21. John 8:1-30 Jesus, the Light of the World

 

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 8:1-30
SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:
Vs. 5-6  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.
 
Vs. 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.”
 
Vs. 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.
 
Vs. 11 And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

John reveals the corrupt intentions of the Pharisees.  Their hatred for Jesus motivated them to exploit this woman to find a basis to accuse Jesus of contradicting the law. They tried to put Jesus in a no-win situation.  If Jesus stated his agreement with the law of Moses which called for the death penalty for adultery, they could accuse him of calling for her execution. This would have placed Jesus at odds with the masses and they could have reported him to the Roman authorities for ordering an execution was only the prerogative of Rome.  On the other hand, if Jesus said she shouldn’t be stoned they could accuse him of making a judgement that was contrary the law of Moses.
 
Jesus’ wisdom thwarted their evil schemes.  By calling on those without sin to cast the first stone, Jesus turned the tables on them. Now they were the ones stuck in a no-win situation. If they took up stones they would now be in trouble with the Roman authorities and they would have looked very bad in the eyes of their fellow Jews who were watching. They were left with no option but to walk away with their tails between their legs.
 
Jesus told the woman that he did not condemn her, but he did call her to repentance. Earlier in the gospel we read that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn people but to save them (John 3:17). However, the purpose of salvation is not just to remove the guilt of our sin, but to “save us
 
 Jesus told the woman that he did not condemn her, but neither did he condone her sin. He told her to go and sin no more.

Dear Jesus, thank you for not condemning me, even though I deserve it. Help me to walk in the Spirit so I will not sin and dishonor you. Thank you for not only saving me from the guilt of my sin, but also from the power of sin.
 
In Your name, Amen.