JOHN 8 v 1-11

We celebrate Ash Wednesday in two days’ time.  Here is the Gospel message.

This passage is a story about a woman, stated to being caught in an adulterous act. It gives an example into the thoughts and ministry of Jesus. He was in Jerusalem and speaking to a crowd of people, and was joined by the Pharisees and religious leaders. They had come to Jesus to try and entrap Him, so that they could accuse Him of acting against Jewish law.

The Pharisees had two witnesses, who had seen a man and a woman engaged in a sexual act. The testimony of the witnesses were required by law, to speak out about anyone committing an act and the woman would be stoned to death. The Pharisees waited to see how Jesus would respond.

There is no knowledge as to whether the woman was married to someone else, or engaged to be married. In such circumstances there was no evidence of adultery.
No one appears to remember, there was a man who must have been involved, who had disappeared from the scene. Societies however, have a higher tolerance for male misconduct, probably being admired with amusement by those present, only the woman left to pay the punishment.

When the witnesses took the woman to Jesus, shouting cries of shame, only the woman was seized upon and dragged for punishment. Jesus set her aside, and was told privately they wanted Him to pass judgment on her and they wanted her to be punished.
Jesus stooped own, writing something in the dust with his finger, and the people gathered demanded an answer. Jesus said, ‘all right. But let the first one who has never sinned throw the first stone.’ Then He stooped down again and wrote with his finger.
He got up to find the crowd had moved away and asked the ‘woman where are your accusers? Didn’t even one condemn you’. 'No Lord' she answered. Jesus replied, ’Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’

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There is nothing in this story to suggest that Jesus was making light of the Seventh Commandment, Our Lord’s enemies took before Him the woman accusing her of adultery, a fact no one was able to prove because they did not know whether she was married. No one thought of asking the man if he was married either.
Jesus knew their hearts, and dealt with them wisely, refusing to pass judgment and silenced them. He did not say she was sinless, he just said they were not the sort of persons to accuse anyone, for not one of them responded when challenged to throw a stone as a sinless person. Their hands were not clean.

There was nothing to substantiate adultery; sin, fornication, or offensive behavior perhaps.

We learn the power of conscience when the accusers heard the condition of throwing if not a sinner, they all ran away. God has taken care to leave with every person, a witness that will .not be heard.

We also learn the nature of true repentance. When Jesus said to the woman ‘Neither do I condemn thee’, He also said ‘Go and sin no more’. He said what was needed, the breaking of sin.

The lesson is, that the very essence of sincere repentance is to forsake sin. Repentance which is of no more than wishing, talking hoping, all of which are worthless to God. Repentance must be a confession of regret.

We should all say we will not rest until we can say to God  I hate sin.

Thank God for His Holy Gospel. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ