Study in John’s Gospel

Study in John’s Gospel Presentation 25

A Catch 22 Situation Chap 7v53-8v11 Presentation 25

Introduction If an executioner offers a prisoner the choice of death by hanging, or a lethal injection, since both choices lead to death, the prisoner is in a ‘catch 22’ situation - no winning options exist. We may all have been in situations where we have to give an answer, or make a choice that we are reluctant to make for we know whatever decision we make we cannot win. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day attempted to engineer such a situation from which Jesus could not escape in order to discredit him. As we will see Jesus frustrated their design with consummate ease and used the situation to teach an important truth. Presentation 25

The Plotters The religious leaders confronted Jesus with a woman caught in the act of adultery. Jewish law demanded eyewitness testimony from two or three witnesses. A Jewish Mishnah from this period records that such evidence was very rare - one case came up every seven years! This suggests that the religious leaders engineered some form of entrapment, discreetly hiding their eyewitnesses to observe the deed. The woman was of little interest to them. Merely a pawn to be sacrificed, collateral damage in their war against Jesus. Presentation 25

The Plan This scheme was quite different from other tests which they had posed Jesus. On one occasion they had asked a tricky tax question - should they pay taxes to Caesar or not. On another, a hypothetical theological question was asked about the resurrection and concerned a woman who married seven brothers in succession after each of her previous husbands had died. Who would be her husband in heaven? But now Jesus was not faced with a hypothetical question. Significant issues were at stake. First, Jesus’ teaching about the compassionate nature of the kingdom of God. Secondly, Jesus’ attitude to the moral law of God? Presentation 25

The Plan It was common knowledge that the ministry of Jesus was marked by compassion. He had befriended outcasts, eaten with notorious sinners. He had said, ‘Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden’ Matt.11v28. Therefore, if out of compassion for this woman, he waived the law of Moses, he could be denounced as a false prophet, someone opposed to God’s law and who trivialised adultery. On the other hand, if he upheld the law and condemned her to its retribution - stoning - then he would be ridiculed as a hypocrite who extended welcome invitations to sinners but would slap them down once their sin was exposed. Presentation 25

The Plan At the heart of the Jewish leaders thinking lay a theological conundrum. How can God remain just if he does not condemn law-breaking, wherever he finds it. Paul puts the question this way, ‘How can God be just and the justifier of the ungodly’ Rom.3v26. It’s a justice problem that people face every day. Not just when they are confronted with the ungodliness of others but as they realise that they themselves constantly miss the mark of God’s righteousness. People cannot easily grasp that God can do the seemingly impossible without in any way compromising his character. Presentation 25

The Response Having set the scene. How would Jesus reply? He appeared to ignore them bent down and wrote on the ground. A great deal of speculation has gone into why Jesus did this, including; giving himself time to think, or waiting for the accusers’ consciences to shame them. Others think he wrote the words that he was about to speak. We don’t really know the reason but we do know that it did not diminish the volume of accusation against the woman. Presentation 25

The Response Could Jesus harmonise justice and mercy, without, either encouraging sin, or condemning the sinner? Jesus simply said, ‘If anyone of you is without sin let him be the first to throw a stone’. How simple yet how disarming! They were reminded not only that they too had broken God’s law but that by denying the woman mercy they were effectively closing the door of mercy upon themselves. What does the proverb say? “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”. After Jesus spoke no stones were thrown. The accusers melted away. Presentation 25

The Response But the big issue remains. Can justice and mercy be reconciled? Can God’s law remain good, perfect and just, while at the same time he is seen to extend mercy and forgiveness to those who have broken it? Will God sweep sin under the carpet? No! And this brings us to the very heart of Jesus’ mission - his atoning death upon the cross. We begin to understand why Jesus has been described as ‘God’s dustbin’ - because all of his people’s iniquity was laid on him. He bore their punishment. And so God’s justice was not dismissed but exhausted in the one who stood in his people’s place. Amazing! Presentation 25

The Response Martin Luther, the famous Reformer was preaching on this subject and said, ‘look upon the cross and what do you see? You see a murderer, you see and adulterer, you see a liar…’ the list goes on but Luther’s point is clear. God treated his sinless Son, our substitute as we deserve to be treated! So closely did Jesus identify himself with his people that he allowed himself to be clothed as it were with their sins. And he paid the penalty on their behalf. Presentation 25

The Response The Bible teaches that ‘the wages of sin is death’ Rom.6v23. Now death involves separation but the particular element of separation that should concern us is separation from God. What happened as Jesus experienced the condemnation of God’s law while hanging upon the cross? He experienced something he had never experienced before - separation from God - a sense of God-abandonment. He cried out, “My God my God why have you forsaken me?” Matt.27v46. The answer to that anguished cry is found here. He paid the wages not only of this woman’s sin but the sin of all who would trust in him as Saviour. He experienced our hell that we might enjoy his heaven! Presentation 25

The Result Put yourself in this woman’s shoes. What you thought was your secret sin has been uncovered in the most humiliating fashion. The whole community now knows! Your husband or fiancée also knows. The religious leaders offer you no hope. To them you are no more than a piece of bait being used to hook Jesus. You hear the crowd shout, ‘stoned her, stone her!’ The terrors of God’s law begin to wash over you. You are a lawbreaker and know it. You can’t undo what has been done. If only you could wind the clock back but you can’t! For some, only after their sin has been hung out on the public washing line, does its seriousness begin to produce regret. But often they are not sorry they have broken God’s lawbut only that they have been caught! Presentation 25

The Result The charges are read out, the witnesses are ready to give evidence, the clamouring voices of the crowd add to the tension. And then Jesus speaks with a calm authority. The voices are silenced. The accusers slink off into the shadows aware of their own sin. What judgement will Jesus pass? “Neither do I condemn you”. There must be some mistake! You feel you need to replay those words over and over again just to make sure you have not misunderstood him. Your accusing conscience is startled! Could it be true? Then you experience an inrush of peace such as you had never known before. Your burden of guilt has been lifted. Presentation 25

The Result I suspect that the question that she wanted answered but daren’t ask was this, “How can you do that?” How could the condemnation of the law be lifted? Luxuriating in the forgiveness of God, she would know that Jesus had not viewed her as an impersonal pawn used to score points against his enemies but as someone in desperate need. Someone on whom he had placed immense value. The atoning death of Christ was still some six months ahead but already she was experiencing the benefits it would bring. And in the words of Wesley’s hymn, ‘her chains fell off her heart was free’. And that same freedom is something that Jesus continues to offer men and women, who are conscious of their guilt and sin and want to be free of it. Presentation 25

The Result Importantly, Jesus had more to say. She was left with the words, ‘leave your life of sin’ ringing in her ears. God’s forgiveness is not given so that we can indulge in a sinful lifestyle. It is not cheap grace automatically dispensed at the push of a button. George used to tell his colleagues what he had planned for his weekend. He was a self-confessed Casanova. When asked how he could live with his conscience as he took advantage of one girl after another, he replied, “But I go regularly to confession”. He had no intention of changing his lifestyle but believed he could still enjoy forgiveness. He had missed the point and viewed God’s grace as cheap grace! God does not forgive in order to make it easier for us to indulge our sin! Presentation 25

Conclusion This passage of scripture is significant. God has, in Christ Jesus, made marvellous provision for the forgiveness of sinful men and women, and their release from the prison and terrors of conscience. God has done what for men is impossible. He has squared the circle. He has satisfied his justice completely without impoverishing his mercy in which he delights. But not without cost, not without the cross and all that was accomplished there! Do you need to hear the words ‘neither do I condemn you’ ringing in your ears. Does it seem too good to be true? This is the glory of the gospel. Not cheap grace but grace to walk into newness of life with a new beginning and a new empowering. This is what the gospel offers! Presentation 25

Study in John’s Gospel