Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
c) Legalists bring an adulteress to Jesus for trial (John 8:1-11)
JOHN 8:1-6
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?” 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
The members of the Council departed in anger to their homes because Jesus had slipped from their hands. The crowds assumed that their leaders had allowed Jesus the freedom to speak in the temple. But these members persisted in spying on him to trap him. Jesus went out of the city walls at evening, crossing the Kidron valley.
Next day Jesus returned to the city center entering the crowded temple. He did not flee the capital at the end of the Feast of the Tabernacles but continued to circulate among his foes. The Pharisees acted in the capacity of a moral police force, specially as the feast was an occasion of merriment and wine-drinking. They got hold of a woman in adultery. It occurred to them to test Jesus with this case. Any leniency on his part would be seen by God and men as transgressing the traditions of the nation. But to insist on the legal penalty would prove his severity and lose him his popularity. His judgment on the woman would be a judgment on every man disgraced by moral blemishes. So they awaited his judgment anxiously.
JOHN 8:7-9a
7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9a They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, …
When the Pharisees accused the adulteress before Jesus he bent down and using his finger, wrote on the ground. But we do not know what he wrote, perhaps a new commandment in a word – Love.
The elders failed to see the reason for his "hesitation", not realizing that the judge of the world is patient and was to prick their consciences. They thought that they had entangled him in a mesh.
Jesus stood up and looked at them sorrowfully; it was a divine look, and his word was truth not to be denied. He said in "judgment", "He who is without sin among you, let him be first to cast a stone at her." Jesus had not altered a single clause of the law but was completing it. The adulteress deserved death; this Jesus conceded.
By his action Jesus judged the "pious" as well as the adulteress. So he challenged them to prove their innocence by casting the first stone. With this, he tore the masks of piety from their faces. No man is free of sin. We are all weak, tempted and failures. Before God there is no difference between a sinner and a pious hypocrite. For all have strayed and become corrupt. Whoever transgressed one commandment has broken the law in its entirety and deserves eternal perdition.
The elders and legalists were sacrificing animals in the temple to atone for their sins confessing thereby that they were sinners. Christ’s word touched their consciences. They had wished to arrest the Nazarene, but he it was who had uncovered their wickedness and judged them. At the same time he kept the law. The accusers bowed their heads, feeling they were in the presence of God’s Son, awed by his holiness.
The elders and their sympathizers departed, and the place was empty, Jesus alone staying behind.
JOHN 8:9b-11
9b even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
There stood the woman trembling. Jesus looked at her with mercy and fairness and asked, "Where are your accusers? Is no one here to judge you and condemn?" She felt that Jesus, the Holy One would not punish her, and yet he was the only person with the right to condemn her.
Jesus loves sinners; he came to seek the wanderers. He could not punish the sinful woman, but offer her his grace. For he bore our sin, ready to die for the world. He bore that woman’s judgment.
So he offers you total pardon since he died for you. Believe in his love so that he may free you from judgment. Accept his Spirit of forgiveness too, so that you may not judge others. Never forget that you also are a sinner, nor are you better than others. If another has committed adultery, are you not unclean yourself? If he has stolen, are you faithful? Judge not that you may not be judged. With the measure you mete out, it will be meted out to you. Why do you observe the speck in your brother’s eye, and ignore the beam in yours?
Jesus bade her not to fall back into the mistake from then on. God’s commandment to be pure is fixed and should not be softened. He led this woman longing for love to come back to God and confess her sin. She will thus receive the Holy Spirit from the blood of the Lamb. He did require something impossible from her, but gave her the power available to the broken-hearted; to live in holiness. Thus he bids you not to sin any more; he is ready to hear your heart’s confession.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, I am ashamed in your presence, for I am no better than the adulteress. Forgive me for judging or hurting others. Cleanse me from iniquity. I thank you for pardoning me. I praise you for your patience and mercy. Help me not to sin from now on. Strengthen my resolve and confirm me in purity. Lead me into a life of holiness.
QUESTION:
- Why did the accusers of the adulteress withdraw from Jesus’ presence?