Unexpected Grace

Setting

Bible Passage: John 8:1-11

Summary: The passage tells the story of the woman caught in adultery and how Jesus showed unexpected grace and forgiveness towards her.

Application: This passage reminds us that we are all sinners in need of grace and forgiveness. It challenges us to show grace and love to others, even when they don't deserve it.

How this passage points to Christ: This passage showcases Jesus as the embodiment of grace and forgiveness, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies of a Savior who would bring mercy and redemption.

Big Idea: Through the story of the woman caught in adultery, we see that Jesus extends unexpected grace to all who come to Him, challenging us to do the same for others.

John 8:1–11 NIV

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

1. Condemnation to Compassion

John 8:1–3 NIV

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group

You could start by setting the scene of the woman caught in adultery, emphasizing the tension and the public shaming she faced. This introduces the concept of unexpected grace by showing her in a position where societal norms would not anticipate forgiveness or kindness. Highlight how Jesus’ response contrasts sharply with the crowd's expectations, symbolizing the grace that Christ offers us despite our sins.

We see Jesus being brought this woman, accused of a “grave sin”

She sit brought before him, making her stand there in her shame.

Put yourself in the place of the woman.

You have done this awful thing, now here you are, brought before men, in a mob type setting.

You are scared, unsure of what is to happen, knowing what the law says.

In moments when guilt creeps into your home life, perhaps after a heated argument with your spouse or children, remember that Jesus' grace covers all your mistakes. Set aside time each evening for family grace sessions—where everyone shares a moment of failure from the day and then speaks a word of grace to one another, reinforcing the truth that God forgives whole-heartedly. This practice can turn home into a sanctuary of love, replacing condemnation with encouragement.

2. Casting Stones or Casting Love

John 8:4–7 NIV

and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Perhaps focus on Jesus’ initial response to the accusers, showcasing His wisdom and challenge to their self-righteousness. This moment exemplifies the way Jesus calls us to reflect on our own sinfulness before judging others. By urging those without sin to cast the first stone, Jesus emphasizes the universality of sin and the necessity for grace, which mirrors the grace He extends to us all.

The charge is laid out before Jesus

This was nothing more than a trap for Christ

The OT in Leviticus and Deuteronomy lays out the punishment for adultery.

This was nothing small, as the word Adultery is explicitly used here

2 threats exist for Christ

1. He speaks against the law

2. He creates a mob under Roman rule and it turned over to them.

How does he respond?

He without sin cast the first stone

Normally the first stones are cast by the witnesses, Jesus makes it personal.

Imagine the woman once again, she hears all of this, she knows whats coming, death is coming for her. They bring her to this man, and the answer he gives is unlike anything she could ever expect.

He stands in for her

Now, we see Jesus writing in the dirt, what could he have been writing? We don't know, some believe he may have been writing out the law, others believe he may have been writing out the sins of them men in front of him, as was customary when charges would be read at the time.

The woman is there, surrounded, hearing this and as she expects stones, she receives love.

3. Grace and New Beginnings

John 8:8–11 NIV

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Maybe conclude with Jesus’ direct interaction with the woman, where He neither condemns her nor disregards her sin. This highlights the personal nature of Jesus’ grace that acknowledges our faults but offers forgiveness and a call to transformation. It can inspire the audience to embrace grace personally and extend it to others, just as Jesus demonstrates grace that is both redemptive and transformative.

The men leave one by one

Jesus asks her one question, and commands her to go forward in life and leave the sin behind.

She recieved grace, unexpected grace

Her life was over, she was to be put to death, or marked with the scarlet letter forever

Christ stood in for her

We have all been that woman

Sadly we too have been those men

When you reach down to grab stones, remember that you were once that woman

When we didn't deserve grace, He gave it. He commands us to show it the same.

Story of the good judge.

You are arrested for committing a heinous crime, and you are guilty, every bit of evidence points right to you, your fingerprints, they have you on tape, 100% guilty.

You go through the trial, and at the end the judge reads the verdict, Guilty, sentenced to death.

Fear comes over you, and at that moment you see something strange. The judge gets up, walks down to where you are, takes off his robe and places his hands out to be cuffed telling you he will go in your place. Now you can accept his offer, or you can reject it.

That is the unexpected, undeserved Grace of God.

Conclusion

Do not throw stones, but show Grace. Pray for those struggling, and ask forgiveness from those who you have thrown stones at. Can you imagine the impact it would make if you walked up to someone, someone you have done wrong, talked about, maybe even shown hatred towards. And instead of hurling more insults, you asked them for grace? Or if you were to stand up for someone who needs it. That’s the point today. Jesus is the judge, and while we are called to correct others, we have to do it with the right heart. The men who brought the woman, they were deceitful, using her to try and trap Christ, they weren't coming forward in correction, but stiff condemnation. SO yea, we are to correct, but we should never do that from a place of hate or disdain.

Are you the men today? Are you the woman? Are you willing to be like Christ?