Encountering Jesus (5)
Scott Bayles, pastor
Blooming Grove Christian Church: 2/1/2015
Over the last few weeks, we’ve discovered the stories of four changed lives! They include a scholar, a five-time divorcée, a couple of blind men, and a wee-little tax-collector from Jericho. Each of them was burdened with baggage—the luggage of life. A suitcase of discontentment. A backpack full of shame and regret. A duffel bag overflowing with weariness and rejection. A satchel of greed and ill-gotten gain. Yet, each of them laid their luggage down at the feet of Jesus. Their lives were changed by an encounter with Christ.
Looking at these lives gives us hope because we find ourselves in some of the same situations. We may be caught in the grip of bad choices or living in the backwash of failure. We may be outstanding members of the community but sense an emptiness in life that possessions and position can’t fill. Maybe you’re lugging your own Samsonite suitcase full of sin, shame and regret.
The good news is—Jesus can change us no matter what our life situation. He can give us peace and hope and, perhaps most importantly, grace.
If anyone can tell you about grace, it’s the woman Jesus encounters in John 8. Let me invite you to read this passage with me:
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, “Let any one of you who is without sin 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.” (John 8:1-11 NIV).
An interesting detail about this story—in most Bibles you’ll find it in italics or with a footnote explaining that this particular passage wasn’t written by John. It’s found in many ancient manuscripts, inserted either here or elsewhere in John’s gospel, but it’s missing from the oldest manuscripts. Which means that, at some point, a scribe inserted the story into John Gospel while making copies. My guess is that it was probably one of the scribes who helped drag this anonymous woman from her bedroom. We may never know who penned this portion of Scripture, but I think the Holy Spirit set aside a special place in the Bible for it, because in many ways her story is our story.
In this story, these teachers of the Law had promoted themselves to keepers of the Law and the Pharisees appointed themselves prosecutors. They turned the Temple courtyard into a courtroom, and together they presented their case to Jesus, whom they were hoping would play the role of Judge. As we examine this story more closely, let’s start with her accusers.
• HER ACCUSERS
Nothing is more humiliating than being caught in the act of doing wrong. Whether it’s a child with a hand in the cookie jar or an adult driving over the speed limit, we all know the sinking feeling of being caught. In John 8, this woman is caught in the most humiliating of situations—in the very act of adultery.
Priests slammed open the bedroom door, threw back the widow curtains and pulled off the covers. She scarcely had time to cover her body before they marched her through the narrow streets. And as if the bedroom raid and the parade of shame were inadequate, the men thrust her into the middle of an early morning Bible class!
While Jesus is busy explaining spiritual things to God-hungry hearts, the Pharisees announce, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery” (John 8:4 NLT). Caught in the very act. In the moment. In the arms. In the passion. She is pulled from the bed and pushed into the sunlight in front of Jesus and his students with nothing but a dangling nighty and smeared lipstick.
Maybe you can relate. Your accuser may not wear a long rob and unkempt beard, but you have one nonetheless. The Bible calls Satan “the accuser of our brothers and sisters… the one who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10 NLT). Day after day, hour after hour. Relentless, tireless. Satan makes a career out of accusing. He points a gnarled finger in your direction and accuses: This person was caught in the act of immorality… stupidity… dishonesty… selfishness… greed… lust. The charges just keep piling up. The worst part is—he’s not wrong. Neither were the scribes and Pharisees. She was guilty. So are we.
I’m reminded of a scene that took place in a San Diego Superior Court. Two men were on trial for armed robbery. An eyewitness took the stand, and the prosecutor moved carefully: “So, you say you were at the scene when the robbery took place?” he asked. “Yes,” the witness responded. “And you saw a vehicle leave at a high rate of speed?” he continued. “Yes,” the witness answered again. “And did you observe the occupants?” he probed further. “Yes, two men,” The witness replied. Then, tuning away the prosecutor asked loudly, “Are those two men present in the courtroom today?” And thinking that the question was directed at them, the two defendants—to everyone’s surprise—raised their hands sealed their fate.
It may seem stupid, but we might as well do the same thing. We’re guilty. We know it, Satan knows it, and God knows. We might as well raise our hands and admit it. The scantily clad woman in the midst of the crowd was in the same boat. She was guilty and her accusers made sure everyone knew it.
Fortunately, they wouldn’t have the last word, because Jesus stepped down from the Judge’s bench and became her advocate.
• HER ADVOCATE
The Bible reveals the motives behind his drama when it says, “They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him” (John 8:6 NLT). It was true that the Old Testament commands the Jews to stone an adulterer, so if Jesus disagreed, they’d accuse him of disregarding Scripture. On the other hand, the Jews were currently under Roman occupation and didn’t have the authority to execute someone without a Roman trial. So if Jesus said to stone her, they’d accuse him of insurrection.
Jesus refused to play their game, though. In fact, he ignored them. The Bible says, “Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger” (John 8:6 NLT). What on earth was he writing? Wouldn’t we like to know? I’ve heard lots of theories, but we’ll come back to that. The self-appointed prosecutors didn’t like being snubbed, so they kept demanding a verdict. So finally, the Bible says, Jesus stood up and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:7 NLT).
Suddenly the once-clamoring accusers fell silent. Their scornful glances softened. Their snarling lips relaxed. And their grips loosened. The silence was broken by the dull thud of a dozen stones falling to the ground. Bullies are all alike regardless of what century you’re in. If you stand up to them, they typically back down.
That’s what Jesus did for this woman. He lifted himself erect until his shoulders were straight and his head was high. He stood up for her. He does the same for you. The Bible announces “The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us” (Romans 8:34 MSG). Let that sink in for a moment. In the presence of God, in defiance of Satan, Jesus Christ rises to your defense. Christ offers unending intercession on your behalf—whether you deserve it or not!
Jesus knows you’re guilty. You stand before him just as naked as she did. He sees your dishonesty, adultery, angry outbursts, hypocrisy, pornography—he sees it all. But he sticks up for you anyway. Like this woman, we all stand accused before God. And like her, we’re guilty. But before the sentence could be handed down, Jesus stood up and stepped in. And that brings us to the last part of her story, her acquittal.
• HER ACQUITTAL
One by one, the scribes and Pharisees slipped away until Jesus was left alone in the middle of the crowd with the woman. That’s when we witness this sweet exchange:
Jesus raised up again and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?” She answered, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” (John 8:10-11 NLT)
Ironically, when Jesus said, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” that narrowed the potential executioners to one. As God in the flesh, Jesus was the only one qualified to pass judgment, but he refused to do it. I don’t think that makes Jesus soft on sin, but I do think it makes him big on grace!
Earlier this week, I read the story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?" And she whispered to him, "Remember the duck!" So, Johnny did the dishes.
What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. "Remember the duck," Sally’d whisper when he objected. So weary of the chore, he finally decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck.
"I know, Johnny," his grandma said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. I love you and I already forgave you. I just wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you."
He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser. Don’t make the same mistake.
Satan likes to whisper his accusations in our ears.
“You aren’t good enough.”
“You’ll never turn your life around.”
“You failed—again.”
“Remember the duck,” he whispers. “Remember your faults, failures, and flaws.”
Unlike the conviction of the Holy Spirit, Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret. He has deputized a horde of silver-tongued demons to help him. He enlists people to peddle his poison. Friends dredge up your past. Preachers proclaim all guilt and no grace. Don’t listen to voices of condemnation and accusation. Listen instead to, your Advocate, who declares on our behalf, “So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty” (Romans 8:1 NCV).
Getting back to the words Jesus wrote in the dust, like I said, I’ve heard lots of theories. Let me share one that I’m particularly fond of. In his book, Grace, Max Lucado writes this:
Within a few moments the courtyard was empty. Jesus, the woman, her critics—they all left. But let’s linger. Look at the rocks on the ground, abandoned and unused. And look at the scribbling in the dust. It’s the only sermon Jesus ever wrote. Even though we don’t know the words, I’m wondering if the read like this: Grace happened here.
It did. And it still does.
Conclusion:
Only God knows what happened to the woman caught in adultery, but I’m certain that her life was changed. How could it not be? Her encounter with Jesus was an encounter with outrageous love and amazing grace. It was a life-changing experience. Each one of us can have a similar encounter.
Invitation:
If you need to experience his pardon, to be acquitted of your sins, I want to invite you to approach the bench and appeal to the only judge that matters. Let Jesus, in his limitless love and grace, do for you what he did for this woman, for me, and for so many others. And if there is anything we as a church can do to help you “go, and sin no more,” let us know.
