Laying Down Your Stones
John 8:1-11
June 24, 2005
Introduction
I can remember a time when my neighbor and I were looking for stones in my driveway that we could skip across our creek. We made a nice pile of flat stones that might work well for the task of skipping stones across the creek. In the process we made a pile of larger stones to use for other things, like throw at snakes or maybe birds or even a car.
My mom had an old car that was ready for the junkyard and was used for nothing. So my neighbor and I decided that it would make for a good target to practice on before we went and tackled those snakes or whatever else we might have come across that day.
The first throw my neighbor missed by a mile, little did I know he missed on purpose because he saw my mom watching from the kitchen window, and I knew I could do better. So I hauled off and hit the driver’s side headlight. It went to pieces literally and so did my mother. There were very few times that I heard my full name come out of my mother’s mouth but this was one of them. That hot summer day I learned a valuable lesson, don’t throw stones.
This morning as you came in you should have been handed a stone. Stones can be valuable as well, you use stones to build something. You can use stones cover something up or you can even decorate with stones.
Take just a moment to feel the stone, what do you feel? There is a hardness. There is a heaviness. There is a coarseness. There is sometimes a feeling that you just want to throw that stone.
If you have your Bibles with you this morning, open them to John 8:1-11.
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."
The Reason for Throwing Stones
There is absolutely nothing wrong with calling sin exactly what it is. God hates sin and makes it clear that sin will never have a place in His presence. As believers, we are called to hate sin and stand against sinful behavior. However, it is important to remember that God hates sin but He loves the sinner. Jesus died to redeem lost people, to buy them back from the penalty and punishment of sin. More important than our call to hate sin, is to love sinners. Far too often we forget this fundamental fact. We look at people, size them up, pass judgment and begin throwing stones. The sad truth is that we are far more willing to point out the faults and failures of others without realizing and recognizing that we are not without faults ourselves.
As the Pharisees take this woman out before Jesus, she is nothing more than a pawn in a plan to attack Jesus. Let’s not forget the fact that there was indeed a man involved in this situation and it doesn’t make sense for the Pharisees to bring the woman and not the man. Both of them were guilty but one thing is clear about life, the behavior that comes from the flesh never has to make sense. The stone throwing began when they discarded being just.
The Law that the Pharisees were so careful to quote and defend had already been disregarded because they had only brought the woman. Clearly there was no interest in justice. The stone throwing began before anyone ever picked up a rock. It began with a malicious intent to discredit Jesus no matter who got harmed in the process.
The motive of these leaders was not to promote the things of God but instead they were promoting their own agenda and were looking out for their own interests. At first glance most of us would come down hard on these Pharisees because after all their behavior is despicable. However, are we really that much different from the Pharisees? Haven’t we all at one point or another pushed to get our way? Haven’t we all had times when we got upset over things that are really insignificant? Haven’t we all done things that we desired instead of what God desired?
The truth of the matter is this: we are all guilty of sin. We all point fingers at others. We are all guilty of throwing stones.
The Reality of the Throwing Stones
Why were these men so intent on destroying Jesus?
The root of the cause flows from an unforgiving heart. A heart that will neither let go of past pains or endure current difficulties. Jesus has disturbed their way of life. He had challenged their preconceived ideas of religion. Jesus has disturbed their power by appealing to the masses that the religious leaders had forgotten. Jesus disturbed their position because He was drawing large numbers of people to be His disciples. Jesus disturbed their personal ideals that were not in line with the direction of the Father.
If we remember the wrongs which men have done us, we destroy the power of the remembrance of God - Abba Macarius the Great
Why did these men want to throw stones? The same reason that we want to throw them.
• We throw stones because we harbor hatred
• We throw stones because we hold on to bitterness
• We throw stones because we are entangled in anger
• We throw stones because we want to have revenge
• We throw stones because we will not let go of the things that upset us
If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her
Can we really afford to throw stones? We all make mistakes. We all have sinned. We all have the same spiritual need for Jesus.
We would never think of actually throwing stones at other people but we far too often throw emotional or spiritual stones at others.
• Hurtful comments
• Use generalizations
• Gossip
• Judgmental statements
• Harsh with the truth
What is it that makes people want to throw stones?
• Frustration: When we become frustrated it distorts our ability to see things clearly
• Fatigue: Everything always looks worse when we are tired
• Failure: When others fail us we are quick to judge their actions. When we fail others we are quick to justify our actions
• False Assumptions: When we get only bits and pieces of the truth, we create assumptions based on faulty logic
• Feelings: If we make the choice to follow our feelings we make the choice to be shallow
The moment we seek retribution for wrongs done to us, either real or imagined, we lose a piece of our relationship with God. Once this happens, it becomes much, much easier to throw stones. We use the things that happen to us as a way of justifying our actions.
The Rejection of Throwing Stones.
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."
Jesus is the only one who has both the right and the reason to condemn and this is what Jesus does He condemns. Jesus always condemns the sin and loves the sinner. Sin destroys the lives of those that Jesus loves. Sin in essence is the corruption of God’s creation. We are called to look at the lives of others the way that Jesus does: recognize the corruption and still love the creation. Love the person and hate their sin.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us Romans 8:34
Through Jesus we are set free from condemnation, the punishment of sin.
Go and leave your life of sin.
We will never be completely free from the power of sin because sin brought death into the world and we will all one day die. We can be set free from the bondage of sin. The actions that reveal sin within us. When we speak destructively. When we seek to create discord. When we stir up division. When we settle in disagreement.
Forgiveness flows from the life of Jesus. It is empowered by His sacrifice on the cross and it is finalized by the triumph of the resurrection.
Conclusion
What stones are you holding onto today?
• Stone of bitterness
• Stone of anger
• Stone of hatred
• Stone of prejudice
Whatever stone you are carrying it is a needless weight that you bear. It is a pointless part of your life. The stone in your hand can be a means of letting go.
Don’t you think it is time for you to lay down your stones? Why not take this opportunity to give your stones over to God?
This morning, if God has been speaking to you, listen to His voice and submit those stones that you would use to destroy to let Jesus build something beautiful with them.
Come to the altar and lay down the stones that you carry?
