Merritt, Chilliwack, Open Door Opening Song: #184 Jesus Paid it All Title: Caught in the Act
Scripture: John 8:9, "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the Woman standing in the midst."
We are in Jerusalem. It isn’t long before Jesus’ death, and He knows He is in danger. But instead of doing what the rest of us would do, head back to Galilee and safety, He enters the hornet’s nest head on in the temple. His presence here is understood, though never openly stated, that He will not back down from what He believes. It is early morning and the place is beginning to stir. In courtyard of the temple, Jesus is teaching in court of gentiles or of women, since women can’t go any further into the holy area.
So here we are sitting in temple church. Suddenly, ministers and lawyers bring a woman in a nightgown wrapped in a blanket. They caught this married woman in bed with another man. I wonder how you catch someone in the very act?! Smells like an inside job. They brought this woman for punishment, but where is the man who said, “Your husband doesn’t love you like I do. Meet me when your husband is away; nobody needs to know.” These lawyers must be in cahoots with the man or how did they know which motel room they were in? Certainly they set a honey trap. Was the sting to trap this woman or was it to trap Jesus?
We are in church, a weird place for such a drama to take place. But Jesus is right here teaching us, yet in His heart sensing the plot is afoot. Eagerly we don’t want to miss His words of life. Yet what is happening? Pharisees brought in a sinner. You know, there are always two sides to every story. So here comes one of the priestly rulers. Let’s hear him before we jump to conclusions.
We are scribes and Pharisees, educated people of our day, cautious, law abiding citizens. We worked hard to get where we are. We maintain stability in a society prone to instability. There have been rebellions against Romans who take violent stance against any trouble. The Roman practice is to first kill anyone who looks rebellious, then ask questions later. We are in fact trying to maintain status quo while Romans breathe threats down our backs. Jesus is a threat to our stability. He challenges our traditions and authority. He appears to have a gang of 12. He disregards Jewish laws by eating with known law breakers and He doesn’t wash up to His elbows before eating, showing He is unclean. Passover approaches; crowds flock to Jerusalem; this Jesus must be kept in check. Any hint of rebellion will bring Roman wrath on innocent heads, and don’t let it be mine!
We must contain this Jesus; discredit Him as a teacher. If we bring an unsolvable dilemma and He fails to find a solution, His moral authority will be over. People will stop flocking to Him. This will stop the danger He poses to Himself and to our whole nation. We Pharisees always get bad press in the Gospels. We are not verbal terrorists lobbying tricky questions with stones in hand. No, WE are the law abiding! This is a problem we wrestle with ourselves. What do we do when Moses’ law and Roman laws oppose each other? Moses commanded stoning to death for adultery. Romans say the Governor alone can impose death sentence. Should we obey Moses, which all good Jews are to do and risk consequences with Rome, or follow what Romans command? We thought it was a good idea to pose this question to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do YOU say?”
Insight into hearts of these church leaders reveals they believe they are doing right. Otherwise, how could they do this, bring a plot against God HIMSELF? Do you think Jesus understands where they’re at? When we look at Jesus, He is calm and His face is full of love even for these leaders.
SONG: NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE
Did you know that in addition to the disciples, there were women who followed Jesus and kept His teachings? Luke 8: 1-3, And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him. And certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household, Susanna, and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Here comes Susanna now.
But one thing the lawyers and rabbis were disregarding in provisions of Moses. It is the husband’s duty to take action, and the guilty parties were to be punished equally. These church leaders were completely unauthorized. I don’t see the husband here to accuse his young wife of adultery. We need to find a solution to this dilemma. What is to be done with this woman? She was taken in the very act. If that is so, where is the man who led her into this? They let him go. From this we see it was a trap. They agreed with the man to seduce the woman and agreed to let him go. They would use this woman so Jesus Himself would be condemned, no matter which answer He gave.
Stoning was a brutal form of execution, but logical for our times. The first stones had to be thrown by witnesses in the case, then after that, each member of the community had to throw a stone. Since every person threw a stone, no one could be held responsible for the death of the guilty. This is important in our society with vendetta, where payback would happen if a killing occurred. So no single one of us could be blamed by family of the dead for the killing.
All this farce was not for receiving a saintly judgment from Jesus, but to nail Him on a technicality. They knew if Jesus’ teachings prevailed, it would end their places of preference. I faithfully followed Jesus, and I could see how tricky these church leaders were. Look, here comes Peter, Jesus’ disciple.
Aaah! So this was the Pharisees’ plan! They tried to place Jesus in a situation from which He could not exit. If He said, "Carry out the sentence according to law of Moses," they would accuse Him in front of Romans saying that He incited Jews to carry out capital punishment contrary to Roman laws. If instead He said, "I do not accuse this woman and you cannot put her to death," they would accuse Him of breaking the Law of Moses and for Bible heresy. Whatever Jesus’ answer, they had Him framed so He could not escape their plan! They thought to ensnare Jesus, but He wanted to reach and convert them. Jesus looked at the trembling woman covered in shame. He saw her accusers devoid of any human pity for having trapped her, humiliating her so publicly. Jesus’ pure spirit shrunk from the spectacle. He read characters and life histories of every one in His presence. He knew these guardians of justice led the woman into sin!
SONG: OUT OF MERCY’S WAY
Giving no sign that He heard their question, Jesus stooped and began writing on the ground. He wrote in dust so the record could be read but not permanently etched in history. Impatient at Jesus’ delay and believing He was indifferent to their question, the accusers drew close to urge the matter. But as their eyes fell on the ground at Jesus’ feet, their faces changed. There traced before them were guilty secrets of their lives. In the sand were numbers 537,849 the exact dollars the richest scribe had embezzled from trusting church members. A name Shalisha meant triangle, and she was mistress of the Pharisee who was cheating on his wife. How apt that the Pharisee would accuse the woman caught in the act simply because he had not been caught.
Then Jesus wrote Sheba, meaning a solemn oath. How many oaths had Pharisees broken, how many vows had they not performed? Jesus was writing battered spouse, tax evasion, road rage, pride, the list as long as the number of accusers. Suddenly, the oldest was first to depart. You have to admire their honesty?! They responded to prick of their conscience as they saw their sins written in sand. Now they were the ones to tremble, lest hidden iniquity of their lives would be open to church members standing behind them. The leaders snuck away.
Stunned by the unexpected home thrust, they immediately took off, which makes the impudence of these hypocrites in dragging such a case before public eye the more disgusting! Why I, Peter, would never do such a thing! I am certain I would always be faithful to my Master Jesus.
How like Peter we all are. Of course we love Jesus. We don’t plan to ever betray Jesus. So certain of our own loyalty, so certain we would not fall into sin like these church leaders. Jesus knows everything, yet He treats us gently. Here comes the sinner now.
I cowered before the Messiah in fear. His words, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone,” was my death sentence. I dared not lift my face but simply waited for my doom. How could I have believed that handsome man? How could I have been so foolish to trust his buttery words? And now this is my final fate. I am bound by chains of sin. I have betrayed my family, my reputation, honor of my God. I now deserve death. I waited, my heart pounding for the last time, my end in sight.
Silence, waiting for stones to put me to death. But stones did not come. Instead I heard a gentle voice, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” It was then I found courage to lift my eyes in awe. My accusers had all departed! What was the mystery about this Teacher that He could make them all leave? I answered Him with extreme caution, “No one, Sir.” As I looked into His eyes, I knew that here was a man without sin, and He it was who would have the right to throw the first stone at me.
I held my breath as I waited for His words of censure. Instead they were the kindest words I ever heard in my life. “Neither do I condemn you.” I fell at His feet and sobbed out my gratitude. He was sparing my life, this great Master. He was not shaming me like all the other men in my life, only pouring hope and compassion on my aching soul.
SONG: TAKE ME TO THE CROSS
My heart was melted as I sobbed out my grateful love, and with bitter tears I started confessing all my sins. But the Master reached down and touched me. I felt His power move every cell of my being as He proclaimed, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” I knew that He was giving me power to begin a new life of purity and peace. I would devote myself to God. In uplifting His hand, He cured my spiritual disease greater than any physical disease. I will be one of His most steadfast followers. I willingly give all my love and devotion because I can never show enough gratitude for His mercy.
The world had only contempt and scorn for this erring woman, but Jesus came not to condemn but to save, speaking comfort and hope. Men hate the sinner while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner.
Samuel Colgate, founder of Colgate business empire, was a devout Christian, and he was in church. During evangelistic service, an invitation was given for all who wished to turn their lives over to Christ and be forgiven. First person to walk down the aisle was a well-known prostitute. She knelt in repentance, wept, and asked God to forgive her. Then she stood and testified that she believed in God and wanted to become a member of the church. Total silence. Samuel Colgate stood and said, “I guess we blundered when we prayed for God to save sinners. We forgot to specify what KIND of sinner. God touched this woman, but He apparently doesn’t understand that she is not the type we want Him to rescue.” So people finally approved her into membership. God accepts us as we are. There’s not a sin too black, not a deed too awful, not a thought too horrible for Jesus to forgive.
I was there that day when they brought the woman caught in adultery into the temple. I was there when I heard Jesus pray, “Father, forgive them.” I, Apostle John, recorded this story to show we’re all just as guilty of sin as she was. We are not saved because we are good and keep the law of God, while others don't, or because we are more righteous than others are. We are saved only by Jesus.
By the crowd of worshippers, Ready as church begins, Was a poor wanderer rudely brought in; Scribes came and Pharisees anxious to see What the meek Nazarene's verdict would be. They told of her wanderings, marking each flaw, Spoke of her punishment, quoting Moses’ law. Jesus wrote on the ground; The woman stood alone. “He that is without sin may cast the first stone.” Spoke He most tenderly, “Pray, woman, pray, Have you no accusers?" "Nay, Master, nay," "Neither do I condemn you, Soul, sick and sore; Go forth, I pardon you, Go sin no more.” Neither do I condemn you, Precious words divine, From the lips of mercy Like the sweetest chime. Wonderful words of Jesus, Sing them o'er and o'er, "Neither do I condemn you; Go and sin no more."
SONG: REDEEMER