We left off yesterday asking what this immoral woman could learn and what we could gain from this narrative. Let's see what this timeless and timely Man has for our hearts today...
THE SCENE
Standing in the face of the Redeemer, stones laying all around, accusers put to silence and gone; for the first time that day her eyes intentionally meet the gaze of another man.
This feels oddly inviting. It appears I will not be stoned, but now the questions flood my mind. Why? Why me? I was literally having an affair this morning, what makes me 'worthy' of this Man's defense? Um... I hope He speaks first because I don't know what to say.
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:10). "No one, Lord..." She can't believe the answer that just tumbled off her tongue. She looks around again to be certain she didn't lie and add to her guilt. Nope, not a single person remains to condemn.
Shame interrupted. Guilt addressed and overcome. How? Well, there's some foreshadowing going on here. Romans 6:23 indicates that the wages for sin is death. She deserved to die...
...But Jesus...
The only who could throw the first stone instead took the stone for her. "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." Her condemnation would have been just, but Jesus is pointing to a greater truth: the substitutionary atonement - a fancy way to say someone suffers in your place. Beaten, mocked, scorned, murdered on a Cross by the same self-righteous lot looking to (rightly) pass judgement on this woman.
Imagine the woman's internal jubilation. Could there be a more compelling reason to walk in obedience and joy than this?
MERCY UNVEILED
All love is sacrificial. Take children. They are dependent. Totally. The only way they gain independence is if you give up yours. When they’re born you have to take care of them constantly, even when you are exhausted or overwhelmed or sick. You read books to them over and over even when you’re bored out of you mind. Either you make that sacrifice or they’re going to be sacrificed. Either you suffer temporarily and in a redemptive way, or they’re going to suffer tragically in a destructive way.
"Well, thats all well and good," you may say. However, Jesus appears too light on sin here. In fact, this woman gets off scott-free. Interesting conclusion. He encourages greater holiness (go and sin no more).
"Ok, granted he did call her to greater obedience but what about those Pharisees Jesus says nothing about legalism - the spirit of religion - they constantly practiced." Foiled again by Jesus. Remember, NO ONE CORNERS JESUS. "If any is without sin, let him cast the first stone." They left because they knew James 2:10 to be true, break the law at only one point, you break it all! Even if you are convinced you broke less of the law than me, you still broke it!
Let me propose this: we are all either the Pharisees OR the woman.
- We rush to judgment and neglect the mercy shown to us (see the older brother in Luke 15:11-32).
- In our sin God's mercy discovers us and is an Unexpected Covering!
"What matters more to us—that we successfully put others in their place, or that we are known to love well? That we win culture wars with carefully constructed arguments and political power plays, or that we win hearts with humility, truth, and love? God have mercy on us if we do not love well because all that matters to us is being right and winning arguments. Truth and love can go together. Truth and love must go together."
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