Jump Start # 795

John 8:7 “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.”

Our passage today comes from a very turbulent situation. It was very tense. The Pharisees had tried to trap Jesus on many occasions. Up to this point they fussed about healings on the Sabbath and verbal arguments and hypothetical situations. All that changed on this day. Now before Jesus, they bring a woman, not just any woman, but a guilty woman.

The day began with Jesus teaching in the temple. It seems that Jesus is interrupted. A scene takes place. A woman had been caught in the act of adultery, a violation of the Ten Commandments. The Pharisees charge that she had been “caught in the very act.” This woman started the day immorally. She and her lover were caught in the most private and intimate act. I tend to doubt that the cold hearted Pharisees cared much about her. Their words are demanding her execution. Snatched from the moment of sin, dragged through the streets, taken into the Holy temple and thrust before Jesus, shocked, ashamed, guilty and scared, this woman’s life could be headed to a sudden and violent end. Death is what the Pharisees are demanding. This was a trap to catch Jesus, but they used this woman, guilty as she was, as the bait.

Twice Jesus stoops to write in the sand. Commentators old and new all guess at what words were written. Some suggest words to the woman, such as forgiveness or grace. Others suggest the list of sins that are filling the Pharisees hearts. Other ideas. Other guesses. The Pharisees press Jesus. They demand an answer. They want to see if Jesus will break the law and allow this guilty one to go free.

Our verse today is Jesus’ response. That statement is oft quoted by others, ‘he who is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone.’ The implication is that we should not judge. We are told that judging is wrong. Some quote Jesus’ statement from the sermon on the mount, “judge not, lest ye be judged.’ The world points fingers at Christians demanding that they not point fingers, rather inconsistent to say the least. Much of all of this surrounds the Lord’s words to this angry mob in the temple. What did Jesus mean?

1. If Jesus is talking about sin in general, then no one could cast a stone, EVER. We are all sinners, Paul told the Romans. Everyone of us. Under the Old Testament law, there were 21 offenses which required the death penalty. If a person had to be sinless to enforce that law, then nothing would ever happen. All are sinful. Those laws carry no power or weight to them. The guilty had nothing to fear.

2. Jesus did not say release her. He did not stand up and say, You will never do this. His words allowed her execution if one was without sin. He knew. He knew what to say. Jesus always does.

3. There were many sins committed by these Pharisees in their attempt to trap Jesus. This whole situation seems to be set up, planned and organized by the Pharisees. How did they know a woman was committing the very act of adultery to which they watched? As is often asked, where was the man who was involved? Was he planted to seduce this woman so they could burst in, grab her and accuse Jesus. Premeditated sin. Hated. Ignoring the law. Deception. Bringing an unclean person into the temple. The list of sins grows and grows. The woman wasn’t innocent. The Pharisees were not innocent. Jesus used that to calm the situation, extend grace to the woman and to teach us some lessons.

Judging is part of life. We do it all the time but don’t use that word. When we by bananas, we look at one bunch and then another. We are judging. When we compare prices of rental cars, airline flights, hotels rooms on line, we are judging. Our fellowship is based upon a judgment. John says, “As we walk in the light as He is in the light…we have fellowship with one another.” How do I know if someone is walking in the light? A judgment is made. Jesus warned about false teachers who look like sheep but are actually wolves. He said you will know them by their fruits. Judgment.

What the Bible condemns is the one sided, double-standard, hypocritical judging that prevails in our society. We thump politicians for lying to get elected, but we lie when we don’t want to do something. We proclaim that Washington is full of crooks but we have mastered fudging numbers on taxes, being dishonest in selling things and padding expense accounts. That’s different, we demand. Is it?

Some do the same religiously. They will denounce the shallow entertainment style of worship that some put on while missing the worship services of their own church because they are tired or a ballgame is on. Some will ridicule the false ideas that flow from some pulpits but ignore reading the Bible themselves, which is the beacon of truth.

It’s easy to pick up rocks and demand that others change. Those rocks that were first picked up because we thought someone else was wrong, get heavy after a while. We hold them while disgust builds in our hearts. We hold them with anger in our eyes. We hold them. Generally one of three things happens to those rocks.

First, some actually throw them. Not real rocks, but rocks of words, hatred, attitude and rejection. Rocks hurt. They cut, wound and kill. Parents have nothing to do with their grown children. Holidays are never the same because some are not invited and some would never come. Those rocks tear up a church. Members leave. Division takes place. Layers of problems surface. Stephen was killed by rocks. Many since have been killed by verbal rocks. They left the Lord because of the rocks thrown by brethren.

Secondly, some rocks are dropped because they can’t find others to make a mob. Few want to be the only rock thrower, so they try to find others who will pick up rocks with them. It seems from our passage today that there were several who brought this woman to Jesus. A mob allows the coward to have some backbone and courage. In a mob some will say things that they would never say by themselves. But when no one will join the mob, no one else is as passionate as others, the lone rock holder feels defeated, drops his rock and goes home.

Thirdly, there are some who look within and realize that they are not right with God. The frenzy of the moment has made some say and think things that they shouldn’t. Instead of trying to save a soul, they want to kill a life. In the attempt to stand up for God, they trample the truth of God’s word. This realization causes the honest at heart to ask God for forgiveness.

Do not read into this that judging is wrong. I didn’t say that. Do not read into this that we ought to let wrong slide by without anything being done. Absolutely not. Jesus told this woman to “go and sin no more.” He knew she sinned. He knew she was guilty. He told her to stop it. There is a right way and a wrong way of dealing with the wrongs of others. God has revealed the proper steps, and they do not include the rocks of hatred. Punishment is part of God’s plan. Church discipline is part of God’s plan. Grace and forgiveness is offered for those who change. Those who don’t, suffer the consequences.

Rocks in the temple are attempts to skirt around what God says and take matters into our own hands. Rocks in the temple are the same as pulling a guy out of jail and lynching him. Rocks in the temple was not the way God intended His people to deal with the guilty.

Look at your hands. Are you holding a few rocks. Is this the way God wants you to deal with others? Maybe it’s time to drop rocks and open the Bible and follow the right way of dealing with wrong. You have heard the expression, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”, this is especially true when there are rocks in your hand.

Roger