John 8:1-11
A Woman Taken in Adultery
— Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
— This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
— She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
In studying some of the key words for this week’s devotional another thought comes to mind. It is not too far out to consider that this woman could possibly have been the “general call girl” for the Pharisees, or at least one of them. In their great desire to find something to accuse Christ of they were willing to sacrifice their “secret pleasure.” Let me explain a few key words. The first words Christ has with the Pharisees “ He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” The word “without sin” implies a specific sin. “Anamartetos, without sin (yet) not absolutely (sinless) only in a particular case.” Interesting also is that there are several words for sin, but this specific word is used only here. That’s pretty amazing. It’s a specific word for a specific reason. Another question was Christ contradicting the Old Testament law given to Moses by God by preventing the Pharisees from stoning her? Was he permitting this sin to go unpunished, or was he contradicting their hypocrisy? “If their is one among you without (this same) sin, then you be the first to cast the stone. Or said in reverse, all of you should die by stoning for all of you are guilty, and they got it!
“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” So Jesus never contradicted the commands of the Father. He contradicted their hypocrisy. “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” Condemn means to pronounce judgement against. To sentence having been found guilty. She had been acquitted, not because she was not guilty but because Jesus had come to redeem the lost “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved (redeemed) through him” (John 3:17). Redeemed is a deep word; meaning to owe a debt we absolutely can’t pay, but to be released of it because someone else paid it for me. Old Testament law is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a limb for a limb. When Adam and Eve sinned it was more than just eating an “apple.” It was a willful disobedience of a Divine law. Which in turn means the worship or obedience to another god even if it’s yourself. If we have never come into fellowship with God through faith in Christ then we are separated from Him. If you are a believer every time we break fellowship with God by disobeying it is spiritual adultery. We have engaged our soul and spirit with another “lover.” I know this sounds extreme but here’s God’s perspective. “Do not rejoice, O Israel, (or my name, O Arthur) with exultation like the other nations! (that have no true God that guides them). For you have played the harlot, (in that you have) forsaken your God.” (Hosea 9:1) and “I have spread out my hands as in a Father wanting to embrace His kids) all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:2)”
From Heaven’s perspective we have a serious problem. From our perspective it’s “what’s the big deal?” Well it is a big deal because the Cross was and is God’s only answer to man’s fall. The Cross to some is ugly and in many respects it is. It is ugly, hideous, and a cruel way to die that speaks to the brutality and callousness of mens hearts one toward another. That part is true. But on God’s side of the Cross it is a two fold message to man. One, we are in sin and our sin judged means death – our death. However quoting John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.” The righteous Judge of the universe pronounced his judgement on man, found man guilty, then stripped himself of His Majesty, His Eternal Glory, and left His estate to be placed on a tree. A tree which his own hands created to be crucified by man his prized creation. For only man was created with a tri fold nature- spirit, soul and body in which could abide God’s Holy Spirit. No other creature formed has this capacity. To understand this is to understand the eternal depth of Christ’s words to the woman “neither do I condemn thee” because he was to bare her guilt, as well as the guilt of all men. Knowing that the Father would not abandon him in death, that he would rise again and claim absolute victory over sin and the grave. He and He alone was able to give life back to man by forgiving man of his sin. No other man before, nor any man after could make this claim.
The final words “go and sin no more” is the normal word used for sin “hamartano, meaning to “miss the mark.” Taken from archery when an archer releases the arrow and misses the bulls-eye. He’s missed the mark. And the mark is holiness as quoted in two devotions past, “Be ye holy for I am holy,” (I Peter 1:16) a command impossible to keep, and it is impossible for God to become less Holy. Christ is the bridge that connects God to man and man back to God – for those who are willing.
Father God,
Thank you for this insight into your nature “neither do I condemn you.” Let us be honest enough with ourselves to admit and know that we cannot live a holy life. We are faulty and hence sinful. We need a Redeemer to receive our sentence so we can live in freedom. You did that for us. Cause us to be humble enough to “open the package” and receive the gift.
Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur