John 8:1-30

Jesus, the Light of the world!

Before we get started in our study, I need to touch on something that might be of interest to you, maybe helpful, then again you might not even care. Back in our study of Mark, we come across Mark 16:9-20, which folks that study things on higher level than I do say that this passage in not in the older, better manuscripts. They seem to deem those more reliable.

Well, we have run upon another passage, where the same argument is posed. From John 7:53-John 8:1-11, they say is not in the older, better manuscripts. I feel like I need to explain just briefly.

Most translations, have this passage, but some have footnotes, stating that this is not in the earlier manuscripts. Those that say this, possibly have an argument, that they want to keep the integrity of what was written and I get it. But for some odd reason, this passage as well as Mark 16 keeps showing back up.

I am not sure if the writers of the early manuscripts couldn’t verify this actual event or what, they just left it out. Some folks state that these early writers knew about it, but wasn’t sure enough about it.

There are literally thousands of old manuscripts. The KJV and NKJV go by the Textus Receptus (Received Text) and this manuscript has this account in it. There have also been reports, that some manuscript transcribers put this account in Luke 21. Westcott and Hoyt set out to prove the Textus Receptus wrong and was mostly successful as we see in modern versions, stating that the Textus Receptus’ earliest writings didn’t come till the 12th century. That is not entirely accurate, the 12th century writings were from very early manuscripts. The RSV, ESV, and NIV are ones that seem to follow Westcott and Hoyt and add footnotes to this text.

Blah, blah, blah, blah......I only tell you this because there will always be some smarty pants, trying to look smart and say that this does not belong here, in fact, I listened to one preacher that wouldn’t even study it because it was supposedly not reliable.

I will give you an argument against all the fuss against this text, J. Vernon Mcgee believes that this passage fits perfectly in John’s acct. He goes on to add that he believes it is left out because the scribes was concerned that this might send the wrong message about adultery, because Jesus didn’t do anything else but tell her to go and sin no more.

I agree with his assessment, it in no wise challenges the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Matter of fact, it reinforces the Truth of Jesus. It also does not in anyway, contradict the way the religious leaders acted. Lastly, WHY, if it is such a big issue, do those translations that don’t believe it is not reliable, have it in their translations with footnotes? Why not remove it? Just a thought!

Now to the text:

Verse 1 should read as a continuation from John 7:53 “And every man unto his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.” He stayed the night there and come back to the temple early in the morning.

Verse 2: Jesus sat down in the temple and taught. Sitting is the position of a teacher back then.

It also says that all the people came to hear Jesus.

Verse 3-4: As Jesus was teaching the scribes and Pharisees interrupted the teaching by bring a woman who was caught in adultery. It states that she was caught in the very act........

That is curious because one back then would of asked, where was the man?

Leviticus 20:10 “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

Deut. 22:22 “If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel.”

Where was the man? Some say, that this was a trap from the beginning and they hired some man to do this. Not sure, but they were violating the very law that they quote to Jesus!

They put her in the midst of every one. Possibly half clothed, maybe not any, more than likely they pulled her from the bed.

She was in the wrong do not get me wrong, but this was cruel. J Vernon Mcgee stated that he believed that these leaders were guilty of more than she was.

Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.”

Verse 5-6: they present this to Jesus.....Moses in the law commanded.......they could of happened up on this affair or maybe it was planned, either way they wanted to trap Jesus.

If Jesus told them to let her go, He would of been violating the law of Moses and if Jesus is Who He claimed to be, He shouldn’t be going against the law.

If He said “Put her to death”, He would of went against His own teaching!

These 2 things is the problem with a lot of legalist and hyper-grace people. They cannot seem to harmonize God’s judgement, with God’s mercy.

They didn’t believe Jesus could either.

Both are real but they could not make it work together. That is why we have a whole bunch of different (wrong) teachings about God and His Son Jesus Christ.

I will hopefully put that to rest here in just a minute........

Picture this: Jesus was looking at them as they were shouting these things , without saying a word, Jesus started writing on the ground......

What did He write? We have no idea, some speculate, but we have no clue what He wrote.

Some say, He wrote all of the men’s sins.

Some say He wrote all of the women’s names that these men had had an affair with.

Others say He was just delaying to give them time to think.

Some have said it was as if He was ignoring them. KJV

It could be that Jesus doesn’t give them the respect that they thought they deserved...

Whatever He wrote, their fury increased, with stones in their hands........

Verse 7-8: They continued to ask Him, almost demanding an answer and it is as if Jesus is not as concerned as they are!

Jesus lifts up His head and uses the law on them Deut. 13:9 & Deut. 17:7, were laws that stated that the witnesses of the crime was to start the execution, only if they were not guilty of the same sin, if they were they could not put the sinner to death.

He that is without sin cast the first stone, they knew what that meant. Every man in that group, had to publicly admit, just as they brought her in the midst, in the midst of the people that they were guilty of the same sin! They knew the law and they knew what Jesus was talking about.

Good for them! At least they ceased and left dropping their stones.

After He said that He went back to writing on the ground.......Jesus went back to writing the names of those women that each one had sinned with.

Verse 9: They dropped their stones and left, eldest to the youngest.....Mcgee said that the eldest had more sins than the youngest, I don’t know if that is so or not, but they were truly convicted and left.

Jesus now was alone with the women, in the middle of the courtyard, disheveled, and upset.

Makes me think of this verse Isaiah 61:1-2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn;

Jesus quotes this in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,”

You reckon she was bruised spiritually? Blind, Captive, Poor?

Verse 10-11: Jesus looked up from His writing and saw the woman, He ask her where her accusers were.....there was none, not even Jesus! Nobody there condemned her!! You get it, not even Jesus!

Jesus assured that He didn’t and told her to go and sin no more.

You know, it seems she would of split with the rest of them and went her own way, but she stayed before the King!! She stayed before the friend of sinners!

These men had no right to accuse this woman, this was God’s business, not theirs!

He says, "Hey, if there's nobody to accuse you, if nobody wants to prosecute, the trial is over." You say, "But how could He do that?" I mean how can a holy God just say, "Go on, okay, don't do it again." How can He do that? I mean how can God let her off the hook? Somebody has to die. That's just it. You know what Jesus knew as he stood there? I believe this with all my heart. When He said to that woman, "I don't condemn you; go, and sin no more," you know what He knew in His heart, that divine heart? He knew full well that He would die on a cross for her adultery. He knew that. That was the only way. The only reason He could give her forgiveness was because He would bear in His own body her sin. It's the only way, and He knew it.

We must place that truth in our view and in our hearts!

That's why I say every time Jesus healed somebody, every time Jesus forgave somebody, He experienced the bitterness of the anticipation of the cross. That woman's sin wouldn't go unpunished. It would be placed on Christ, and He would die for her adultery. Now, lemme tell you something, friends. That is being a friend to sinners, isn't it?...You look at Jesus Christ, and He's willing to die for your adultery. He's willing to die for your lies. He's willing to die for your curses against His own name. He's willing to die for your inequities in life. He's willing to die for the foul thoughts and deeds and words that have come out of your mouth. He's willing to die for every sin you've ever committed or ever will...and He says to you what He said to the woman, "Woman, I don't condemn you anymore." Listen, I believe this woman was redeemed that day. She stayed to seek the forgiveness of sin.

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

There is no human wisdom that can understand God’s justice and God’s mercy. We only find it in the life and words of Jesus Christ and we believe and trust Him with our soul!

Aren’t you thankful for this? Are you thankful for His forgiveness?