Sin, Judgment and Grace
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Introduction
Introduction
Karla Fay Tucker story (from NIVAC: John - Burge, p. 246-248)
1983 - went with her boyfriend to check out a home to rob
high on drugs
ran into the owners of the home and brutally killed them
Both were caught, and tried and sentenced to death
3 months into her prison time, Karla watched a puppet show that was put on by a church ministry. She “stole” a free bible from them and began to read it.
Shortly after that, she became a believer - a genuine believer -
She began to grow in the grace and love of God
she ministered to her inmates
News of her transformation began to get noticed outside of prison.
She was scheduled to face Capital punishment on Feb, 3, 1998.
three weeks earlier, she appeared on the Larry King show - he tried to make light of her conversion but could not deny that it was genuine. She had been changed. She had been forgiven by God, and hoped to be forgiven by the family of her victims.
Others took notice and began to petition the governor of her state for a stay of execution. She even wrote a letter to her governor.
Still others were picketing and screaming for justice.
So the governor has a challenge before him - Does he fulfill the demands of justice or does he let this woman live - knowing that she had a genuine life change and is truly repentant- a desired outcome for all who are imprisone.
I bring that up because so often, in justice and in a pursuit of holiness, we can get so caught up into being right and bringing justice that we fail to acknowledge and take into account the work of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God in someone’s life.
Jesus had an encounter like that - when someone who, like Karla Faye Tucker, was caught. The people who came to test Jesus wanted to trap him.
Let’s consider this passage in a different translation, just to have it fresh in our minds.
And each one departed to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?” (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.
Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
You may notice in your Bible that this passage has some special markings - noting that the earliest manuscripts do not include this. Several commentators agreed that this passage is likely an authentic experience in the life and ministry of Jesus - but was not likely written by John. The message of the passage is consistent with the way that Jesus interacted with people, which speaks to its authenticity. The inclusion of this passage stood the test of the canon that assembled Scripture. I believe it is inspired and is useful for our edification and spiritual growth.
With that in mind, let’s consider some of the primary characters and how we relate to them.
First of all, we have to recognize that...
We are all this woman - caught in sin
We are all this woman - caught in sin
It seems this woman was caught in a specifically named sin. She was guilty. She didn’t deny it.
The challenge we have to face, is that like her, we are all caught in sin.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Sin is something that plagues all of us. We have inherited it from our earliest ancestors. We are mired by a sin nature. The world has been corrupted by this sin.
It’s not difficult to see that not only are we all plagued by sin, but we all have different sins that we struggle with. The things that tempt me may not be the same things that tempt you, but they can ensnare us nonetheless.
Hebrews 12:1 talks about sin, some translations - besetting sin.
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely [besetting sin]...
Did you notice the imagery there? The sin that entangles or snares us, like trying to run with your ankles tied together, it’s ineffective and impossible.
this begs the question…
What is sin?
Sin is an affront to the holiness of God. It runs counter to God’s will for our lives. Sin is missing the mark of God’s standard.
The beautiful and encouraging thing is that God knows that about us and did something to deal with our sin. The just reward for our sin is death
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So God, sent his son Jesus - fully human and fully divine, to be the perfect sacrifice on our behalf, to atone for our sin, in order to bring us into a right relationship with God. He has reconciled us to God.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
We gain access to this forgiveness by faith - admitting our sinfulness and receiving God’s righteousness through Jesus.
If you’ve not yet responded to Jesus salvation, let’s have a conversation after church or sometime this week.
But, since we are all this woman - caught in sin, we have to recognize that we have no ground to stand in judgment of other people. It should allow us to walk in humility toward people who are ensnared in sin’s net.
Unfortunately, that is not too often NOT the case. Which brings us to our next point of observation...
We are tempted to be these religious zealots
We are tempted to be these religious zealots
How did these religious zealots act?
They cared more about their own self-righteousness than they did about her holiness.
They cared more about their own self-righteousness than they did about her holiness.
Did you notice that she was “caught in the act” of adultery?
Which means that someone saw something to indicate that this woman committed this sin. What’s more, it was more than one person!
Old Testament law said the someone could only be put to death on the witness of 2 or 3 people.
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Rather than helping her out of her sin, they watched in order to catch her.
Jesus challenged us to view our sin differently.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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.
It is so easy to look in judgment on someone else. To look down on the, rather than to help them. One of Job’s counselors helpfully reminds us -
“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
But, in addition to caring more about their self-righteousness than her holiness, ...
They treated her as a pawn in their game to entrap Jesus.
They treated her as a pawn in their game to entrap Jesus.
She was simply a tool for them. They had a goal to entrap Jesus - and it was a good one.
If he condemns her then he upholds the law - but the woman dies - they win in their game of life and death, judgment, and condemnation
If he frees her, he proves that he is light on sin and therefore not worthy to be heard or followed.
Instead he calls them back to scripture - let the one who is without sin cast the first stone. OT law required that it would be a witness to cast the first stone.
The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
It seems this standard was put in place to make sure that the witness is telling the truth, because it would be their conscience that would have to be clear.
Some of the commentators suggested that this form of justice was not carried out in the first century. In this case, they were picking and choosing a particular sin and a particular person to trap Jesus.
So Jesus seems to ask about their own integrity...
John 8:7 (ESV)
...“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
In reflecting on this comment, Don Carson writes:
The Gospel according to John Excursus: The Woman Caught in Adultery (7:53–8:11)
Jesus’ saying does not mean that the authorities must be paragons of sinless perfection before the death sentence can properly be meted out, nor does it mean that one must be free even from lust before one can legitimately condemn adultery (even though lust and adultery belong to the same genus, Mt. 5:28). It means, rather, that they must not be guilty of this particular sin.
Carson continues:
The Gospel according to John Excursus: The Woman Caught in Adultery (7:53–8:11)
As in many societies around the world, so here: when it comes to sexual sins, the woman was much more likely to be in legal and social jeopardy than her paramour. The man could lead a ‘respectable’ life while masking the same sexual sins with a knowing wink. Jesus’ simple condition, without calling into question the Mosaic code, cuts through the double standard and drives hard to reach the conscience.
Did you notice that there is no talk of the man she committed adultery with? In light of Carson’s comments, I wonder if he was one of the men who was with the group of religious leaders? Purely speculation, but given the culture, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
Unfortunately, we have seen that historically in the church as well. Men have blamed women for being too pretty, too sexy, too beautiful - blaming women for men stumbling.
(possible story of Pastor’s daughter who was sexually assaulted by someone in the church - the pastor was forced to resign, the victim was blamed - when it was the man who “groomed” her.)
Women, I am sorry for how the capital “C” Church - not necessarily PBC, may have treated you. We are all called to modesty and to holiness, but men can’t blame you for the lust that is in our own hearts.
Beyond that, our society has gone to great lengths to objectify women - in advertising, TV shows, and movies - using women as tools to sell more things, get better ratings, and make bigger box office hits.
These religious zealots used her as a pawn in their entrapment game and didn’t really care for her.
Where are we guilty of the same when we see sin in others? Where are we willing to use someone as a tool or as an example in our own quest for righteousness - as individuals or as a church?
In addition to recognizing our own sinfulness and being mindful of the temptation to be judgmental and self-righteous, this passage helps us to see that...
We are called to be gracious like Jesus
We are called to be gracious like Jesus
He doesn’t excuse her sin.
We’ve talked about this before, but so many people today want to re-define sin. We want to rationalize sin.
Sin is still an act of rebellion against God’s holiness.
He gives her grace, a second chance, an opportunity to be transformed by grace.
Earlier, we read...
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
the next verses help us to understand that God doesn’t leave us in our sin, but has done something about it...
Romans 3:24–25 (ESV)
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
He showed her grace. Ultimately, he gave his life as a gift of grace.
As his followers, we are called to be ambassadors of grace - grace that brings reconciliation with God and grace that bring peace with one another.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So as we seek to be Jesus’ ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation, what is our reputation?
Paul reminds us…
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Where do we need to show the grace of Jesus to weaker brothers and sisters? Where do we need to preach the grace of Jesus to our friends and family members who are far from him?
On one extreme we could be seen as excusing and rationalizing all sin. On another extreme, we could be judgmental and self-righteous. It seems like Jesus is modeling for us a different way, a better way, a gracious way.
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
Getting back to Karla Fay Tucker’s story - No reprieve was found - she was executed by lethal injection on 2/3/98. - the governor did not stay the execution. Justice was served. The law was appeased.
Should she have been freed or at least allowed to live out her days in prison? I don’t know. Would Jesus have let her live? Again, I don’t know, but I think so. What I do know is that we will see her again. As a sinner who was saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, she is alive today with our Saviour. Jesus paid her eternal debt. She received the grace of Jesus in prison and demonstrated that transformed life in the way that she ministered to others.
How should we think about this episode in Jesus’ life?
take a serious, yet grace-filled view of our sin - pray that the Holy Spirit would convict us of sin and that we would appropriately repent and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us. This might even involve going to another brother or sister in Christ here and saying “I’m struggling with _____ sin - will you please pray for me and walk with me toward holiness?”
take a grace-filled view of the sin in others - call them out of their sin, but don’t identify them as their sin - If someone comes to you asking you to walk with them, to pray for them - let me encourage you to do that. Not in a judgmental way - but help to put up guard rails for your brother or sister in Christ.
Let’s pray
Memory Verse: John 8:7
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.”
Benediction:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Sources:
Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.
Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.
Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993