The Triumph of Mercy
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ILLUST: Paying the water bill, for the lowliest of the lowly
ALL owe a debt
ALL are offered the payment
SOME will accept
BACKGROUND - The story
Jesus teaching in the temple, retreating to Mt. of Olives, back the next morning - people waiting for Him - He sits (authority)
Options of the offense
IF - engaged or betrothed and unfaithful - then stoning, both the man and the woman involved
IF - married, then death was punishment for both, but method is not stated
HERE - likely married, based on the word “woman” and “adultery”
SOME QUESTIONS
Where is the man in the story? Did he escape? Was this just a set-up? Is the husband among the accusers? Was she married or just engaged? What was the law stated, and how was the law in this day?
Clearly trying to entrap Jesus
And…stoning and this type of punishment was rare in this day, so as not to stir up Roman involvement
Plus, divorce by men was so easy then (kinda like now)
Mercy and Justice are presented as opposites, could not possibly perceive both
Their concern is not really this woman, but tripping up Jesus
Character of the Savior
Character of the Savior
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
From God describing Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7
1) The Reason for the Law
1) The Reason for the Law
Holiness - Leviticus theme
Distinct people
Trusting the LORD
Healthy life - physically and spiritually
To point to Christ - Tutor
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
God WANTS to pronounce people “not guilty”
MORE QUESTIONS (Top 5 of things I want to know)
(Fruit in Garden, what John is told in Rev., the thorn in Paul’s side, number of magi)
What did Jesus draw on the ground?
Doodling, writing the accusers’ errors, Jeremiah 17:13 reference, maybe Exodus 23:1,7 ?
Only after challenging them and writing a second time did they respond, and leave
The same Law they worship also showed them to be guilty
2) The Importance of Justice
2) The Importance of Justice
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
Justice tends to imply notion of guilt, penalty, consequence, punishment
Twofold aspect of Justice, or two scenarios
1 - Punish evil-doers
2 - Restore victims of injustice - as in “justice was served?”
This woman’s sin, if legitimate, demands her death, per the strict Law
Jesus steps in and offers repentance
He asks her two questions:
1 - “Where are your accusers?”
2 - “Has anyone condemned you?” (a negative judgment?)
“Neither do I.” - This is not an acquittal, or ignoring a wrong-doing
This is a point for her to begin to live, from that moment on, DIFFERENTLY
Guilty, yet declared innocent
Jesus does not excuse sin, He forgives it
Our sin demands our death (same as the accusers here in John 8)
Jesus stepped in and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice
We are frustrated by crimes demanding justice
Crimes demand punishment! Right?
Justice = “what is right”
It is perverted here, just to test Christ
“Who here would like to be judged? Well, judge yourself!”
They do
They leave
Did she commit adultery? Maybe, probably, not sure.
Justice would demand the male counterpart also is guilty
Justice would see her husband/betrothed as the accuser
They don’t want justice, using this woman like this
Their view of the Law was very light on Mercy
3) The Blessing of Mercy
3) The Blessing of Mercy
Repeat Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
If Jesus is God (and He is), then this verse speaks of Him
An infinite God can produce an infinite amount of grace
He is eager to forgive, delights in forgiveness
Jesus’ mercy, grace - for this woman
Jesus provides the opportunity for her to repent - she knows her guilt, unworthiness
She is guilty - no doubt
And…SHE IS FORGIVEN - settled
THAT IS MERCY
Accepting God’s mercy then involves a life lived for Him
“Go and sin no more”
Her life now belongs to Jesus, and should show that
JUSTICE vs MERCY
The Judge was right in front of her
The Judge was right in front of all of them
All sinners
All needing forgiveness
Jesus’ mercy, grace - for US
Not in spite of His justice
But because of His justice
And so His justice was satisfied, not violated
The payment has already been offered
Sin requires payment
Jesus pays, and forgives - do you accept that?
Payment by Jesus results in righteousness
NEW IDENTITY
Now your life is about Him
LAW - Love God, then love others (already assumed you love yourself)
ASIDE - Forget this “gotta love yourself before you can love others…YOU HAVE TO LOVE GOD before you can love others
The Judge will call us all before Him
Has he forgiven you? Have you asked? What are you waiting for?
CLOSING POINTS
Sin is serious to God
NOTE, JESUS NEVER SAYS:
“It’s OK, you live any way you want”
“These people shouldn’t be judging you”
“We all have faults, it’s OK”
He DOES say - “I have the power to forgive you, will you accept that? Will you accept that and from today, live for ME?”
She did not deserve mercy - you?
She did nothing to warrant Jesus’ mercy - you?
Encountering Jesus
Demands the transformed life - not an option
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Recall in John 5, the paralytic healed, and told the same, go and sin no more - along with the warning concerning a life of unrepentant sin
Sin is never treated lightly by Jesus - AND sinners are always offered opportunity to start fresh
POINT - this woman was at a low point
No need to wait to get really low to cry out to Jesus and decide to follow Him
No matter what you’ve done, who you think you are because of….
Jesus says you can be, you ARE forgiven, if you want to be
NEED A LIFE THEME? Here it is - 5 Points of Recognition
Recognize your sin
Recognize Jesus’ forgiving spirit
Recognize that Jesus’ grace demands the transformed life
Recognize what He saves you FROM
Then Recognize the life you should be living for Him