning we come to a difficult passage in the book of John. It is difficult not because of its content so much as because of its placement. Most modern translations have this passage set apart by brackets or italics. This passage is not found in the most ancient manuscripts of the book of John at least not in this place. It isn’t until around the 3rd century that this passage ends up here in this spot. Some earlier manuscripts place it as an appendix to chapter 7 others at the end of the Gospel. There is little skepticism about its authenticity or its historic nature but the placement here has come under much deserved scrutiny. Because of that, I want to address this passage inside its own context and apart from the story that John is telling. So this morning we step into a private encounter and in fact a Kingdom encounter with Jesus.