6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring
against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to
them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at
her.” 8 And once more he bent down and
wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they
went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone
with the woman standing before him (John 8:6-9, ESV).
Throughout
the Gospels the Pharisees and Scribes repeatedly tried to test Jesus. They often watched him closely waiting for
the perfect moment to try and accuse him. In Luke 6:6-11, there was a man with
a withered hand in the synagogue. The
scribes and Pharisees watched him closely.
Jesus knowing their thoughts, calling the man forward and standing in
front of them asked, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to
save life or to destroy it? Looking
around at them he healed the man right there.
At that point they were filled with fury and discussed with one another
what they might do to Jesus.
To
say the least, Jesus’ response often ruffled their feathers and this situation in
John 8 was no different. They were trying
to find something against him. The
scribes and Pharisees present this woman before Jesus while he is teaching in
the temple. She was caught in adultery
and according to the Law she should be stoned.
Using a woman here was intentional on their behalf. Back then women weren’t held in a very high
standing at all, actually treated more like property. They put Jesus on the spot with the question,
“so what do you say?”
Judging
the response of the people, obviously what Jesus said and wrote in the ground had
more of an effect on them then the Pharisees had on Jesus. Looks like the Pharisees test had failed
again. Starting from the oldest until
only Jesus and the woman were left.
In
pondering this text a question arose, how did they leave?
Were
some convicted and humbled by their own sin?
Were
some awed by Jesus’ response?
Were
some angry because Jesus struck a nerve?
Were
some infuriated because Jesus would defend her?
Honestly,
when Jesus enters our life he sparks a response in us. I have cycled through all of the above at
some point or another. There were times
Jesus convicted me of sin and my response was humble and receptive. Hear me I received it humility but it doesn’t
mean it was comfortable or easy by any means. There were other times I was awed
by what Jesus showed me. Things I would
have never thought of as sin, but they were and I had to deal with it. Then at times Jesus really struck a nerve and
I was not ready to receive it in the moment.
Eventually I had come around because as usual He is always right. Others times I was angry, like Jonah, that
God might be gracious and merciful to someone evil. I remember when ISIS first started getting
out of hand and was praying God would put an end to them. Yeah I prayed that! But one night praying, God reminded me of the
Apostle Paul. So I prayed, “Okay if one was to turn then save him and wipe out
the rest.” By the end of that prayer, I
was reminded I’m not the judge of who receives His grace and mercy. Praise God He is in control, He has the final
say and not us, Amen!
The
Pharisees had planned to bring a charge against him, but in return Jesus
sparked a response in them.
Unfortunately for them, the upcoming verses show they did not receive it
and continued on in their own ways.
How
about you, how do you respond when Jesus ruffles your feathers?
Lord, with this comes
thankfulness, although we may not feel thankful in the moment. But thank you, you don’t leave us alone. You love us enough to show us our sin. We may respond in different ways at different
stages of our life. Although it’s never
comfortable, it’s never easy - you know we have to face it. Lord when sin and stuff surfaces in our
lives, I pray you would help us to receive the work you are doing within. Thank you Lord, Amen.
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