The Woman Caught in Adultery

 Continuing my study of John, I continue today starting at John 8:1-11. I found two important lessons in the text today. Let's dive right in.

John 8:1-11 NIV

[1]  but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2]  At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [3] The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4] and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” [6] They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. [7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. [9]  At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. [10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11]  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.8.1-11.NIV

Since the big uproar of the previous day in John 7, Jesus went down to the Temple courts to teach, early in the morning. The religious leaders were still mad that Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah, so they started in on him first thing in the morning by bringing a woman to him who was caught in the act of adultery. As Christians, a lot of us know this story. However, we can learn some stuff here.

First, the teachers of the Law dragged this woman in front of Jesus, judging her in front of Jesus because she was caught in the act of adultery. Big lesson here. No matter what reason we may have, no matter how justified we may feel, NEVER judge another person ever. It is not our position, being Christians, to ever sit in judgement over another person. Ever. God is the only judge. Period. Black and white principle. End of story. So let's never do it Church. Look at a few other passages teaching this:

Romans 14:8-13 NIV

[8] If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. [9] For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. [11] It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” [12] So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. [13] Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.14.8-13.NIV

James 4:11-12 NIV

[11] Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

https://bible.com/bible/111/jas.4.11-12.NIV

Matthew 7:1-5 NIV

[1]  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. [2] For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [3]  “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? [4] How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.7.1-5.NIV

See? A lot of times people want to judge or slander others in matters that are none of their business like these teachers of the Law. A lot of times they do this to take the focus off of themselves and their faults. A lot of times they do it to make themselves feel better about their own lives. A lot of times through arrogance, pride, or conceit, they think they are better than the ones they are slandering or judging. Whatever the motivation, we should all know there is one judge, and it is never our place to judge others like these teachers of the Law did. So, don't talk about people anymore, don't judge people anymore. It's not our place and doing that does not honor Jesus. Let's love and be nice to all people no matter what. So there's the first lesson. 

Next, after Jesus corrected the teachers of the law and they left, he talked to the lady. The lesson is in the last thing he said to her:

[10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11] “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Here's the big lesson. As Christians, being in Christ now, we do not stand condemned. We are right with God, having been born again. 

Romans 8:1 NIV

[1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.1.NIV

We are justified freely by God's grace because of finished work of Jesus.

Romans 3:23-24 NIV

[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.3.23-24.NIV

So, just like the woman here, Jesus didn't condemn her and God doesn't condemn us either for our sin. Jesus's blood takes care of the penalty of our sin. 

The big lesson here is Jesus does not want us to ever continue in a life of sin just like He told this woman. Don't live in deliberate sin because that does not fit who we are anymore being in Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us in this. So, whatever we do in life, don't continue in a life of sin. It's not good for us and doesn't honor Jesus. We all repesent Jesus!

So the big take aways today are no slandering or judging others and don't continue in a life of sin. So awesome. 

Love you dear readers,

Jeffrey Post