Preventing an Execution

John 8 begins with the account of a woman who was brought before Jesus by a group of people to receive punishment (death) for her sins. There are two schools of thought that relate to her story. One camp argues that this woman broke the law, sinned against God and the man to which she was betrothed, and as a result deserved to die. The other camp is appalled that religious teachers and higher-ups could be so cruel and heartless and these members question their involvement in such affairs.

Which camp is right?

The woman, who was engaged to be married, was caught sleeping around and because of the gravity of this sin and the cultural context in which she lived death was the only just penalty. Two points for Camp 1. But what kind of merciless religious leaders could bring her in front of a group to broadcast her inadequacies when we are taught to love and forgive? Two points for the rebuttal.

So, both are right. And both are wrong.

It may seem crazy, but we do this all the time. We claim to be Christians and then act in the most un-Christ-like manner possible and then declare justice in the name of religion.

This story is about more than making the woman who committed this offense out to be a victim. It is about the unhealthy and unholy preoccupation that led people to be so concerned with trapping Jesus that they failed to listen to and live out His message.

Rather than counsel this woman with wisdom and lovingly help her turn from her sinful ways, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were more concerned with humiliating her to prove a point. They were so eager to throw stones that they could not even recognize they were walking in her very shoes.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of our own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 5:3,5, NIV)

All sin is bad. Whether you are blatantly living apart from God, shamelessly setting someone up, or simply walking through life on your own accord without regard to God’s will for your life you are sinning.

Stop it.

Drop your stones.

Free up your hands and accept God’s grace.

Resources:

James Emery White, Jesus: the Untold Story. Sermon series available at Mecklenburg Community Church.