The Shock of Mercy | John 7:53-8:11
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Welcome Abide
My name is [Name] I am an Elder here at Abide
Please Stand
Call to Worship
Psalm 103:1–5
“1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Confession
[ You may be seated ]
Ephesians 4:1–3
“1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
[ Please join me in our corporate prayer of confession ]
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in
thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent for the sake of your son Jesus Christ.
Have mercy on us and forgive us
that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways
to the glory of your name.
Amen
[ Please silently confess your sins to the Lord ]
[PAUSE]
[ If you are in Christ, you are forgiven! ]
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[ Please stand and continue in worship ]
Consecration (Set Apart for a Holy Purpose)
Matthew 6:9–15 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Communion
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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Metaoutline
Intro
What the problem is; our contemporary cultural context: Here’s what we face.
Early Points
What the Bible says; the original readers’ cultural context: Here’s what we must do.
Middle Points
What prevents us; current listeners’ inward heart context: Why we can’t do it.
Late Points
How Jesus fulfills the biblical theme and solves the heart issue: How Jesus did it.
Application
How through faith in Jesus you should live now.
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[Kids Time]
Have people write,
Then, the evil twin, Matt, jumped into his van and cried, “We need more bananas!”
Explain how NT was re-written and distributed
This IS the Bible, GOD’S TRUE WORD
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[Introduce Text]
Notice the Brackets?
ESV footnote says,
English Standard Version
Some manuscripts do not include 7:53–8:11; others add the passage here or after 7:36 or after 21:25 or after
Lower/Textual criticism: figuring out what the original words of the text actually were, using manuscript evidence.
Higher criticism: figuring out who wrote a text, when, from what sources, and why — its origin and composition history.
Why This Section Isn’t Original to John’s Gospel
Why This Section Isn’t Original to John’s Gospel
(1) The story is missing from all the Greek manuscripts of John before the fifth century.
(2) All the earliest church fathers omit this passage in commenting on John and pass directly from John 7:52 to John 8:12.
(3) The text flows very nicely from 7:52 to 8:12 if you leave out the story and just read the passage as though the story were not there.
(4) No Eastern church father cites the passage before the tenth century when dealing with this Gospel.
(5) When the story starts to appear in manuscript copies of the Gospel of John, it shows up in three different places other than here (after John 7:36; 7:44; 21:25), and in one manuscript of Luke, it shows up after 21:38.
(6) Its style and vocabulary are more unlike the rest of John’s Gospel than any other paragraph in the Gospel.
Why This Section Should Not Sow Doubt
Why This Section Should Not Sow Doubt
(1) No Doctrine is Threatened if the section is included or removed
(2) The Bible is the most attested historical text (and it isn’t even close...)
(3) The Word of the Lord endures forever
quoting Isaiah, the Apostle Peter writes:
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Famous responses:
R. C. Sproul
>> Accept text as the Apostolic Word of God
Wes Huff
>> Not Holy scripture, wouldn’t preach on it
D. A. Carson, John Piper, John McArthur
>> Think it probably happened, “There is little reason for doubting that the event here described occurred”
How do we respond?
(1) Don’t write it off
>> John 21:25
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
(2) Thank God for His Word
>> Your NT is the result of the careful collection, interpretation, and translation of over 20,000 NT manuscripts over generations of faithful Gospel proclamation
>> In light of this, consider the wonder it is that, among the few alterations in transmission, that no Doctrine of the Christian faith is questionable or inconsistent between transmissions
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Preaching our Text
[Read]
53 [[They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 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. 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.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]
[Pray]
Why does this story captivate our hearts?
Because it so succinctly demonstrates the Gospel!
>> We read this story with a sense of empathy
(1) We stand accused — guilty, sinful, weak
>> Ashamed, guilty, condemned
Ever been caught in the act?
>> Ever had your sin exposed? Ever felt dragged into the midst of familiar and unfamiliar faces and your sins announced? How about in the face of Jesus Himself?
All you want in that moment is deliverance, mercy, (even justice)!
[Illustration]
One of the most profound and powerful demonstrations of this is found in the interaction between Jesus and the two criminals hanging on crosses beside Him in his crucifixion
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
>> guilty, sinful, weak
(2) Jesus stands apart — righteous, spotless, authoritative
>> 3 ONLY’s
(1) ONLY Jesus Establishes the Law >> Jn. 8:7
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
And Jesus applies what He proclaims in the Sermon on the Mount:
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 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.
(2) ONLY Jesus can stand before the accused >> Jn. 8:10, is the ONLY ONE who can do so, “Stands alone with her”
The men walk away, knowing their sins…
The woman stands alone before Him...
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
>> So if Jesus WAS without sin, why didn’t He rightly cast stones at her?
(3) ONLY Jesus is righteous, spotless, authoritative >> Jn. 8:11
There was only one person in this story who stood to cast the first stone — and instead, He extends mercy and commands righteousness
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
This, all why Jesus is truly the one who we should continually and constantly approach in this life:
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
>> The Christian should cling to the mercy of God! How much the Lord must love us to show us such great mercy!
What love could remember, no wrongs we have done
Omniscient all-knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea, without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
— His Mercy is More
>> And when the accuser, Satan, comes with his weapons of guilt and shame and condemnation,
So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!
— Martin Luther
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
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[Band Come Up]
When Jesus responds to the criminal on the cross, He responds as He does BECAUSE He is
righteous, spotless, authoritative
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(from Toplady’s Rock of Ages)
Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to the cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Foul, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, Savior, or I die!
— Rock of Ages
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[Communion]
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
“23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
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Commission
Matthew 28:18–20
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
[ You can take a quick seat for our announcements ]
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Sermon Prep Outline
Sermon Prep Outline
STEP 1: DISCERN THE GOAL OF THE TEXT
STEP 1: DISCERN THE GOAL OF THE TEXT
Round One — First Reading
Read the English text at least twice
Begin writing a running commentary
Your Text:
Note anything that strikes you or raises a question:
Notes:
Round Two — Second Reading (Look for 3 categories)
Repetitions (words, ideas, grammatical forms):
Notes:
Connector words (therefore, because, for, since, if, then):
Notes:
Metaphors or images:
Notes:
For each one ask:
Why did the author use this?
What was he conveying?
How would the meaning change if this weren't here?
Round Three — Original Language & Commentaries
Determine the meaning of each significant word:
Notes:
Check for repetition masked by English translation:
Notes:
Use commentaries to answer puzzling things:
Notes:
Examine images and their use elsewhere in Scripture:
Notes:
Look for allusions/quotes from other parts of the Bible:
Notes:
Round Four — Context Questions
Within the book:
How does this passage fit with the rest of the book?
What is the message of the whole book?
How does this passage contribute to it?
Why is it here?
How would the book be diminished without it?
Notes:
Within the whole Bible:
What doctrines does this text touch on?
What themes run through the whole canon?
How do the biblical themes in this text point to or find fulfillment in Christ?
Notes:
Goal Question (choose one or write your own):
(Motyer)"What is the one thing that all the other things are about?"
(Robinson)"Subject: what is this talking about? Complement: what is it saying about that?"
"What did the author want his original listeners to learn, feel, and/or do?"
Your answer (1–2 sentences — the "freshly-squeezed essence" of the passage):
Passage title:
Section titles (if longer passage):
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR THEME FOR THE SERMON
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR THEME FOR THE SERMON
What central idea of the text do you want to present?
How does this address your specific listeners?
Sermon Theme Statement:
STEP 3: DEVELOP YOUR OUTLINE
STEP 3: DEVELOP YOUR OUTLINE
Theme fits the passage ✓
Each point raises insights from the text ✓
Movement toward a climax ✓
Point 1:
Point 2:
Point 3:
(Add points as needed)
STEP 4: FLESH OUT EACH POINT
STEP 4: FLESH OUT EACH POINT
For each point, gather:
Element
Arguments
Illustrations
Examples
Images
Supporting Bible texts
Practical
Application
"The goal is not just to explain the text but to minister to your specific listeners."— Timothy Keller
