The Second Stone

The Second Stone

"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." John 8:7 (KJV)

Intro: One morning, Jesus made a visit to the temple in Jerusalem.

Though it was early…, quite a large number of people were already there.

The temple was not only a place of worship,

but it was also a place of gathering…,

a sort of community center

where people would meet and visit throughout the day.

Since Jesus was considered a rabbi…,

it took very little time for a group of people to gather around Him to listen to His instructions.

Jesus sat before them (which was the custom of a rabbi about to teach)

and he began to share the wonderful words of life.

At the same time…, just across town, another meeting was taking place.

The very religious Scribes and Pharisees had caught a woman in the very act of adultery…

They grabbed the woman and made a beeline for the temple—where Jesus was.

The worship service was already underway…,

But they burst in interrupting the morning sermon.

They forced their way through the crowd and brought the woman before Jesus.

“Master” …that is what they called Jesus to his face…

But behind his back they showed no respect for Him at all.

Their motive was clear: look at John 8 verse 6

“This they said…, trying to trap Jesus…, into saying something…, they could use against Him.” 8:6

If Jesus said the woman should NOT be stoned, they would accuse him of violating the law of Moses

If Jesus urged the crowd to execute her…,

they would report Jesus to Romans, who would arrest Jesus for not having the authority to give such an order.

“Master, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.

Now Moses (says) . . . ,

but what do you say?” (v.5).

Imagine the accusers… they eyes dark and filled with bitterness…

The whispers in the crowd grow to an uncomfortable silence…

as they wait…,

and anticipate…, what… will… Jesus answer???

BUT Jesus begins to write something in the dirt with his finger.

The crowd continued to demand an answer.

Slowly Jesus stood up…

And he said, “He that is without sin among you…, let him cast the first stone at her” (v.7).

And Jesus went back to writing something in the dust…

Learn this Lesson: on Casting the first stone.

The Day of Judgment is coming…

But the one who is to do the judging is not us.

It is important for us to understand that Jesus is not saying that there want be a day of judgment,

because there will be.

BUT What he is saying…, is that is the one…, who is to do the judging…, is not us.

What He was saying is simply this: “Let the sinless one cast stone #1.”

You see, after the first stone is thrown…, the crowd is more likely to join in on casting more stones…

Who would be in the crowd to execute this adultery by stoning?

The bible said, there were scribes…a scribe was someone who kept copies of the laws of Moses…

They were writers of the Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy…

If anyone knew the bible well…, they did…

And there were the Pharisees…they were very religious…,

They believed in only one Lord God of Israel…

NOT just Religious but strict religious

Strict religious…, there was no room for error or fault

I suppose that is why they had such difficulty understanding and believing in the concept of Grace…

Among the Pharisees were the Zealots…

People who have ZEAL

The Zealots believed in eager pursuit of God…

Men like Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul

Saul a purist who thought he was doing the work to keep the church pure and unadulterated…

Consented to the stoning of Stephen

The first Christian Martyer

"And they stoned Stephen, while Stephen prayed calling upon God,

saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 7:59 (KJV)

Jews, and Roman purist, Pharisees and Zealots…

picking up stones ready to throw them to kill a person for their sins…

All in the name of the Law of Moses…

All under the authority of religion…

Maybe that is why Jesus had to come…and die on a cross…, for the sin of the world…

that people could be forgiven and have Grace.

Have you ever really thought about the horrors of stoning someone to death…

It is almost too awful to think about…

Where would you be at in this story?

Would you just be watching?

Waiting to see who would cast the first stone…

Would you maybe pick up a rock and wait until someone else threw a couple stones