THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 8, Part 1, The Adulterous Woman

THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 8, Part 1

The Adulterous Woman

This chapter reveals the most profound truths of Jesus’ Mission, His Purpose, His Identity as the “son of man” and The Son of God and of our destiny as believers, both now and for all eternity.

John 8:1, But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Verse 2. And early in the morning He came again into the temple area, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began teaching them. Verse 3. Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard, verse 4, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. Verse 5. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” Verse 6. Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

(Commentary Break): There are at least four major takeaways from these verses. (1). Accusations of sin. (2). Sinners and sin. (3). The penalty of sin. (4). The deception of sin. This is always the pattern, is it not? We, or someone, sees or perceives sin, so they accuse, either through private judgment, gossip or a direct and public accusation. We brand others as sinful and deserving some kind of punishment, and in this case the scribes and the Pharisee’s edict or punishment for this sin is a physical death of the accused. Therein lies the deception, both in the life of the accused and of the accusers.

Oddly, however, at this point Jesus says nothing, but stoops down and writes on the ground with his finger. Perhaps He was just letting this scenario play out? No one can know what He was writing, but don’t get the idea that He was ‘doodling’ while He listened and pondered the matter. Jesus knew. He knew what the woman had done, how she felt, He knew her mindset, her remorse and her fears. He also knew the heart and the motive of the scribes and the Pharisees was to test and accuse Him and this woman was just a sinner worthy of collateral damage, as far as they were concerned. So, Jesus waited. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 7. When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Verse 8. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Verse 9. Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard. Verse 10. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” Verse 11. She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.”

(Commentary Break): Now we see three more major takeaways in these verses. (1). Revelation. (2). Realization. (3). Redemption. Jesus stand straight up, faces the accusers and reveals what is hidden – no one, no not one, is without sin. All are guilty. The scribes and Pharisees realize they have been found out, so they leave, one by one, the older ones (perhaps signifying greater awareness) first. Then it is just Jesus and the sinner – the woman. And once again Jesus stands straight up, faces the woman, forgives her and sends her on her way reminding to sin no more. The Pharisees believed that only God can forgive, so this would have been a visual testimony to Jesus’ claim of Deity. (End Commentary Break).

These verses present us a pattern and an example for us to follow. When we hear an accusation of sin, like Jesus, it is wise to quietly and patiently consider the source of the accusation, the accuser, the sin, and the sinner, knowing that even now, the penalty of sin is death – even spiritual death. And where there is sin, deception abound. So, we are to stand up and face the accusations with patience and Godly wisdom, and allow God to reveal what is hidden, and realize that none of us are without sin, but there is forgiveness and redemption in Christ Jesus. This is our example.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: (coming soon), THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 8, Part 2, Jesus is the Light of the World, The Truth will Set You Free

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 7, Part 2, People Divided over Jesus.

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