THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE – JOURNEY THROUGH JOHN
”Stones…Schemes…Sin…and Salvation”
John 8.1-12
John 8 begins and ends with someone about to be stoned by an angry and seething mob. In the first few verses it’s a woman caught in the act of adultery, but by the end of this single chapter there will be stones in the hands of men bent on killing Jesus! Don’t miss a moment!
John 8:1-12 (HCSB)
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.
5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?”
6 They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger.
7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.
9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center.
10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “ Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Context
After A Night on the Mountain: Jesus has spent the night on the Mountain – he often went there for prayer and time away. He needed it…we need it. The demands that were upon Him were enormous, and the need for perspective and guidance critical.
Early Morning Quiet Shattered: How many of you love the early morning time? It’s quiet…peaceful…serene. You can spend time in prayer, thought, preparation, whatever. Listening to birds, watching the dawn break, or sharing instructive moments with students as Jesus was here. These are great moments. It’s abrasive when something shatters that solitude isn’t it?
Enter the Drama of a Life in the Balance
Lives all around us are hanging in the balance, and the only hope and answer for them was the only hope and answer for this wretched life.
STONES IN THEIR HANDS (3-5)
• Can’t you just hear the conversation on the way as they are dragging this poor girl through the streets. “We’ve got Him now! This will be the end of that Jesus!”
They Had Stones in their Hands
• Stones of Judgment
• Stones of Hatred
• Stones of Indignation
• Stones of Self-righteousness
Question: Where Did The Stones Come From?
Perhaps Some had picked them up along the way!
Many probably had the stones before they grabbed the girl.
They were determined – Someone will die This Morning!
Do we pick up stones along the way…carry them with us…always ready?
SCHEMES IN THEIR HEADS (6a)
• Notice – It was NEVER about the girl’s sin.
o The Accusations were True, but irrelevant to their motives
o The Sin had been Serious, but irrelevant to their motives
o The Result would be Disastrous, but irrelevant to their motives
• So – They Set the Trap like pulling back the spring on a mouse trap.
o If Jesus was lenient they could accuse him of disregarding Jewish law
o Go along with the stoning He violates Roman Law and would be arrested
o There appears to be NO WAY OUT…
o You can hear the cheers and see the “High Fives” – “We got him boys!”
SIN IN THEIR HEARTS (6b-9a)
• Remember – NOTHING catches Jesus unaware.
o He is “Disappointed” but not “Shocked” by the girl’s sin
o He is “Discouraged” but not “Surprised” by their schemes
• Jesus Knows What’s Going on Beneath the Surface
o There are Several Elements here that Reveal Significant Things
First – Where’s the dude? The law required both be executed.
Second – How did they know where to find her?
Third – How many of them had been as guilty of this or other transgressions, but thought they had gotten away with it
• Jesus Cuts to the “Heart of the Matter”
o He makes no direct answer to their question
o He bends down and “doodles” in the dirt
Note: We have no idea what Jesus was writing in the dirt.
o When they PRESS Him for a reply he declares:
“The one without sin among you
should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
• The Stones Drop and the Crowd Thins
They leave oldest to youngest – demonstrating that with age comes wisdom
o Have you ever gotten your hopes up only to be disappointed?
o As wrong and as diabolical as this had been, the feelings had to be similar.
o It’s a wonder that some young gun didn’t just go ahead and hurl his stone anyway.
SALVATION FOR THE HURTING (9b-12)
At the center of the stage in this drama has been a character that seemed to be totally forgotten in the moment. All eyes had been on Jesus, He was in the spot-light. As the crowd thins there is left one other player in the scene, a broken and tattered young woman who has all the emotions of one whose most disgusting and filthy aspect of their life has been put on display for the world to see.
• Shadowed by her Shame
• Shattered by her Sinfulness
There has been one man who could cast that stone
What Would this Righteous Teacher Do when Left with just her?
• SAVED BY HER SAVIOR
o Expecting Condemnation She Finds Comfort
o Anticipating Judgment She Discovers Grace
o Deserving Death She Experiences Mercy
o Awaiting Rage She Encounters Hope
Jesus doesn’t excuse her actions.
Because of His Amazing Love - Jesus accepts her where she is
Jesus tells her to go and “sin no more.”
Because of His Amazing Love – Jesus moves her to real life-change
Invitation “Amazing Love/You are My King”
This is our Lord Jesus – the Same yesterday, today, and always.
This is the Hope for all men – that Forgiveness and Grace are found in Christ
This is the story of grace and hope – that no matter what God loves us in Christ
This is the path to life – that we are cast before Jesus in sin and He receives us.
You don’t need to get your life in order before you meet Jesus, come to Him, and allow Him to work in your life through His Word and the power of His Spirit. He will transform and change you, and you can know His Amazing Love today as this adulteress knew.
