Found Out

Introduction Question

Q - Have you been “found out” before?

My Illustration: 8th grade Social Studies Coach Holcomb

Examples: friendship mistakes, lying to your parents, past mistake, etc.

This is exactly what happened to a young woman in . She was caught in the act and found out publically.

TRUTH: Encountering Jesus’ truth & grace results in a lifetime of loving Jesus.

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John 8:1–11 ESV

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.”

-11

This is crazy. The religious leaders of the day were intentionally starting drama, thinking they were in the right.

The religious leaders used this woman as an example for their accusation of Jesus misleading the people in his ministry. Not only that, be the Law of Moses required for 2-3 witnesses in the act to require stoning. So it was a set up. How jacked up. Right?

This was uncalled for and meant to be handled in private, but the hearts of the religious leaders were cold-hearted, only looking out for their own interests. They thought that they were better than in her in the eyes of God.

Q - Don’t we do the same thing?

A - “I don’t drink so....” “I don’t do drugs so...” “I don’t bully so...” etc.

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.

She knew. She knew her uncleanliness. She knew of her wickedness. She knew of her sin. In this situation, she was looked at as the worst. The moment leading up to Jesus’ response, everyone thought greater of themselves because of the “sinful woman.” Jesus responded to the religious leaders and everyone standing on in way that hit everyone’s heart.

- The woman and the circle of people were worthy of stones. Jesus was the only that was unworthy of stones. As a matter of fact, Jesus was the only one worthy to throw a stone.

In the eyes of Jesus, “Well if we’re going to throw stones at someone, we’re going to throw stones at everyone.”

In the eyes of Jesus, “Well if we’re going to throw stones at someone, we’re going to throw stones at everyone.”

The woman and the circle of people were worthy of stones. Jesus was the only that was unworthy of stones. As a matter of fact, Jesus was the only one worthy to throw a stone.

Everyone left. The stone throwing party was over. Jesus crashed it. All that was left was the woman (the sinner) in her humiliation, guilt & shame and Jesus (the sinless One).

Everyone left. The stone throwing party was over. Jesus crashed it. All that was left was the woman (the sinner) and Jesus (the sinless One).

Instead of declaring this woman guilty of wrath & punishment, Jesus declared her innocent. How?

The woman acknowledged Jesus as Lord. She saw the truth of God, and as a result experienced the grace of God. Then experienced Jesus setting her free.

Only Jesus can! Jesus was the only one that had the right to throw a stone.

Only Jesus can! Jesus was the only one that had the right to throw a stone. Only through Jesus’ blood can only can anyone be made innocent of their sin.

Jesus’ desire for the woman was to recognize her sin and turn from it.

When you acknowledge Jesus as Lord, Jesus forgives you. All your past sin and future sin is forgiven.

“GO! And sin no more.” - Jesus to the woman

Move on and forget your guilt and shame of your past.

Conclusion

Move and forget your guilt and shame of your past.

TRUTH: Encountering Jesus’ truth & grace results in a lifetime of loving Jesus.

It’s not just that she was not condemned by Jesus through her acknowledgement of His truth & grace, but that Jesus’ grace in her life caused her to live the rest of her life in pursuit of Him.

Jesus doesn’t save us from our sin so that we can sin and be “forgiven.” Jesus saves us from our sin so that we will live a lifetime of repentance and pursuit of Him.

Some of you are continually sinning. Jesus says to you, “Go and sin no more.”