Our reading is John 8:2-11. According to the text, Jesus is in Jerusalem. Early in the morning, Jesus was in the temple courts teaching those who had assembled. Jesus is suddenly interrupted by his enemies, the teachers of the law. In a show of force, they appear with a woman who had sinned. No one debates her guilt – she is guilty of adultery. Only the woman appeared, her lover is not present. Unlike our generation, morality was important to their generation. They bring the woman to Jesus and remind him of the law. Verse five says they asked Jesus his opinion, “What do you say? “ Truth be told, the teachers of the law are not really interested in Jesus’ opinion. They are only interested in eliminating him. Verse six says it clearly, “They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.” It is hard to see generations later, but it was one of those questions that had no right answer. If Jesus says, “No,” then it looks like he is ignoring the laws of Moses. Deuteronomy 22:22-24 says the woman must be stoned. If Jesus says, “Yes,” then he is breaking Roman law which refused to permit the Jews to take a life. It appears to be the perfect trap, but Jesus seizes that opportunity to teach the crowd about sin. The story brings up three points about sin. This is the first.
It is easy to identify the sins of others. No one in the story is questioning the woman’s guilt. We do not know the details of the story. We do not know if this was her first offense, or if she was a repeat offender. The details really don’t matter. The only thing that really matters is her guilt. Do you know of anyone who is guilty? Do you know of anyone who has done something that will never be forgotten? How easy it is to identify other people’s sins.
When I served the local church, I had a woman who came to the church regularly looking for financial help. Her name was Sarah. She looked like a victim. Unfit and unclean, she smelled like a cigarette which explained her labored beathing. Every time she came, she had a different sad story. Each story ended with her asking for money. I helped her twice. The first time was when I paid for a motel room because she had nowhere to sleep. The second time I gave her a gift certificate for food when she had no food. Let me say this clearly – I never helped her again. This is why. On the day I gave her the gift certificate gift she told me she hadn’t eaten in days. No one should be hungry, even Sarah. I prayed with her, gave her the certificate and walked her to the door. As we stood at the door she thanked me one more time with a tear in her eyes. From the door I watched her walk toward her ancient SUV. I felt good because I had helped someone. Then I looked inside of her vehicle. I was surprised to see other people. One of them threw a fast-food bag out of the window as they drove off with the gift certificate. I picked up the trash and discovered they had been to Taco Bell. They were not hungry. Sarah was not hungry. There were half eaten tacos spread throughout the parking lot. There is no other way to say it, Sarah had lied to me, and I felt like a fool. I never helped her again. Sarah’s story reminds me it is easy to identify the sins of others. How many sinners are there in your life? This is the second point about sin.
It is hard to identify yourself as a sinner. Everyone is standing around the adulterous woman. They are holding a stone and hungry for justice. Verse seven changes everything. It says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Suddenly everyone drops their rock, because everyone is guilty of some kind of sin. You are a sinner too. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.“ It is easy to identify other people’s sins. It is hard to identify yourself as a sinner.
On December 8, 1980, British musician John Lennon (1940-1980) was shot by Mark David Chapman (born 1955) in New York City. When the news was announced a crowd assembled on that spot to remember him. Lennon was dead and Chapman was sent to Attica prison, where he is today. Through the years journalists have interviewed him. One of them asked Chapman what he regrets most about the whole event. He responded, “I am saddened that people seem to misunderstand me. I am not a bad person. I only killed one person.” How difficult it is to identify yourself as a sinner. This is the third point about sin.
God treats sinners with mercy and compassion. God does not condone or accept our sinning; God expects us to do better. When the scene ends, only two people remain, Jesus and the woman. Jesus could have stoned her as the law required, but he looked at the woman and had compassion. When he looked at her, he did not see a sinner. He saw a broken, unhappy life, wasting her potential. Jesus cared more about the person then he did the law. God cares more about us then the law. What is more important to you, people or the law?
Years ago, I received an email from a person named Justin. I cannot tell you about him because I never met him. Our relationship was nothing more than a series of emails. He emailed me first because he had a question that was grounded in fear. He was afraid he had committed the unforgiveable sin. Mark 3:29 says, “Whoever blasphemes against The Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of everlasting sin.” I examined the passage to him. It was directed at a certain group at a certain time in history. I told him he wasn’t guilty because I was certain he was going around giving Satan credit for God’s great works. I told him God is more interested in the sinner then he is the law. I told him Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. I told him Jesus died so me could live. I told him to trust Jesus. I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His last email was one word, YES! I responded, “I look forward to meeting you in heaven.” Are you like Justin? Are you afraid your sins can’t be forgiven? Or maybe your sin is not accepting the fact that you are a sinner. I hope not. Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice and gives you the opportunity for eternal life. How easy it is to see the sins in others and how hard it is to see our own sins. Thank goodness, Jesus treats sinners like us with mercy and compassion. May we do our best to sin no more!
Russ Adams 