‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery (therefore guilty). 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY?’ John 8
A woman who was in big trouble, the third lady we’re going to consider in John’s Gospel. The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, always together and always looking for a way to accuse. In our legal systems we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but in many cases evidence has been suppressed to get a guilty verdict. The Religious Jews worked incessantly to prove Jesus was guilty and a law breaker. They falsely thought it was their law they were the sole arbiters of enforcing it. In their religious zeal, like Saul before his revelation on the road, they hated the Son of God. Jesus words greatly upset the law enforcers.
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
So they brought this dear woman to Jesus, the latest attempt to entrap Him. Sin often results in widespread damage, like collateral damage in war. It destroys more than the one(s) directly involved and that’s the first lesson from this account.
Jesus responded in an unusual way, by not immediately answering them, but stooping and writing on the ground with His finger. But they didn’t give up, they kept on questioning Him as He wrote in the dust.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘LET ANY ONE OF YOU WHO IS WITHOUT SIN BE THE FIRST TO THROW A STONE AT HER.’ 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (Some say He was writing the names of those who’d been involved in immorality.)
How many of us today would stand accusing brothers and sisters if we thought on Jesus’ words.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
Her accusers left one by one, oldest first. They’d been so sure their accusations were right, but the Son of God told them to look closer to home. Before we start denouncing others ( get on our high horse) we should remember Jesus words and consider our faults and indiscretions.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
11 ‘No one, sir,’ she said. (her only recorded words)
This whole episode began with the aggressive questions of the accusers, literally looking for blood. Jesus and the woman remained virtually silent. It’s not easy to be silent when others are shouting accusations at us, but Jesus sided with the accused lady. Many times God is not on the side of those making accusations.
‘THEN NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU,’ Jesus declared. ‘GO NOW AND LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN.’ John 8
The word ‘Now’ is used twice in this account,
NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY? and NOW LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN. Jesus did have a NOW Word for the woman but it wasn’t condemnation.
May God bless and keep you today.