(Read John 8:1-11)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” I mentioned this passage in yesterday’s message, but let’s deal with it today.
John 8 opens with Jesus returning to the Mount of Olives. Early the next morning Jesus returned to the Temple. Before long a crowd gathered and Jesus took the opportunity to teach them. As Jesus was speaking the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. These men were upset at the success of Jesus’ ministry and they were looking for a reason to stop it. They put the woman in front of the crowd and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They wanted Jesus to contradict the law of Moses so they could accuse him of blasphemy. It’s sad that they were so insecure with their own calling that they had to attempt to bring down someone else who was successfully walking in His calling. This is an example of the graceless religion that often permeates through our churches today. These men were so consumed with jealousy and pride that they were willing to expose and embarrass a woman who had made a mistake, as if they were perfect. They mentioned nothing about the man (or men) involved in the act. They mentioned nothing about their own flaws and imperfections. They mentioned nothing about love, grace, forgiveness or mercy. No, they were graceless and heartless. Unfortunately, the spirit these men operated in is not foreign to the church today. That’s why we need to learn of and develop in God’s grace.
Instead of answering the men Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. We don’t know what he wrote, but we know the religious leaders were running out of patience. They kept demanding an answer, so Jesus stood up and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” With that, Jesus stooped down again and continued to write on the ground.
Jesus was not saying that the woman was not guilty, because she clearly was. Jesus was not saying that what she did was not a sin, because it most certainly is. But what Jesus was saying was that everyone in the crowd (the Pharisees and teachers of the Law included) were as guilty as she was. They might not have committed adultery, but they were sinners nonetheless. They might have considered themselves better, but before God they were still in need of grace. So every person in the crowd, as they began to internalize their own faults and flaws, walked away one by one. The graceless atmosphere turned to a grace-filled one as Jesus looked at the woman and asked, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. So Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” To be clear, it is not that she did not deserve punishment, because if she were not guilty then she would not need grace. No, this woman was clearly wrong, she violated a law that was cut-and-dry, and Jesus extended a grace that she did not deserve. Guess what? He did the same for you!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. We are all as guilty as the woman in the text. Our sin might not be adultery and our trial might not be public, but we are guilty nonetheless and we deserve punishment.
2. The same grace that was extended to the woman in this text is extended to us. Not that we deserve it, because we don’t, but then again, if we deserved it, it would not be grace.
3. Don’t be like the Pharisees in the text (judgmental, condemning and prideful), be like Jesus in the text (loving, compassionate and full of grace). Forgiven people forgive people.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this Word. I could never deserve what You have done for me. You loved me while I ignored You. Your Son died for humanity, when we had nothing to do with You. You overlooked my faults and flaws. You acknowledged the fact that I was wrong, but You accepted me as Your own anyway, because of what Jesus did on Calvary’s cross. I will forever be thankful for what You have done for me and I will never cease to give You the glory. As a forgiven person I forgive others. As a recipient of grace I become a conduit of it. You did not look down on me so I refuse to look down on others. If I believe I am saved – and I know how messed up I am – then I will never be judgmental towards others. Instead, I will be an ambassador of Your grace everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
