Mercy > Judgment— John 8:1-11

Introduction

Good Morning Church, would you go to the Lord in prayer with me?

Alright, 2nd—5th graders you guys are free to dismiss. And as a reminder, parents you can pick those children up at the Wetlands Building, and if you need any help finding where that is, don’t hesitate to ask someone with a lanyard.

If you’re new with us, welcome to CBC, my name is Andrew McClure and I’m one of the Pastor’s here, and I’d love to invite you to open up your Bible’s to John chapter 8.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Fellowship of the Ring, the team is in the Mines of Moriah, deep in the heart of the mountain, but utterly confused as to the right way out of the underground maze.

And as Gandalf the Guide, is contemplating the course of action, Frodo eyes the cursed and tortured creature Gollum steadily following them.

Upon seeing him, Frodo says, “What a Pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance.”

To which Gandalf retorts, “PITY? It’s a pity that stayed his hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserved life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment.”

We’re not very different from young Frodo are we?

We’re all so quick to play the role of judge and jury in the lives of others.

With logs in our own eyes, we condemn the specks in another's.

With blindspots leaving us oblivious, we shine spotlights on the sin and failures of others.

Oftentimes, we do this because we think it’s God’s Work!

Acting like God has Rescued us from our Sin, so that we can Police the sin of others on His behalf.”

But can you give it to them FRODO?

Can you give it to them CBC?

The answer is No…

You see there is only One who can Judge Justly, and what our text will show us today is that:

Only Jesus can Judge Justly (giving out what we deserve)

But instead He extends Mercy (not getting what we deserve)

James, the brother of Jesus said it best, James 2:13 “ Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

It did for the young lady in our text today, and Praise be to God that His Mercy triumphs in your life as well.

So let’s read, and then we’ll dig in.

John 7:53–8:11 ESV

They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 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.”

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement

Let’s begin by looking at

The Trap

The Triumph

The Takeaway

The Trap

Now, in many of your bibles at the beginning of the passage you may read something like this:

(The Earliest Manuscripts Do Not Include 7:53-8:11), so a quick note about that.

That’s there because “The earliest manuscripts don’t include it”.

In the 1st century manuscripts that we have of the Gospel of John, you won’t find this story.

It doesn’t appear, til much later dated copies.

On top of that, the style and language it utilizes are kind of out of place for John’s writing.

And on top of that, it just doesn’t fit the current narrative.

John 7 is about the Feast of Booths, and John 8 picking up in vs. 12 follows that narrative flawlessly.

So it’s out of place.

But, before you throw up your hands and cast your Bible aside as untrustworthy let me ease your fears.

This story does appear early on in Luke’s Gospel.

And the early church Fathers often referenced it in their sermons.

So we can with confidence, say that it is a true story of the life of Christ.

It is biblical! It belongs.

Probably just not here…

But since it is popularly included here, I’m going to preach it.

And from the outset, we can tell… It’s a Trap

A carefully baited one.

John 8:3–4 “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.”

I mean, this woman is guilty.

Caught in the very act. The evidence is conclusive. There is no speculation.

And she is drug before the eyes of them all.

Oh church, can’t you empathize with her utter humiliation?

She’s surrounded by her accusers.

Cast at the feet of Christ.

And vs. 2 says, “All the people” were there because they had come to hear Jesus teach.

So the eyes of the crowds are on her.

And she cowers… Utterly ashamed, and humiliated.

And they go on to say, John 8:5 “Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?””

This is true.

Then as is now, sexual intimacy is intended to be between one man and one woman, for life in the confines of marriage.

Any deviation outside of that clear standard, was adultery.

And the OT Law was clear regarding the punishment for adultery.

Deuteronomy 22:23–24 ““If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

It’s evil. It must be purged. They must die by stoning.

The law is clear, but you wanna know something that isn’t clear!?

Where is the other party!? Where is the man!?

Did he flee? Had he somehow escaped?

Or more likely, was this dear woman a victim of chauvinistic bias?

Had she been set up by these vile religionists!?

Alas, we don’t know. The question goes unanswered.

But although her plight stirs our compassion, the law was clear!

She was guilty. Caught in the act. And deserving of death.

But these religious authorities weren’t interested in the real merits or holiness of the case.

They didn’t really care about her. Or what God would require.

They had thrown her at the feet of Jesus, as a trap—- they wanted a basis for accusing him.

The Law says Stone—- BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY!?

John 8:6 “This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

It’s a Trap. It’s a Test.

You see, in their minds Jesus had already set himself above the law by healing the Paralytic on the Sabbath.

They viewed that act of mercy and love as a disregard for the Law of Moses— so they believed that Jesus did not obey the Law.

And knowing he has a reputation of compassion, they figure he’ll acquit her and they will have him in their web as an unfaithful Jew, discrediting his life and ministry.

But what if he takes the alternative!? What if he condemns her to death!

Well that will sure hurt his popularity with the ignorant crowds.

Not to mention, get him in deep trouble with Rome.

Because Rome actually held jurisdiction over capital offenses and cases.

The Jews couldn’t kill, they had to have Roman permission to do that which is why Pontius Pilate had to be give his verdict to Christ.

And if he approves her death, he would be infringing upon the exclusive rights of Rome.

So darned if he does, and darned if he doesn’t.

It’s a trap. a test. A Dilemma!

To choose Mercy was to break the Law.

To choose Justice would break his tradition, and contradict Rome.

Mercy vs. Justice— that’s the dilemma. That’s the Trap.

And is this not the dilemma we often wrestle with when it comes to the Lord Jesus!?

How can he be Just if he extends mercy!?

And How can he be merciful if He executes Justice!?

It’s a Trap, and the authorities thought they had a Win-Win. Thought they had him!

But they did not know who they were trying to Trap.

This is Jesus. He is the Wisdom of God, and in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

St. Augustine writes, “He was not taken for whom the snare was laid… but rather they were taken who laid it.”

He would Triumph. So let’s look there now.

The Triumph

John 8:6 “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.”

They have weaved their web, and how does Jesus respond!? By bending down and writing with his finger on the ground.

What did He write?

Church, there is only one answer to that question—- we don’t know.

As Calvin once said, “When God closes His holy mouth, we should desist from inquiry.”

We don’t know. The Bible doesn’t say.

And although God has not spoken about it, people have consistently speculated.

And sure, there are some good speculations I guess.

Jesus had already spoken in Luke 11:20 that he casts out demons by the Finger of God.

And we know that God Himself wrote the 10 Commandments on the Tablets of Stone with his very own Finger.

So some speculate that we see here the Authority of Deity, in Jesus writing with his finger.

Some say, he wrote Jeremiah 17:13 “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.”

That would have been something… but its just speculation.

Others say Jesus was imitating Roman Magistrates who as part of their practice always wrote out their sentence before reading it.

But again, there is only one correct answer—- we don’t know.

But while he’s writing, the authorities are persisting.

John 8:7 “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.””

If unclear about his gesture, his words were extremely clear.

“Let him who is without sin among you be the 1st.”

So much wisdom in this statement, because first and foremost it shows Jesus’ love and adoration for the law they falsely accused him of disregarding.

Because, he pretty much said… Stone Her. Right, he doesn’t tell them not to! So he upholds the law.

But he takes that further, because he also reminds them of other Scriptures in the Law.

In Deuteronomy 17:7 “The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

You see it was the witnesses to the act that had to initiate the stoning.

But those witnesses had to be pure. They had to be trustworthy and reliable.

So they couldn’t have been involved in the conniving of the sin in any way, nor could they have been passive in trying to prevent it.

And not only that, but it was probably the case that these religious authorities played a role in framing the whole situation.

And if not, they definitely weren’t interested in preventing it, they wanted it to happen, so that they could trap Jesus.

You see, they weren’t interested at all in the holiness of God, or the righteousness God requires.

They were blinded by their own high-view of themselves, and extreme low view of Jesus.

In essence, they were hypocrites.

Viewing themselves as righteous, they believed they had the ability and power to judge others rightly.

Thinking themselves so much better, they believed that they had the right, probably even the god-given right, to judge others. Look down on others. Condemn others.

They were judgmental.

These people were so proud of their own zealous obedience to the letter of the law, that they viewed themselves as Judge and Jury for all others.

And church, can I just say that some of the most judgmental, harsh, and critical people alive today are self-proclaimed Christians.

Just like the Pharisees then, we convince ourselves by our own sense of morality that we are better than others.

Because we go to church, or read the bible, or attend a group, we believe we have the ability to exercise justice.

Some of the most vile, and ungodly comments ever spoken have come from religious people shining spotlight on others in the same community, church, or even small group.

But have you forgotten Jesus’ rebuke in the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:3 “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

What Jesus is saying is that if you are unwilling to evaluate, critique, and even judge yourself, then you have no right or authority to pronounce it on others.

No, in stooping and writing in the dirt. And in his comment, Jesus is calling out their hypocrisy and is accusing the accusers.

You see to truly be an impartial Judge. A fair, and Just judge—- you must be guilt free regarding the standard you hold others to.

Matthew 7:2 “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

So if you’re calling somebody out on breaking the law of Moses, than you better be sure you apply that same measure to yourself.

And if you find yourself guilty, than who are you to declare another guilty?

Now this doesn’t mean, we don’t have a Christian Duty to confront our brothers or sisters who are in sin.

That would contradict Matthew 18, 1 Timothy 5, Ephesians 4, 1 Cor 5 and many others.

Know, Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

But that’s not what was going on here that day was it!?

They werent concerned for this sister!

They weren’t grieved by her sin!

They weren’t losing sleep over the state of her soul!?

No, they were a bunch of logged eyed, hypocrites, with critical spirits, and believed they had earned the right to be judge and jury.

So Jesus calls them out on it.

Tells them they are unfit to judge. Tells them they need to turn that spotlight on themselves every once and a while.

And how did they respond!?

John 8:8–9 “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.”

One by one, like roaches, they scurry away back into the dark.

And it says “beginning with the older ones.”

They probably had a little more dirt in their lives that they were aware of.

And elders carried more authority, so when all the young people are left they don’t have a lot of power.

And all of a sudden, it’s just Jesus and this humiliated, disgraced woman.

John 8:10–11 “Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”

No one had condemned her. Because no one could condemn her.

All of her accusers were guilty of the breaking the same law as the accused.

They were unfit judges. Partial. Unfair. Unjust. Unworthy Hypocrites.

No one had condemned her.

But there was one still there.

One who could condemn her.

One who was actually without sin.

Perfect in all the law.

Holy and righteous, altogether pure.

One who was grieved by her sin,

and concerned for this sister,

and losing sleep over the state of her soul.

And That man was Jesus Christ.

but what does he say… And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.””

Now church catch this:

That woman deserved Judgement!

Regardless of how much compassion is stirred in your heart, do not overlook the fact that she was guilty!

We have to be careful here church… with as much toxic empathy that permeates our churches, we can feel for someone’s plight, and often ignore their sin that got them there.

That’s not good. That’s not godly.

We can have compassion, but must also recognize she deserved Justice!

Justice is getting what you deserve.

But in walks Mercy…

and what is mercy!?

Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

He didn’t judge her. He did not condemn her.

He is the epitome of mercy.

He is rich in mercy, and altogether merciful.

She did not get what she deserved.

As Spurgeon once quipped, “God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, than diminish the great mercy of God.”

In Jesus, we see that Mercy Triumphs over Judgement for this young lady.

But there’s a final takeaway I want to leave you with.

The Takeaway

Jesus had mercy, not judgement… but the original dilemma still remains.

How can he be Just if he extends mercy!?

She deserved one death… but he didn’t give it.

How can this be?

The answer is the Cross

Justice demands punishment for sin.

Mercy offers forgiveness of sin.

And he dealt with that dilemma at the Cross.

You see, the reason Jesus would not condemn her, is because he became her condemnation in and of himself.

This statement… “neither do I condemn you” cost Jesus the hell of calvary.

At the Cross— Justice was satisfied. Jesus received what she deserved. Death.

At the Cross- Mercy was granted. She received what she did not deserve. Forgiveness.

And listen church… here’s the Takeaway.

Mercy is always a greater motivator for right living, than Justice.

The mercy of the cross liberates us from sin..

Punishment never will. Condemnation will never help her change.

But one touch of merc provides the motivation to lead a transformed life forever.

Go and sin no more…

HIs mercy was not a license to keep on sinning… it was a reason to stop.

And it’s the same for you and I.

If you struggle with sin, and you know you’re in need of Justice.

Punishing yourself and trying harder isn’t going to change you.

But when you look to the cross, and there see the mercy in His eyes, you’ll find your motivation.

When you look to the cross, and hear… Father forgive them, you’ll never want to go on sinning.

I remember early in our marriage, I did something dumb. Can’t remember it now, but I remember hurting Annie and in response I just wanted to be hurt.

I wanted her to retaliate.

I wanted to feel, like what I made her feel.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

I wanted justice.

I deserved justice.

But she looked at me, and with the most sincere eyes said, “Andrew, I forgive you. And I love you.”

Ya’ll I kid you not, when she offered me Mercy, something melted in me.

The mercy she bestowed MADE me want to be a better man.

It compelled me never want to hurt her again.

You see, the takeaway is that Mercy triumphs over Judgment.

And Mercy will always be a greater motivator to holiness than Judgment.

Not the stones of Justice.

But the Mercy of Christ.

Mercy always Triumphs over Judgement.

So.

“Many deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them frodo? Can you give it to them CBC?

No… but Jesus can and Jesus has.

Conclusion/Communion

Well, I’d love for us to conclude by intentionally reflecting on His great mercy by taking Communion.

So if you’re one of our volunteers serving communion this week, please go ahead and make your way to your spots.

Communion was the meal that Jesus instituted for his disciples on the night of his betrayal.

It’s a time to take bread that is broken and remember the mercy of Jesus putting his body on the cross.

It’s a time to take juice and remember the mercy of Jesus pouring his blood out upon the cross.

But if you’re not a believer this morning, I just want to kindly ask you to let the elements pass you by.

But here’s what I’d like to do.

As Noah plays, I want you to reflect.

First, have you experienced the Mercy of God? Do you believe that He condemns you not, but instead offers you salvation in Him? Do you believe he took your justice, and offers you mercy? If not, let today be the day.

Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Secondly, are you a Christian who has lost sight of the mercy of God, and become harsh and critical and judgmental of others?

Do you view your role as to police the sin of others.

Do you apply the same measure to yourself as to others.

If you struggle here, I want you also to reflect upon the Mercy of God.

Think of all your sin, for which Christ died.

For which he has shown you mercy.

I want you to picture him saying, “I condemn you not.”

And let his mercy, melt your pharisaical heart.

So take some time… reflect, and in a moment I’ll come back up and lead us through communion together.