Don't Be A Stoner... Be A Transformer Series

DON’T BE A STONER…

BE A TRANSFORMER!

John 8:1-11

Introduction:

I want to begin a two-part message today entitled: “Don’t be a stoner… Be a transformer!”

Really the thrust of these two messages is going to center on how we in our lives respond to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Word of God, during the ministry of Christ, (as we have seen all summer), people were not like most Americans today. Today many people will hear the name of “God” or “Jesus” and not really think anything of it – dismiss it as someone cussing.

Not so when Jesus walked this earth – people RESPONDED to HIM!

John 8:1-11 1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

1.) THE CONTEXT

I KNOW THAT I MAY SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS POINT – IT SEEMS THAT IT IS ALWAYS THE FIRST POINT I MAKE, BUT REALLY, IT IS SOOOOOO… SIGNIFICANT WHEN READING THE WORD OF GOD!

THIS PASSAGE REALLY BRINGS TO LIGHT HOW INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT CONTEXT IS WHEN READING GOD’S WORD – CHECK OUT VS. 1

John 8:1 1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

THIS VERSE DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE WITHOUT READING THE VERSES THAT PRECEDE IT AND GRABBING THE CONTEXT OF WHAT GOD IS COMMUNICATING TO US HERE:

John 7:45-53 45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53And every man went unto his own house.

THIS WHOLE CONTEXT IN CHAPTER 7 IS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES. JESUS HAS BEEN IN THE TEMPLE TEACHING THE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS!

John 7:31 31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

THESE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES ARE NOT PLANNING ON BEING UPSTAGED BY ANYONE, LET ALONE SOME GALILEAN.

I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE WAY THEY RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THEY HAVEN’T SEEN THE LAST OF HIM!

John 8:2 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE HE IS AGAIN, IN THE TEMPLE THE NEXT DAY. ONCE AGAIN DRAWING AND TEACHING “ALL” THE PEOPLE.

2.) THE CONVICTION

SEE, THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING CREATIVE! THEIR SHIP IS SINKING – EVEN THEIR OWN PEOPLE – (NICODEMUS) ARE STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS WHO HE SAID HE WAS!

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE POWER JUST TO TAKE THIS MAN AND DO AS THEY PLEASED, OR THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM THE DAY BEFORE. THEY HAVE TO TRICK HIM – TO BRING FALSE ACCUSATION AGAINST HIM – SOMETHING!!!

SO THEY ORGANIZE A LITTLE LYNCH MOB AND BRING ONE CONVICTED OF ADULTRY TO HIM.