Throwing Stones in Church
Vs
The Sensitivity of Grace
By
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
John 8:1-11 “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This 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]. So 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. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And 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. When 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? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”.
SENSITIVITY:- having acute mental or emotional sensibility, aware of and responsive to the feelings of others.
GRACE:- Grace is the unmerited favor of God. In other words there is nothing I can do to cause God to give me love, kindness, and favor, but because He is Love and Kindness He expresses or endows me with favor unsolicited; therefore it GRACE.
I like to break Grace down like this:
G:- goodness
R:- redemption
A:- Adoration
C:- compassion
E:- Everlasting life
If I didn’t say another word you should be in an atmosphere of worship because of GRACE.
Several years ago the big thing that was going around Christendom was W.W.J.D and it stood for What Would Jesus Do. Thank God for the examples that He has left us in the Bible because they show us how we are to walk this walk. We all no doubt have heard the BIBLE broken down stands for BASIC INTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH, in other words here is the example you must go by in order to have eternal life. The Bible says let every man be a lie, but the Word of God be true. This lets me understand that man’s opinion, ideas, thoughts, traditions, or just the way we have always done a thing doesn’t matter, because the Word of God shows us truly how to do a thing it is our school master teaching us how to do like Jesus did.
OPENING:- If we are honest with ourselves many of us wish that the so-called riffraff, bothersome, problematic, unmanageable, uncooperative, difficult, unruly, not like me people would just go away or that the Wrath of God would severely fall upon them this very moment. We have the tendency to want people that don’t do things our way or that seemingly get on our last nerve to receive justice from God while we ourselves plead for the grace of God to be poured out abundantly on me.
Let me talk about myself because I know me. My wife can attest to this because I have often said when someone in front of me drives in a way that makes me upset, I say I wish I could just make a magical wall appear right in front of them, not to kill them, but to make them stop and do like in a cartoons – I just did something stupid or – what a dah just happened.
WHY – because they are not doing what I think they should be doing, but when I’m the one that’s doing the same thing or something just as wrong or what I perceive as wrong, as they are doing I want to become arrogant, high and mighty, or act as though my stuff doesn’t stink. My wife will say if they were doing the same thing you are doing you would have a fit.
So manytimes we are so quick to be judge, jury, and executioner over somebody else’s imperfections, but when the spot light is turned onto our lives we cower like a dog with its tail between its legs, run and hide under the porch ashamed and embarrassed because we realize oh wait minute somebody’s looking at me and it doesn’t feel so good. We realize oh I got some faults, I got some issues, I got something’s I don’t want to come out, I don’t have just a skeleton in my closet, but a whole graveyard and can’t let them know about me.
Now let me inject this right here before I go any further, if you are one that feels this message doesn’t pertain to you remember that WATCH THIS:- The Bible says we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23. And because we all have sinned “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6. None of us are sinless for we all are born in sin and shapened in iniquity. So no-one can say well that’s not me or he is talking about someone else, because we all have sinned. So if this word hurts you just say as I heard someone say OUCH-ALLELUJAH.
Today in our text we see we are going to talk about the story of the woman caught in adultery. We will notice in this lesson how the so-called church folk wanted to throw stones and kill her right in the church, but how the sensitivity of grace prevailed.
Thank God for GRACE.
I want to point out something’s that are very important in this lesson. We will learn from this lesson that it doesn’t matter how religious, so-called holy, or churchified you think you may be, we all have a long way to go just to be like the Lord.
We are going to talk about the 3 things that happened in this text:-
1. Conflict in the Church
2. Condemnation of the Church
3. Consolement without the Church
When it comes to Christianity, not talking about denominations, but in Christendom there are two types of people. There are church folk and kingdom folk. Church folk know how to and do church, they know the laws, regulations, traditions, customs, ideologies, and so forth, they know when to say amen, hallelujah, clap their hands, dance, and even how to act like they are speaking in tongues. Church folk are real religious.
Kingdom folk on the other hand aren’t worried about traditions, customs, or whatever they just want to embrace God as they strive to get into His presence.
In this text we see that we are dealing with church folk because as we shall see they are real religious, when they should be trying to embrace God and thank Him for GRACE.
Let us get into this lesson and see what God is teaching us here.
Versus 1-6
Vs#1:- Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. Now we need to understand the setting here, in the 7th chapter Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and He is in the Temple teaching. Well of course the religious church folk don’t take to His teaching and what He is saying and the leaders of the church, the scribes and Pharisees want to get rid of Him, so they are all gathered at the Sanhedrin court trying to devise a plan to entrap Jesus so they can accuse Him and therefore crucify Him. The Sanhedrin court hears testimony of the things that Jesus is preaching and are trying to figure out how they can judge Him on what they have heard about Him, but Nicodemus, who was part of the Sanhedrin court and came to Jesus by night asking about salvation said John 7:50 : Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth”. He spoke up for Jesus, so they devise a plan to try to entrap Him, but it is late so they all return to their different homes with plans to entrap Jesus the next day. Jesus didn’t stay in Jerusalem but always stayed outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives the Bible doesn’t say why exactly, but the Garden of Gethsemane is at the Mount of Olives and we know Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane many times; therefore, it’s not hard to say that Jesus went to the place of worship. He went and did what we are created to do. He worshipped verse 2 says.
Vs#2:- And early in the morning He came into the temple (the house of prayer, the place where the people come together for corporate worship, what we call today the church) and all the people came unto Him, and He sat down (on the Bema Seat, which is the place of authority and teaching) and taught them.
Vs#3:- And the scribes and Pharisees (the religious church folk -, the arrogant, holier than thou religious leaders suddenly barge in, and interrupt Jesus as He is teaching) brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery and when they had set her in the midst (made a public spectacle of her. They made her stand in front of the church as they accused her and told of the charges against her. Can you imagine how she must have felt – in the church? Her deepest secrets, most intimate actions are put on humiliating display. She has been entrapped, accused, judged, and sent for execution by church folk.
Vs#4:- They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Vs#5:- Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? Look what they are doing, we know what the law says, they are saying this is the way that I have always done it, we have been in the way for a long time, we know the traditions, customs, and laws. Leviticus 20:10 says “And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death”. You see what it states that both the man and woman adulterers were supposed to be stoned. But they only bring the woman to Jesus, the question is so where’s the man? It’s was all a set up.
See the Law of Moses specifies death by stoning for adultery, yet Roman law forbidded the Jews from carrying out executions. If Jesus doesn’t condemn the woman, He breaks the Jewish law, if he does condemn her, He breaks the Roman laws. ENTRAPMENT.
Vs#6:- This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. They were trying to set Jesus for a fall. They come bringing this woman to Jesus with malice in their hearts, judgment as their motive, and punishment on their minds. They came to Jesus saying we caught her, now what are you going to do about it.
What hypocrites these so-called religious, church folk were, they accuse a woman of adultery thinking they were hiding their sin of lying and conspiracy to commit murder. Many people today try to do the same thing, by trying to make their sins seem excusable, while they want to get down hard and heavy on how other people live. Oh you know how we do it, I can’t believe they call themselves saved and they wore pants, but your sin of backbiting and gossiping is alright.
CONFLICT IN THE CHURCH
This was the conflict in the church. These so-called religious people that were so caught up in the way things used to be. They were so headstrong on trying to expose and condemn this woman for a sin, but they themselves reeked just as bad from the stench of sin also. The old saying goes ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black. They were in such a frenzy to stone her and entrap Jesus that they came to church, not to worship, but to stir up a bunch of mess. The devil doesn’t mind you coming to church especially if you are going to come a cause confusion, he just doesn’t want you to come to worship, but if you are going to come to stir up some mess he will come with you, if you let him he will even drive you there. These church folk wanted to throw stones in the temple because someone did something that wasn’t right or because they didn’t do what they felt they should have done, but they failed to look and see the sin they were committing. The Bible says it like this “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye”? How are they going to try to condemn this woman when they themselves are full of dead man’s bones. Just because they looked like church, they knew a scripture or two, and carried a Bible on the inside sin was in control.
Look at the tension here in the church? The religious leaders, the so-called church folk have just tried to entrap Jesus and now the people are beginning to wonder W.W.J.D. what will Jesus do. Is He going to break the Law of Moses or is He going to break the Law of the Romans. But what a mighty God we serve.
The Bible continues in verse 6 like this “But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not]”. Jesus didn’t get upset, He didn’t start to accuse the woman, He didn’t all of the sudden have a deliverance service, but he simply stooped down and with his finger, not pointing at them physically, but pointed at the very heart of each and every one of them, began to write in the ground. They tried to use the Law of Moses against Jesus, but they didn’t understand that the finger that wrote the law in the first place was now writing something in the dirt right in front of them. The Bible doesn’t tell us what he wrote, but what He wrote condemned sin.
Vs#7 says “So 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”. He simply turned the spot light on them. He was basically saying before you worry about her sin let’s examine yourself and see what sin you have committed. Jesus upheld the standards of perfect holiness but made it clear that there was only one person present who could have judged the woman. Only one who was sinless. With these words, Jesus made the church folk as uncomfortable as they had made the woman. The old says goes “Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive”. You get tangled in your own mess. Haman did it in Esther when he tried to deceive the king and kill the Jews, he himself ended dying on the gallows he made for them.
Notice that Jesus does not say, throw stones. But what He says is powerful He that is without sin let him cast the first stone. When they looked at what Jesus wrote on the ground they realized that the only one that was without sin was Jesus and if He didn’t throw a stone who were they to throw one.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, that’s you, you, you, and me.
Vs#8 says “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground”. I don’t know what He wrote, but I like to think in my spiritual mind that He wrote:- lying, backbiting, envy, malice, theft, cheating, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, and revellings.
What He wrote on the ground took the conflict in the church and turned it into the condemnation of the church because the Bible says in verse 9.
Vs#9 “And they which heard [it], (see what Jesus wrote, the Word of God spoke to their spirit of man) 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”.
CONFLICT IN THE CHURCH BECAME CONDEMNATION OF THE CHURCH
Those that came all high and mighty, those that thought they were so holy, those that knew the law and the traditions all of the sudden had the tables turned on them. Their conscience began to convict them, they realized wait a minute I too am messed up, I got some issues and problems myself, I don’t have it all together like I thought I did. The Bible says in 1st John 3:20 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things”. God knows what you are really about, He knows what you did when you thought no one was around. He knows when you thought you told that boy or that girl to go into the private chat room and that it was only the two of you there and you began to talk all that nasty talk, you began sexting and thought no one would ever find out about, well Jesus was right there and he saw every word. When you thought what harm can this do, the pastor is not around, the church members aren’t here, I can do it and nobody will be the wiser. See you can hide from man, but you can’t hide from God, He sees all, He knows all, He is everywhere. David said in Psalm 139 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways. For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Remember what you do in secret will be exposed, just look at the news, people think they are hiding their sin, but God is beginning to pull the covers back and expose people for what they really are. God knows and sees all there no hiding place from God.
We better be careful trying to judge someone else’s imperfections because God will turn the spot light right back on you. The trouble with throwing rocks is that once you let it go you have no control over who it is going to hit.
I remember the very first black eye I ever had I was about 8 or 9 years old and then when you liked a girl you did dumb stuff like hit them, push them, or throw rocks at them. This little girl named Wendy lived on the street behind mine, one day she was walking to the school yard with a tennis racket in her hand, I began to throw rock at her, she took the tennis racket and hit the rocks I was throwing at her, one of the rocks came back and hit me almost right in the eye, I ended up with a black eye. Sometimes the rock that you throw in church will come back and hit the sin in your life.
The Bible says that the people that brought the woman to be stoned where convicted in their conscience and began to leave one by one from the oldest to youngest until all of the sudden there was no one but Jesus and the woman.
Vs#10 says “When 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”
Jesus is about to take us to another level here.
CONDEMNATION OF THE CHURCH BECOMES CONSOLEMENT WITHOUT THE CHURCH.
Vs#11 says “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”. Jesus consoled her by Himself, the church folk now realizing that they themselves were full of sin couldn’t stone anyone and because they were so messed up themselves they couldn’t console anyone either because they were so convicted by the things they had done. So without the church Jesus consoles the woman and says neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.
WATCH THIS:- Jesus treated this woman with:- Respect. The religious church folk had treated her as an object, speaking about her in front of everyone. They were her judge, her jury, and trying to make Jesus her executioner, but when Jesus spoke to her He did not view her as an embarrassing failure or an irritating difficulty; He saw her as a person, He wasn’t worried about her past, He didn’t care about what she wore, He didn’t try to change her, but He saw a daughter of God who possessed incredible worth and was in need GRACE.
Jesus treated her with; - Kindness & Compassion. For with Love and Kindness have I begotten thee. When everyone else wanted to destroy her Jesus talked with her and said neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more. He could have condemned her because He was sinless but
He had kindness and compassion for her.
Jesus treated her with:- Hope. This woman needed hope for the future. The phrase, “Go and sin no more” literally means “from this point on.” Jesus is looking at the future He’s not concentrating on the past of what she has done, but what she could become. He is ready to give her a new life, a new destiny, a new identity, and the power to overcome sin. Jesus is not interested in what we’ve done but in what we can become. Behold all things become new.
Jesus endowed her with:- Grace. She was condemned by the church folk because of sin, but because of GRACE, Jesus, looked at her and said, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”.
I like to ask this question WHY DIDN’T JESUS CONDEMN HER?
WATCH THIS:- Jesus didn’t condemn her WHY because He came to be condemned for her. He didn’t just say well since the people are gone you can go to but who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, He knew what He was going to do on the cross for her. Not only for her but for you, you, you, and me.
That’s God’s solution for sin—He took it upon Himself. It cost Him everything, but because of GRACE.
The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.
That’s GRACE, and that high cost should make us stop trying to throw rocks in the church and thank God for the Sensitivity of Grace. Because if it had not been for GRACE where would I be.
Thank God for Grace.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
GRACE - leads us to repentance. Romans 2:4 says “the goodness (that’s Grace) of God leadeth thee to repentance”. Because of Grace I am turning from my wicked ways. Because of Grace I don’t do the things I used to do. Because of Grace I don’t go the places I used to go. Do I have it all together NO but because of GRACE I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.
GRACE - offers a fresh start.
GRACE – doesn’t care what you have done or where you have been.
GRACE – forgives
GRACE – understands
GRACE – LOVES in spite of and regardless of.
GRACE – looks beyond my faults and sees my need.
GRACE – changes the past and gives me a new future.
GRACE – is sensitive.
GRACE – doesn’t judge.
GRACE – doesn’t throw stones.
GRACE – bestows favor
GRACE – opens doors
GRACE – makes a way when there doesn’t seem to be a way.
GRACE – says I still Love you.
GRACE – says I will give you another chance.
GRACE – says you don’t deserve it but here anyway.
GRACE – says it’s paid in full.
GRACE – says Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
GRACE to GRACE.
GRACE – is the unmerited favor of God. I didn’t deserve it but because of Grace.
SOMEBODY OUGHT TO JUST THANK GOD FOR GRACE.
Ω G- GOODNESS
Ω R- REDEMPTION
Ω A-ADORATION
Ω C-COMPASSION
Ω E-EVERLASTING LIFE
GRACE, GRACE, GRACE
IN CLOSING:- We all should have been condemned, stoned, crucified, hanged, boiled in oil, sawn in two, feed to the lions but because of the Sensitivity of Grace we have another chance.
Because we have been given another chance and because of GRACE lay down your rock, lay down drugs, lay down that alcohol, lay down fornication, lay down back biting, lay down adultery, lay down lying, lay down sexting, lay down sneaking around, lay down judging others, lay down laziness, lay down slothfulness, lay down pride, lay down contentment, lay down jealousy, lay down malice, lay down envy, lay down lust, lay down hatred, lay down strife, lay down the spirit of division, lay it down, lay it down, lay it down and pick up GRACE.
Give God PRAISE for GRACE.
I came across this while I was studying for this message and it is so befitting that I just want to share it with you.
This is taken from a book by Joshua Harris entitled “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”. It is such a wonderful picture of GRACE. He talks about a dream he had and calls it “The Room” you might have gotten this in an email from someone because it has been forwarded many many times in those often annoying emails that happen, but sometimes you get one like this.
“The Room.”
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were not distinguishing features of the room except for one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling…had very different headings…the first to catch my attention was one that read, “Girls I have liked.”
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their contents. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching me. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”
The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I have read.” “Jokes I’ve Laughed At.” “Things I’ve done in anger.” Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes there were fewer than I had hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time…to write each of these thousands, possibly millions, of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed contents. I felt so sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.
Suddenly I felt an almost animal rage. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty and burn the cards. But as I took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long self-pitying sigh…and then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out in shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
But then as I pushed away the tears I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.
I watched helplessly as he began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch his response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at his face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with grace in His eyes. But this was a compassion that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.
“No!” I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say was, “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.
He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and continued to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”
Jesus died and covered each and every one of our sins. He suffered and died paying a price He did not owe all so that you and I can have everlasting life. So we ought not to throw stones in the church because if it had not been for Grace it could be you that is the one being stoned.
We are all guilty of sin. Some of us came here looking for a place a refuge and peace. Some of us came here to get away from the cruelty of the streets. Some of us came here because family turned against us. Some of us were addicts, maybe prostitutes, homosexuals, and the lowest of the low, maybe an ex-convict, or a murderer. Some of us were weak, hurt, wounded, lonely, cast down, forsaken, turned out, used, abused, emasculated, raped mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, there’s no doubt we were messed up. Some of us may have came here saying this is it I will give this church thing one shot and if it doesn’t work out I will kill myself and they walk up in the church and the church folk are throwing stones.
Where else is the sinner going to turn if he can’t turn to the church. The church is to be a hospital to the sin sick, a GPS to those that are lost, a family to those without a family, a refuge for those seeking refuge from sin, the guilt of it, and the penalty from it.
So stop throwing rocks in the church and thank God for the Sensitivity of Grace.
REMEMBER 1st Corinthians 6:11 says “And such were some of you”. If it wasn’t for the Sensitivity of Grace you would still be.
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
