Uninvited and clearly with impure motives, in came some ‘church folks’. And they only seemed interested in the woman who was ‘caught in the very act’. (John 8:4). Who knows how dis-shelved she must have looked, and whether she had few, if any clothes about her. I’m guessing they got something wrapped about her though...clearly they had to have some dignity and principals by which they lived.
And what a noble group of church folks they were as they drug her to church. It was early morning and off to the temple they went. Oddly, the man was not brought with them, just the woman. That is what we clearly read there in John 8. You know the story...the woman who was caught in the ‘very act’ of adultery and brought before Jesus.
Jesus was in the temple that morning, teaching. It’s never a bad idea to go hear what Jesus has to say. So these scribes and Pharisees, questionably concerned about this woman’s soul (but not the man’s?) drag her to Jesus. Hmmm...that does have an odd sound to it, given we are to ‘lead people to Jesus’...not ‘drag them to Him’. (My bible actually uses the word ‘brought’ her to Him but I don’t get the impression she was leading the procession beating on a tambourine singing praise songs.)
That really had to have been quite the scene. An interruption we don’t see often in our church services I would imagine. I can picture a small crowd gathering around with the woman lying on the floor buried in her shame...with no place to run.
Can I just tell you now...that for whatever reason...you may find yourself at the feet of Jesus...you need not run anywhere else for there is no better place to be, regardless of the reason as to how or why you ended up there.
The charges against this woman are read and citing the law of Moses, these men, who we are told were ‘testing Jesus’ (6) want to know what He has to say about it. The law did indeed read that stoning was the punishment for such a sin (Lev. 20:10) but funny how they missed the part that both parties involved were to be stoned. Where was the man?
Jesus says nothing but stoops down and begins to write on the ground with His finger, apparently ignoring these religious men demanding justice be carried out.
They continue pressing Him for a response. We have no idea what Jesus was ‘writing with His finger’ and speculating on what He might have written is just that - speculating. But what we do know is that Jesus stands back up and addresses them.
Now here’s the shocker...Jesus agrees with them, or, I should say He agrees with the law and its writing. Remember, Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17) And He is in agreement with the sentence of stoning. I mean, when did God change? “If you eat off this tree, you will surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) “The soul that sins shall die.” (Ezek. 18:20) ‘’The wages of sin is death”. (Rom. 6:23) And, “If you live according to the flesh you will die.” (Rom. 8:13) Seems rather clear and consistent.
Jesus is not disagreeing with the law at all. In fact, you can almost picture Jesus looking around to help gather up stones and is ready to commence carrying out the sentence.
Then comes the curve ball. Jesus always had a ‘mean curve ball’ when facing ‘religious batters’.
“Whoever among you here that is without sin...you cast the first stone.” (7)
You probably could have heard a pin drop. Talk about clearing out a church building. One by one, we are told the crowd, being convicted of by their conscience, went out. There stood the woman now in front of Jesus, who had stooped back down to resume his ‘doodling’. It really is unclear as to how many people are left but we read where He stands back up and ‘saw no one but the woman’. (10). It is possible to be in a crowd and see ‘no one but that one person’, figuratively speaking of course.
Jesus then looks at her and ask, “Woman...where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
She responds: “No one, Lord.” (11)
“Then neither will I condemn you”, says Jesus. (11)
James, the brother of Jesus would later write in his letter...”for judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (2:13). I cannot help but wonder if Psalm 85:10 was on his mind when he penned that line. It reads: “Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed.”
This has to arguably be one of the most moving scenes in the NT.
But the conversation does not end there. I want to be cautious here and not try to ‘add words’ to what Jesus says next to her, and then to ‘them’ who apparently were close by. (12). But in a sense, Jesus is telling her...’You are free to go. Case dismissed’.’ Those words are not recorded and I don’t think I’m taking excessive liberty here to imply what is being said but what is recorded for us to read is this: “Go...and sin no more.”, He tells her. (11)
This was not the first time we hear/read where Jesus said such a thing. In John 5:14 He spoke this same statement to a man whom had been healed after many years of being unable to walk. Funny...this exchange also took place in the temple when Jesus told this man to ‘go and sin no more, lest something worse come upon you.”
I cannot help but to point out what we don’t read Jesus saying here...as in He did not tell them to ‘go and try harder to do better and sin less’. His words are clear and decisive. Sin. No. More.
Now modern theology would have us believe that He did not really mean that given it is impossible for us to do...’sin no more’. I mean, really...”Hath God really said?” (Gen. 3:1)
But that is what we read He declared. I’m sticking with that. And wait...there’s more. (Back to our story of the woman in John 8). We read that Jesus spoke to them again...(so not everyone had left)...”I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (12)
Did Jesus say those who ‘believe’ in Him or did He say those who “follow” Him will not walk in darkness? I don’t want to split hairs here, but I lean in the direction that there is a distinct difference between those two words and their meaning. When we follow Him, we will walk in the light as He is in the light. (1 John 2:7). Which means we won’t continue to sin because He has set us free from sin so that we can ‘go and sin no more’. (John 8:34-36) That is what it means to abide in Him. (1 John 3:6). We will walk just like He walked. (1 John 2:6)
It's hard though to wrap your head around such truth when you remain in darkness. John opened up his gospel writing “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (1:5). But when the light of His truth is revealed to us, regardless of the circumstances that bring it about, we have a choice to make. We are going to ‘take up our bed’ and walk and follow Him, because that is what rescued sheep do. (John 10:27). Or we chose to abide in darkness. That happens as well.
Yesterday, I spoke about how those hidden things that remain in our hearts are known by God, no matter how well hid you think they are. God sees and knows everything about us. I even suggested that there were some things we might actually love more....than Him. This should come as no surprise because even Jesus said that despite the light He brings, many will not come to the light because they love the darkness and their evil deeds more. (John 3:17-21). Go read that text again and make sure it is underlined.
It still is our choice as to what we will do when confronted with our sin. We can experience the same grace and mercy this woman received even in spite of the harsh manner in which she found herself at the feet of Jesus. But remember, Our sin brings death and if we continue in it, we shall...surely die. (Rom. 8:13; Acts 3:22-23; Luke 13:1-5). There is no escaping the penalty of sin. But we can escape the bondage of sin and its hold on us, and thereby experience true life.
How then...shall we neglect so great a salvation that only Jesus can provide? (Heb. 2:3)
What are You waiting for?
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