Jesus didn’t do what people expected him to. This week’s text is evidence of that.
Pastor Brian and Rob Faucette tag-teamed this week’s text to reveal how Jesus handled the traps that were set for him by the religious leaders of his day. John 7:53-8:11 explores themes like legalism, grace, adultery, repentance, forgiveness and moral failure.
Let’s read together.
Grow Together
Read this from the Bible together:
John 8:3-11
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…
They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. The Pharisees may have had a hand in exposing this woman’s sin just so they could accuse Jesus. Why is using other people’s sin to prove yourself right a problem?
“The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus always uses his words to reveal the motive of one’s heart. Jesus wanted to challenge the Pharisee’s power as well as their integrity. Can you share a time when the words of Jesus revealed sin in your own heart? Did it challenge your power or your integrity more?
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Jesus draws near to this woman when she is right in the middle of a very public moral failure. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus draws near to us in our worst moments? Why do you think our failure is attractive and not repulsive to Jesus?
Next Steps
Jesus always offers grace, but he doesn’t stop there, he also invites us into the beauty of life change. We are constantly being invited into joy and freedom through the life of Jesus, in what ways have you experienced the joy of grace and the freedom of obedience?
Our sexual identity and sex lives must be entrusted to Jesus. Don’t miss the importance of fidelity to God. The Christian life is a daily declaration of staying faithful to Jesus in all things. How is your sexuality in submission to Jesus?
”If you relate with the woman, receive the grace, and sin no more. If you relate with the Jewish leaders, drop the rocks. Don’t throw them at people who are struggling to find their way.” Which character in this story do you relate with more? What grace do you need to receive or what rocks do you need to drop?
