JOHN 8:3-11 – Early in the morning Jesus came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
THEME OF THE DAY. LOOKING INTO HIS EYES. The crowd had to be somewhat large. John writes “All the people came to Jesus” and this was at the temple so we may make a good assumption this wasn’t just a small group of scribes, Pharisees, a woman and Jesus. There was probably a curious crowd forming around all of them. And let’s put ourselves into the crowd. We are now observers of the unfolding drama.
The religious leaders bring this woman to center stage. She was caught in the act of adultery. Perhaps she had a reputation making her easy to find. Bringing her forth, we observe her inward and outward shame. Inwardly, she isn’t defending herself. She knows her guilt. Her outward shame was caused by the glaring accusatory eyes from all the people. I hope we wouldn’t be one of them. However, don’t underestimate the power of remaining self-righteousness in us that tempts us to see a fallen brother and sister, and inwardly whisper, “How could he? How could she? I would never do such a thing.” Be careful because you could. I could. There is no sin under the sun we are not incapable of committing. When we say or even think, “I would never”, the door to “maybe” is now open as pride moves us closer to some sin we thought we would never entertain. Back to the story.
The drama intensifies with the dialogue between the religious leaders and the Lord Jesus. They try to trick Him. Oh the folly of us humans – to think we can maneuver God! As they continue their failed attempts to trap the Lord, He dramatically defeats them – “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Exposed and shamed, the scribes and Pharisees are no different than the woman. But unlike the woman, exposure of their sin drove them away from the Savior, not near. Lesson for us – don’t let sin drive us away from the only source of cleansing and restoration – Jesus. The crowd now thins, but we remain thinking, “What is Jesus going to do with her?” and we quickly see and hear. He does for her what He does for us – all the time. He looks at her, not with condemnation but with forgiveness – “Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” This now forgiven woman started out shamed by sin now “skips down the street” with the joy of forgiveness flooding her heart. Friend, this is our Jesus; His look at us is compassion, not condemnation. In our failings and sinning, don’t be afraid to look into His eyes. He will treat us like He did this adulterous woman, and we, too, will know the joy of His loving look of forgiveness.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for a steadfast love that doesn’t look over my sin but has provided for my sin in Your Son”
QUOTE: “Jesus never looks at His children with eyes of condemnation but of compassion. Rest in this truth.”