The Woman Caught In Adultery

Encounters - Conversations with Jesus

The Woman Caught in Adultery

December 2, 2018

John 8:2-11 NIV

“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."

They made her stand before the group.

Jesus never shamed people.

“You should be ashamed.”

SHOW PHOTO Here

Shame convinces us there is no hope of ever changing or getting better.

Shame takes away our courage. “There’s no use trying.” “I’ll always be bad.”

What was Jesus writing in the dirt?

V.9 - At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left.

V.11 - "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared.

Romans 8:1-2 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Condemnation is a final sentence. You have been found guilty!

Jesus gave her good news! She was guilty, but she was not condemned. She was forgiven and given a new start. She could start over. She had been pardoned!

Paroled – A person is set free because of good behavior, but your record is never changed.

Pardon – A guilty person is set free, absolved of that conviction, as if never convicted.

V.11 - "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Romans 8:5-6 NIV

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace

We ‘ve all been guilty.

Jesus came to pardon us.

We have the Holy Spirit, so we can have life and peace!