Real Justice

What is Justice?

Why is our Justice system so messed up?

What is the purpose of Justice?

John 8:1–11 NLT

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

BSI: What’s going on in this text?

What did the crowd

Justice is an instrument of instruction

We punish kids so they were learn right and wrong

the point of public execution is to show people what happens when you break a law

So what were the pharisees trying to teach the crowd that Jesus was teaching?

Justice is not “Just Us”

this was a power move

they wanted to show everyone what happens when you cross them

This was never about the woman caught in adultery

Man’s Justice system always reinforces power

How did Jesus deliver justice?

He made the playing field equal

He removed any ulterior motives

He restored the accused

Grace and Mercy have purpose

How do we as a community mediate God’s Justice