She had been caught red-handed.
Exposed front and center.
What she had attempted to get away with in secret had now been brought to the light.
And now she was pressed on every side by angry critics who condemned her and called for her to pay the ultimate price.
Her sin was adultery, and her penalty according to Mosaic law was death. Try as she might, there was no going back and changing the decisions of her past now. Her sin had marked her in society, and as she waited for the final verdict she must have felt sure that her life was over.
Enter Jesus…
His ministry was countercultural to everything the people had known before. He was a threat to the most powerful leaders; an unexpected answer to those who had anticipated a different Messiah’s coming. And in eleven short verses in John 8, we find His opposite-world theology summarized as we gaze deeply into the heart of the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost.
What exactly was Jesus’ message?
Grace Over the Law
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
It’s hard to hear that no one measures up to the law – especially when you’re a self-righteous religious leader – but that’s exactly the hypocrisy that Jesus exposed as the Pharisees crowded in to condemn the woman. And today we’re no different. We create our own measuring stick to judge the severity of each other’s sin, yet fail to recognize that we are no different than the adulterous woman. All have sinned. The good news: Jesus came to take the punishment for our sin. He provides a way out for all who call on His name – not through an expectation of perfection or works… because we’d never, ever be good enough. He rescued us with His great grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” – Ephesians 2:8
Freedom Over Condemnation
“Neither do I condemn you…”
The thing about grace is that it doesn’t just cover part of our sin. It isn’t temporary, and it isn’t dependent on us. God’s grace covers all. These five words – Neither do I condemn you – should make us fall to our knees in awe-struck wonder and worship for our Savior, and should saturate our souls with a supernatural peace and freedom that changes everything. “The war is over. The alienation and divine displeasure toward us because of our sin have been removed. We are no longer objects of wrath. We have peace with God whether we realize it or not. However, to the extent that we understand and believe the truth regarding justification, we will experience a subjective peace – that is, a sense of peace within our souls. We will know that we have been bought from a state of condemnation and the prospect of eternal judgment into a state of forgiveness and favor with God.” – Jerry Bridges
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” – Romans 8:1
New Life Over Sin
“… go, and from now on sin no more.”
She had been caught red-handed.
Exposed front and center.
What she had attempted to get away with in secret had now been brought to the light.
But Jesus – full of mercy and grace and everything countercultural to this world – stepped in and transformed her life in an instant. Everything would be different from now on… because when you’ve truly experienced repentance and the depth of God’s grace, you’re empowered to live in a whole new way.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. – Romans 6:14
Girl, you’re loved. You’re free. Now go and live like it.
At His feet,
*Let’s talk: Which of the three points listed above do you struggle with the most and why?
Week 5 Video:
If you’re unable to see this video, you can view it here.
Week 5 Challenge: Take time to search your heart and determine if you most identify with the adulterous woman or the Pharisees. Confess any wrong thinking that is hindering you from either extending to others or receiving for yourself God’s grace, forgiveness, and freedom.
Week 5 Reading Plan:
Week 5 Memory Verse:
Thank you Whitney for this post. I am so thankful for Jesus rescuing us from our past, and enabling us through His grace to live righteously. I think it’s important to look more at the context of this story about the woman caught in adultery. It says the rabbis and scribes were trying to trap Jesus to say something against the Law of Moses, so they could accuse Him. It was a trap because the law required that there be two witnesses that caught her in the act to condemn a woman of adultery, and that those witnesses would have to begin the stoning process. Jesus was not a witness to her adultery, and therefore could not condemn her. So if the Pharisees had done their part according to the law, (being witnesses of her adultery), then they would have to cast the first stone. Also, the man is supposed to be executed in the case of adultery too, according to Leviticus. So the Pharisees weren’t doing anything right according to the law, they were merely trying to trap Jesus. But Jesus WAS following the Law, by not stoning her. And if He broke the Torah Law, He couldn’t have been our perfect blemish free sacrifice. So I wonder if this story is really more about exposing the Pharisees’ trying to trap Jesus, and less about His showing her mercy. He tells her to repent by telling her to go and sin no more, but there is no mention of her repentance or her belief in Him as the Messiah. Just a thought. Thank you and blessings to you and this ministry!
Thank you Amy for sharing your thoughts on the passage. It’s true they were setting a trap for Him as they have been plotting to in other scripture passages as well. I think with every passage we read we can find something to make us think on how it is applying to us today. Jesus was always teaching others every moment of His ministry and I’m sure His Word continues to do so today.
Giving grace and a chance for repentance to the adulterous woman was also a lesson I know I needed to hear, because I often can be a Pharisee by judging others and I certainly have no authority nor a blemish free life that I should sit in judgement against someone. I pray that I can be humble and go and live a life free of sin and help others to know the saving grace of our God.
Thank you for studying along with us. It is so much better when we do so together ?