NO STONE TO BIG TO BE PUT DOWN

John 8:1–11 (ESV)

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

One of the more dramatic passages in Johns Gospel:

A group of Pharisees and Scribes, The Teachers of the Law, with great aplomb, present Jesus with a challenge of defending the Law.

Quite literally throwing a woman at Jesus’ feet with the accusation of her being an adulteress.

The Pharisees and Scribes were two groups of religious leaders that had a shared interest of Teaching the Law and defending the Law against false teachers.

That being said, there are many issues with this scenario to discuss.

They were clear this woman was “Caught in the act of adultery”

And this is where the problems begin.

The Jewish Law required the witness of 2 people as eyewitnesses to the act being committed… Because the two witnesses testimony had to match, it nearly required that a trap be set for the two witnesses to see the same thing at the same time.

The Law also required that if a person observed another person ABOUT to commit a sin- Compassion must be applied to intervene and attempt to stop the sin from occurring. (This is obviously not the case here)

The fact is, that the two witnesses here, stood by and watched as the adulteress act was committed. (The intent here was to NOT apply compassion, but rather, JUDGEMENT.)

And not on the woman, but instead, JUDGEMENT on Jesus.

This woman was merely a pawn in the Pharisees plan to entrap Jesus.

Based on the Law, we can assume that the woman was betrothed to another man. (Something akin to the modern engagement period, but in 1st century culture, a much deeper commitment to the relationship)

We know this because the Pharisees pronounced her punishment as needing to be stoned to death. (Deut 22.23-24)

The actual requirement was for both the man and the woman, engaged in the adultery be stoned to death.

However, the Pharisees only present the woman to Jesus as the “adulterous” one.

Either this was a intentionally set trap, which violated the laws of compassion, or...

The Pharisees had, either deliberately or neglectfully allowed the other man to escape judgement. ( A serious breech of obedience to the Law they worked so hard to defend.)

As stated previously, the Pharisees had not intention of doing justice to the alleged crime. They simply wanted to entrap Jesus in a quandary He could not solve without violating the Law of Moses in some manner.

We have the setup in the first three verses:

As the Pharisees present their case to Jesus and demand a summary judgement from Him.

It need to be understood that much of what the Pharisees, Priests and Scribes of the time considered the Law was really the Mishnah. The oral traditions of the Elders that was the accepted Law of the Land.

The Oral traditions went far beyond what Moses received from God as the Ten Commandments.

They had been expanded numerous times throughout history. So much so that Jesus went so far as to say that the Law had become a millstone around the neck of the average Jew of that time.

Although Jesus never once violated the Law of Moses… He spoke out continually against the oral traditions.

This fact is encapsulated in this event.

While the Law of Moses did have harsh punishments for sins committed- It also insisted on exercising compassion in all areas of daily life.

The Pharisees and Scribes had not intention of being compassionate, they where out for blood and didnt care who they had to humiliate to get it.

In verses 4-6, Jesus knows well the hate and contempt that is in their hearts. Their charges are ripe with hypocrisy and outright deception.

Whether the charges were valid or not- The vitriol and disregard for compassion invalidates their claim.

This woman is now caught up in a storm, not of her own making, and has absolutely no control over the coming events. (I can think of no feeling worse that the total helplessness and hopelessness that she must have been feeling)

What Jesus writes in the dirt has been the subject of much conjecture…And the fact is, since it was not recorded then- We will never know for sure.

In verse 7, Jesus changes the narrative completely...

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Deut 13 and Deut 17 both demand that the witness that brings the charge and success accusation must be the ones that cast the first stone.

The ancient world was not much different than our own culture, where woman pay an unfairly heavy price for sins that take both men and women to participate in.

The most reasonable explanation is that Jesus was just pointing out these men’s own sins- And to the direct point of their own sexual sins.

All of it highlighting the hypocrisy of the accusation.

In verse 8-9:

And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

As Jesus continues to write, the phrase John uses suggest the leaving of one of the Pharisees, followed shortly after by the rest of the crowd

What started as an aggressive confrontation, complete with a rowdy raucous crowd has now dwindled down to just a disheveled, embarrassed and disgraced woman.... And Jesus.

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

In the biblical narrative, the prodigal son embodies the essence of forgiveness and redemption.

Despite squandering his inheritance, he was welcomed back by his father with open arms. This story highlights the heart of God, who eagerly forgives and restores those who repent.

It serves as a reminder that no matter how far we stray, redemption is always within reach when we turn back to the Lord.

One thing to bear in mind here- Jesus does not, in any way, give any hint of the innocence of this woman.

It is often lost in the bigger picture, that this woman WAS probably guilty of the accusations levied against her.

It was the means, agenda and execution of the judgement that Jesus took issue with.

The greatest act of compassion by God, through our Lord and Saviour will always be that sin of any kind is not treated lightly...

The compassion comes in the fact that all sinners (Thats everyone of us),

have a standing offer from God, through Jesus Christ to start life anew.

Forgiven and with no condemnation for our sordid past lives.

Jesus not only refuses to condemn her, forgiving her of her sins, but also offers her a new way of living, “GO and sin no more”

Releasing her of her past and inspiring her to a future life of holiness.

Consider the life of John Newton, a former slave trader who found redemption through Christ. His conversion led him to become an Anglican minister and abolitionist, famously penning the hymn "Amazing Grace."

Newton’s experience of forgiveness illustrates the profound change that can occur when one encounters the grace of God. His story emphasizes that no sin is too great for God's mercy, resonating with anyone struggling with past mistakes.

Forgiveness is vividly illustrated in the life of Peter, who denied Christ three times yet became a cornerstone of the early church.

After his resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, asking him three times if he loved Him, Charging Peter with a new mission,

To Feed His Lambs- The new Christian Believers to come

To Care for My sheep- The Christian church made up of these new believers

To Feed His Sheep- Mentor and lead the new believers as they grow in faith and understanding

This powerful encounter underscores the theme of redemption, revealing that even when we fail, God’s desire to forgive and restore us remains unchanging.

Just as in the Lords Prayer, we are to forgive others as God has forgiven us...

That forgiveness should have a transforming effect on all parties involved…But especially on us- Physically and Spiritually.

Lack of forgiveness can plant the seed of bitterness in us and cause all sorts of physical and emotional ailments.

Lack of forgiveness will stunt our Spiritual growth and damage our relationship with God.

The act of forgiveness to each other frees both the forgiver and the forgiven-

Which is the very essence of the Love and Mercy exhibited by Jesus.

Both here in this passage and in His ultimate act of forgiveness on the cross for all humanity.

One final thought- Is there someone in your life you need to forgive?

Dont hesitate- Do it now. Even if that person is no longer living…Confess it to God…He already knows about it anyway.

God is always faithful to forgive us of our sins.