John 8:1-11 // Grace & Truth

8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”6 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.7 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.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Notice the motives of the scribes and Pharisees, these “religious” leaders claiming to be spiritual - verse six says that they brought this woman to Jesus “to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.”

This woman, under their care, is being used as a religious prop instead of being seen as a child of God, made in His image, and able to receive His grace and forgiveness.

Then comes Jesus’ response to these religious hypocrites: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

This was Jesus’ mic drop moment. You know why? They ALL had sin. They knew it and He knew it.

So one by one they slinked away. Interestingly enough, it says the older ones were the first to leave.

Then it’s just the woman and Jesus, left alone after a crowd of sinners were reminded of their sin.

There was no one left to accuse her aside from the only one who was capable of casting a stone.

And yet, gently, Jesus did not condemn, but told her to “go and sin no more.”

A couple of things to remember from this story:

First, don’t play games with Jesus. He knows you inside and out and He will win every time.

Second, when tempted to judge others, remember that you yourself are a sinner saved by grace. No one is too far gone that God’s grace cannot save them – and that includes you. So, show that same grace to others as well.

Third, notice how Jesus dealt with the woman’s sin. He showed her grace (“Neither do I condemn you”), but He also pointed her towards truth (“now go and sin no more”). Grace and truth can go hand and hand, they are not opposed to each other.

We tend to operate in extremes – erring on the side of too much grace (not taking sin seriously) or too much truth (no room for grace). Ask God for help to balance and administer both appropriately in every situation.

Lastly, take some time today to praise God for Jesus. In His incredible love, God sent His Son to take our place. What an awesome truth to meditate on today! What an act of love to prompt us to worship! What a selfless example to emulate!

Jesus took my place. And that truth reminds me that my sins put Him on that tree, other’s sins were forgiven just as mine were, and He wants me to leave those sins behind and walk in faithful obedience.

With much love,

Pastor Dave