Let Him Throw the First Stone

Maybe you have heard the story of the French acrobat Blondin, whose spectacular feats in the mid-1800s captured global attention. In August of 1860 he crossed Niagra Falls on a tightrope 1,100 feet long strung 160 feet above the water. Then he pushed a wheelbarrow across. Ignoring protests from the Prince of Wales, he carried his agent on his back all the way across and back again. Then he turned to the crowd and asked, “Do you believe I could do this with you?”

“Of course,” responded a man. “I've just seen you do it.”

“ Well hop on or hop in,” said Blondin, “and I'll take you across.”

The man had no intention of following through with his affirmation. The crowd had a good laugh from a display of words without faith. Actully, the man had faith, but faith alone does not save people as you see in John chapter 2 and 6. When John referred to people as believers, he did not mean that they necessarily had trusted Christ Jesus in saving faith. In this chapter there is the continuing discussion between Christ Jesus and the Jews contrasting truth and error, light and darkness, freedom and slavery, false discipleship and true discipleship. The word truth appears nine times, clearly the key word of this chapter.

However, before we reach that portion of the chapter we encounter the narrative of the adulterous woman. Here is an incident which seems out of place in the flow of the intense tabernacle dialogue, an account that seems to be abruptly inserted. This story, though probably authentic, is omitted in many manuscripts and may not have been originally a part of this gospel. But it's placement at the beginning of chapter 8 serves as a foundation for the rest of the chapter. It is here in chapter 8:1-11 that the well known story about the woman caught in adultery, brought before Jesus and then told her sins are forgiven is told.This story illustrates the central dilemma of salvation: how justice and mercy can be harmonized without encouraging sin or condemning sinners.

John 7:53-8:1-11
53[Everyone went to his home.
John 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."]

1. Christ Jesus Retuned To The Temple (vs. 53-2) Christ Jesus ever the diligent preacher showed up early in the morning to teach. Though He had been teaching the day before, He taught again today. Christ Jesus was a constant preacher, in season and out of season. Christ Jesus put the message of God ahead of His own well being. He knew the Jews wanted to kill Him.

Three things to note here concerning Christ Jesus' preaching.

1. The time: Early in the morning.

1. Even though Christ Jesus stayed on the Mount of Olives, and perhaps had spent much of the night in prayer, He still came early.

2. The place: In the temple

1. Not so much because it was a consecrated place, but because it was now a place of the multitudes

2. Christ Jesus had always met the people where they were at for worship

3. His posture: Christ Jesus sat down, and taught, as one having authority, and as one that intended to stay for some time.

The people came to hear Christ Jesus' teaching. They came to Him, even though He came early. It is still so, those who seek Christ Jesus will find Him. The rulers were displeased at those that came to hear Christ Jesus, but they would come; and He taught them. Christ Jesus welcomed all, it didn't matter who they were. And He taught them all. Christ Jesus is still welcoming all to come and hear the message of forgiveness and healing. Won't you come to Him?

2. Christ Jesus' Test (vs. 3-6) They test Christ Jesus so, “that they might have something of which to accuse Him.” A woman, whose name we do not know, had been caught in the very act of adulterous sex. According to the law, this could mean her death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:20–24). The Pharisees push Christ Jesus to pronounce the final word of judgment, a clever trap, for they surely know of Christ Jesus’ compassion for the weak and sinful.

So if He said, “Let her go,” they could accuse Him of breaking Moses’ Law. But if He gave them permission to stone her, He would break the Roman law which did not allow death for anyone without their approval. But you see the Pharisees didn't really care about the woman, she was just a tool to them. Just something to use to trap Christ Jesus. 

Satan acts the same towards you. He wants you to think He is doing something for your best when he really could care less. He just want's to keep you from a relationship with Christ Jesus. Or he want's to keep you from being an effective witness for Chrit Jesus. Also if the Pharisees wanted justice where was the man? It takes two to commit adultery. 

In the face of this pressure, Christ Jesus deliberately “stooped” and “wrote on the ground with His finger.” Why did Christ Jesus do this? What did He write? There is one answer for both these questions – I don't know. We can speculate all we want, but in the end we are bound to the text which does't tell us what was written. What you can be sure of is that these enemies could not corner or push Christ Jesus. He refused to give an immeadiate or reactionary response. When it comes to your spiritual healing Christ Jesus is willing to wait. He would prefer sooner than later, but He rarely gives up on anyone.

3. Christ Jesus Responds (vs. 7-9) The writing in the sand was followed by the wisdom of the Son. His response to their insistent demand for some verdict is spiritually devastating for these Pharisees. “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

Christ Jesus' answer was the perfect reply in which Jewish law and Roman law was preserved. Suddenly what they had attempted to make a legal issue was seen as a deeply personal, moral matter. A group of proud, righteous men now found themselves on the same ground as the woman they are about to stone. 

Their pious armor has been pierced as each one faced the depths of his own sinful nature. Each had to deal with the inner darkness which is so closely intertwined with self-righteous legalism: The savage delight in catching this woman in the act of sinning. The pompous pride in being able to use her as a shameful test case. The vengeful anger which drove them to get at Christ Jesus.

Which of these men, or who of us, could stand up to this test and be the first to pick up a stone? None. All they could do was leave, one by one. And it was the ones with the most experience, who had lived more of life, who left first.

Imagine a stage play as you watch in silence – no dialogue, no music. The confident and critical Pharisees, moments ago pointing their fingers at the woman and at Christ Jesus, and then the thud of stones dropping and hitting the dusty ground. Now in silence the Pharisees exit stage left, first the older one and then the younger ones – and never a word spoken.

Now as you sit there saying to yourself, “Way to go Jesus!” Think about this you too would have had to drop your stone. You see Christians are not perfect – just forgiven. Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

There is a gentle confidence in Christ Jesus as He quietly stoops to write again on the ground. He had no need to speak another word. The truth has judged them. 

Now Christ Jesus seem to ignore them as they left. What a sad scene really, in their departure they walk away from any word of cleansing or hope. And it will be a sad scene if you walk away from this blog without Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

4. Christ Jesus' Mercy (vs. 10-11) Christ Jesus raised Himself and saw no one but the woman. Augustine has written, “Two persons were left, the unhappy woman and Compassion Incarnate!” What a trembling, fragile moment. 

The crowd is gone and it is just the two of them, no crowd to hide in. Only two, only aware of each other. It is always that way when Christ Jesus deals with you. 

With the accusers gone, now came the verdict. With the accusers gone, Christ Jesus showed her mercy. The door of grace had been opened and she has been given an opportunity for a new beginning. Christ Jesus did not condemn her. Guilt is not the last word, hope is . This woman “caught in the very act,” had faced “a tribunal more searching, and yet more tender, than all the tribunals of men.” The same grace Christ Jesus extended to this woman, He extend to you. No condemnation, just come.

Conclusion: James Boice tells the story of a man who sat in his office aware of his deep sin but unable to do anything about it. Boice ministered to him by using the illustration of a man walking along a street and splashed by a car in the dark. As he continued he came into the light of a street lamp and became aware of the stain on his clothing. The man decided he could not go on, turned around, and went home to put on clean clothes. At that point the young man in Boice's office responded by saying, “My problem is that I don't have any clean clothes.”

Verses 1-11 tells about a woman who had no clean clothes – and about Pharisaees who had no clean clothes. She knew she did not; they thought they did. Christ Jesus offered the clean clothes of forgiveness to all them – and to you as well. All you have to do is ask.