Week 8
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They forced her to stand before the people and said, “Teacher, we found this woman having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband. The law of Moses commands that we stone her to death. What do you say we should do?” They said this to trick him so that they might have something to accuse him of.
But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “Any of you here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.” Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
Those who heard Jesus began to leave one by one, first the older men and then the others. Jesus was left there alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” —John 8:3–11
In this powerful moment, Jesus models both grace and truth. He does not excuse the woman’s sin, but neither does he condemn her. His response shifts the attention from judgment to self-examination. This “call up” moment from Jesus challenges us in two closely related ways: First, it urges us to deal with our own sin before focusing on the faults of others.
Secondly, it calls us to leave our life of sin and run toward obedience. Sin is often a sign of unsurrendered areas in our lives—places we’ve withheld from God’s authority. Obedience begins when we humbly acknowledge these areas and invite Jesus to lead us out of them.
Reflection Questions
What specific sin issue(s) do you feel the Lord wants you to address at this time?
Lord, what are you teaching me in today’s reading?
Lord, what else have you said to me through thoughts, circumstances, conversations, emotions, or the work of the enemy?
Lord, what do you want me to do: At home? At work? In ministry?