Notes:

1. This episode was not originally in John's Gospel, since it is not found in the best and oldest manuscripts of John.
2. It is included in other places in some ancient biblical manuscripts (e.g., after Luke 21:38 or 24:53; or after John 7:36 or 21:25).
3. It was later inserted here, probably to illustrate the themes of John 8:15-16 (others judge by appearances; but Jesus does not condemn)
4. John 8:12-20 makes good sense following right after 7:45-52. A connection between Galilee and "light" may also be based on Isa 9:1-2.
5. Much of this story's vocabulary and theology are not typically Johannine, but closer to the Synoptics; for example:
   the Mount of Olives, scribes, elders, adultery, "stood [her] in the midst," etc., are not found elsewhere in John, but often in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Memorable Features:

1. The woman alone is caught and accused of adultery (vv. 3-4); but where is the man with whom she was found? Lev 20:10 and Deut 22:22 require both be put to death.
2. The "scribes and Pharisees" ask Jesus for his opinion, trying to "test" him, or trap him, and accuse him of going against the Law of Moses (vv. 5-6a).
3. Jesus writes on the ground (vv. 6b, 8), leading to much speculation: was he just doodling? or what words did he write? each person's sins? some biblical quotations?
4. Jesus then challenges the accusers, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (v. 7)
5. They all leave, one by one, beginning with the elders, until Jesus is left alone with the woman. (v. 9)
6. Then Jesus dismisses the woman with a gentle admonishment: "Has no one condemned you?"... "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." (vv. 10b, 11b; cf. 5:14)

A: Jesus Disputes with some Pharisees, about himself and the Father (vv. 12-20)

• Narrator: Jesus spoke to them again... (v. 12a)

• Jesus: "I am the light of the world. [cf. 9:5] Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (v. 12b)

• Pharisees: "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." (v. 13)

• Jesus: "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. /
  You judge by human standards; I judge no one. / Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. /
  In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. [cf. Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; 19:5] / I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." (vv.14-18)

• They: "Where is your father?"(v. 19a)

• Jesus: "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (v. 19b)

• Narrator's Summary: He spoke while teaching in the temple treasury; no one arrested him, for his hour had not yet come (v. 20; cf. 7:30)

 
B: Jesus Disputes with some Jewish Authorities, bringing some to Believe in Him (vv. 21-30)

• Jesus: "I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." (v. 21; cf. 7:33-36)

• The Jews: "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" (v. 22)

• Jesus: "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. /
  I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I AM [he]." (vv. 23-24)

• They: "Who are you?" (v. 25a)

• Jesus: "Why do I speak to you at all? / I have much to say about you and much to condemn;
  but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." (vv. 25b-26)

• Narrator: They didn't understand that he was speaking about the Father. (v. 27)

• Jesus: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man [cf. 3:14; 12:32, 34], then you will realize that I AM [he], and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. /
  And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." (vv. 28-29)

• Narrator's Interim Conclusion: As he was saying these things, many came to believe in him. (v. 30)

Jesus and Abraham (8:31-59)

• Jesus continues to challenge "those Jews who believed in him" (8:31-47)
  • Narrator's Introduction (8:31a)
  • Truth & Freedom
    • Jesus: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; / and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (8:31b-32)
    • They: (8:33)
    • Jesus: (8:34-38)
  • Children of Abraham
    • They: (8:39a)
  • Jesus: (8:39b-41a)
  • Children of the Devil
    • They: (8:41b)
    • Jesus: (8:42-47)
       
• "The Jews" reject Jesus' invitation to become Children of God (8:48-59)
  • Glory of the Father
    • The Jews: (8:48)
    • Jesus: (8:49-51)
  • Death & Life
    • The Jews: (8:52-53)
    • Jesus: (8:54-56)
  • Rejection of the "I Am"
    • The Jews: (8:57)
    • Jesus: "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." (8:58)
  • Narrator's Conclusion: They tried to stone him; but Jesus hid and left the temple. (v. 59)
     

Note: Most of this section is intentionally left in outline form, so that you can do your own analysis, similar to what you see above.