Busted And Embarrassed Series

John 8:1-11 (p. 746) June 1, 2014

Introduction:

At the end of their first date, a young man takes the girl back to her home. Emboldened by the night, he decides to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her, “Darling, how ‘bout a good night kiss?”

Embarrassed, she replies, “Oh, I couldn’t do that. My parents will see us!”

“Oh come on! Who’s gonna see us at this hour?”

“No, please. I would just die of embarrassment if someone saw us.”

“Oh come on, there’s nobody around, they’re all sleeping!”

“No way. It’s just too risky!”

“Oh please, please, I like you so much!”

“No. I like you too, but I just can’t!”

“Oh yes you can. Please?”

“No, no. I just can’t.”

“Pleeeeeeease?...”

Out of the blue, the porch light goes on and the girl’s sister shows up in her pajamas, hair disheveled. In a sleepy voice the sister says: “Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss. Or I can do it. Or if need be, he’ll come down himself and do it. But for crying out loud tell him to hake his hand off the intercom button!”

Busted!!! And Embarrassed!!! Have you been there? Your hand caught in the cookie jar.

Sin is something we’d like to keep secretive, hidden. That’s why they’re called “Night Clubs” not “Day Clubs.” We lock the door so no one comes in...we go to another town where no one knows us. We want the place to be dark so no one sees us.

And why do we sin? Well, Hebrews 11:25 tells us...”we enjoy sins pleasure for a season.”

I hate pickled beets...they taste like purple pickled dirt to me. If you like them, good, but they make me physically sick. (And no I don’t want to try your aunt Gertrude’s special recipe to make them!) If sin appealed to me like “pickled beets” I’d be perfect. No problem saying NO!

But sin appeals to our nature like “red velvet cake” and fried chicken” does to my appetite. It tastes good, but then I know I shouldn’t have done that.

We enjoy the high at the party and if feels good temporarily...the problem comes when we wreck the car or get pulled over on the way home...We hide behind the locked door, but then someone walks in...We go to the other town where no one knows us, but run into our sister in law at the restaurant. And the pleasure is replaced with the harvest we’ve planted.

Billy Sunday he old evangelist said, “Most people live their lives sowing wild oats all week long, and then they go to church on Sunday to pray for crop failure.”

Paul tells the Galatians, and us “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked, we reap what we sow.” Whoever sows to please their flesh, with the flesh will reap destruction, whoever sows to please the (Holy) Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8)

Satan tries to convince us that sin doesn’t matter. We can hide it, pretend no one sees or hears. But all the while we’re leaning against the “spiritual” intercom and our heavenly Father knows exactly what we’re doing.”

Our story of brokenness this morning involves a woman who gets caught in the very art of adultery. There’s no uncertainty about what’s going on. In the middle of this sin...the door swings open, and the lights come on. Busted. It takes two for adultery to occur...it says a great deal about the accusers in this story...that only the woman is “held accountable.” Was it a set up...the man one of their own...I don’t know, but they were willing to crucify an innocent man, or two, so nothing is beyond their deceit.

She is brought to the temple courts. Where a crowd of people are gathered. She is made to stand before “these religious leaders,” the crowd, and Jesus himself. Are you with me? At her worst, in her sin guilt and shame she is made a spectacle.

I. SIN CAN QUICKLY REVEAL ACCUSERS AND SPECTATORS.

Sin will always be one of the greatest litmus tests when it comes to the human heart. Ours, and how we deal with the sins of others.

[I watched a 20/20 ID program about two football players from Stubenville, OH. They were two local heroes from “The Big Red” High School Football team. And one night after a preseason game they went to a party, in fact 3. A 16 year old girl from W.V., an honor student and soccer player showed up. She got drunk, then she got drunker, and before the night was over these 2 football players...raped her, and video taped the rape...but so did dozens of other kids...through the night there were over a hundred texts and pictures posted...“Drunken Whore.” “She looks dead LMAO.”