Handle With Care

Introduction

As this world becomes increasingly secular, Christians will be challenged to initiate and build discipling relationships by showing grace. Extending grace in our relationships helps us to communicate the love of Christ to those who need it the most. The antithesis to this is the attitude and example of the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. He could not understand how his father could be so excited with the return of such a rebellious child. Instead of rejoicing in the fact that his brother had come to himself and found his way back home he was bitter at the love and warm reception he received after his prodigal lifestyle. This has become a common occurence in our churches and it hinders our relationship with those who need to experience the love of Christ the most.

It is important to understand this woman’s situation as an opportunity to initiate and improve a relationship with a sister in need. Her scandal provided Jesus with an opportunity to lead her to salvation. When we encounter a brother or sister in this situation, and by that I mean that they are suffering under the weight of guilt and condemnation it is our duty to extend to them the grace that we have experienced. In doing so we have an opportunity to change the character and the quality of their lives from henceforward. This is an opportunity to establish and to build a healthy relationship.

This lesson is important because without grace our relationship with Jesus would not be. We love him because he first loved us. His method of handling wayward and rebellious individuals is so much different from out own methods. This is why he should be our model. This pericope outlines the radical nature of his willingness to extend grace.

Motives

First, we learn how malicious motives affect the way in which we handle those in need of mercy. These Pharisees and Scribes had thrown this woman into a position of ridicule at the expense of their own selfish agendas. At the root of this traumatic experience you will find hearts that are not clean. This woman became a victim of selfishness. The more interested you become in your own agenda, the less interested you become in the welfare of others.

The purpose of this come to Jesus meeting was stated in verse 6. They brought this case before Jesus for one reason, and one reason alone. They were not interested in justice. They were not interested in discipline. Their only aim was to test Jesus. Their motives were purely selfish. in there was a debate about who Jesus was. Even without This sentence in verse 6 I think it’s pretty obvious that these men were trying to trap Jesus. I think there are two pieces of evidence to help us prove this.

The first piece of evidence was the absence of this woman’s accomplice. This woman was caught in adultery. I think it is understood that it requires two people to commit this crime. If they had been serious about this sin, there would have been two people brought to Jesus not just this one. Have you ever noticed people who will try to trap you or press you on a point only using part of the rule. People will search the church bylaws and find a nuance in Article VI Section B. Sentence number 3 after the second coma and neglect the rest of the constitution.

The second piece of evidence can actually be found in there demand for the death penalty. This is a contradiction or inconsistency within the culture at this time. Because this was a time of peace, adultery was not a capital offense under Roman law. When are hearts are dirty our hands tend to get dirty. When our hearts our off our actions are off. Inconsistency is a pretty clear indicator that our motives might be malicious. We pick and choose who we want to persecute and how we want to persecute. This inconsistency in how we handle people shows us that our motives might not be pure.

Misconception

The second cause for the mishandling of this sinner was misconception. Not only did the Pharisees and Scribes have improper motives, they had improper perspectives. They had the wrong idea about this woman, and they had the wrong idea about themselves.

They accurately diagnosed that this woman was an adulterer. It is not argued in the Holy writ whether or not she was actually guilty of the crimes for which she was brought to Jesus. It seems that the biblical consensus says that she was guilty. They had the right idea about her sin, but the wrong idea about her fate. In their minds this single instance of misbehavior whether it be the first time, or one of many times, was enough to determine this woman’s fate. Left up to them this single act would define this woman’s life and death. If they could write history this would be the first and last time we would hear of this woman and the only thing that we would know about her is that she was discovered in adultery and she died in adultery. Thanks be unto God that he didn’t end us where he found us. The opinion amongst the Pharisees and Scribes was that this woman should die. But I thank God, that men don’t have the final say over my fate. After David had betrayed God by demanding that a census be taken David responded to Gad with these words:

2 Samuel 24:14 ESV

14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

These men had the wrong idea about this woman’s fate, and they also had the wrong idea about their sins.

Mercy

Conclusion