No Condemnation
background info on the passage -
Today's story not in any of the earliest manuscripts. No Greek church father comments on the passage until the twelfth century. Where did it come from? One early manuscript places it after Luke 21:38 during passion week. Second century Church Father Papias, quoted in Eusebius, recounts a similar story, but attributes it to the Gospel of the Hebrews.
New Jerusalem Bible (NJB 1985). "The author of this passage, 7:53-8:11 is not John: it is omitted by the oldest witnesses (MSS, versions, Fathers) and found elsewhere in others; moreover, its style is that of the Synoptics and the author was possibly Luke, see Lk 21:38n. Nevertheless, the passage was accepted in the canon and there are no grounds for regarding it as unhistorical."
It sounds just like Jesus, I commend it to you as inspired.
Read the passage or show the video clip from John
JN 7:53 Then each went to his own home.
8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
from the Point of View of the Pharisees -
Jesus undermines their authority
Jesus seems soft on sin - we will lose control if people buy this stuff. We have to teach Jesus a lesson
The pharisees story is my story - I can hate the sinner more than the sin. I am more like the Pharisee than I am like Jesus
from the POV of the woman -
From Jesus Spirit is life - law kills - you're right, dead right. She deserves death.
But don't you all get it? You deserve death too.
You have broken God's commandments.
But Jesus is not soft on sin!
1CO 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Why is adultery so bad? It wrecks marriage - and marriage is a living sacrament of God and His church. Sure she is broken, screwed up. Let's stone her to death. Pick up those rocks - find a big one, let's get in line, and we will start the festivities with the person who has never sinned.
What happens when Jesus takes hold of a messed up life?
Video Clip - One woman's story - 4 min
Next Step -
Where are your accusers? Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
No one, sir," "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin."
You haven't repented unless you change.
