I first learned in seminary that the opening verses of John 8 were textually suspect. Although appearing in many ancient manuscripts of the Gospel, the first eleven verses were not found in the most reliable, most ancient ones. It appears that John probably did not write those words but that they were added sometime later. For this reason I've never preached on this passage.
Nevertheless, this powerful story about a woman caught in adultery paints a picture of Jesus that certainly "fits" with all we know about Him. How kind, merciful and forgiving Christ was to all of those that the religious people categorized as "sinners". In what He did as well as what He taught, Christ made it clear that He truly came to "seek and to save those who were lost."
This ancient story intrigues us. We might wonder about several things but what is most open to speculation is "what did Christ write on the ground"? As the woman's accusers wait for Christ to pronounce righteous judgment, He silently writes on the ground. Was it a list of sins? Sins that the accusers had committed? We'll never know - at least not this side of eternity.
What we do know and enjoy is the fact that all the accusers disappear, and the woman stands alone with Christ. She stands before the only perfectly Righteous Human; the One who never sinned. Alone with the One who some day will judge the world. And the Perfect One pronounced over her nothing but amazing mercy and grace. "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
Probably it was not written by John under Divine inspiration. But does it sound like Jesus? It sure does. Very likely it is a true story. We just don't know. What we do know is that Jesus still offers amazing mercy and grace to people just like the woman in the story; to people just like you and me.
Nevertheless, this powerful story about a woman caught in adultery paints a picture of Jesus that certainly "fits" with all we know about Him. How kind, merciful and forgiving Christ was to all of those that the religious people categorized as "sinners". In what He did as well as what He taught, Christ made it clear that He truly came to "seek and to save those who were lost."
This ancient story intrigues us. We might wonder about several things but what is most open to speculation is "what did Christ write on the ground"? As the woman's accusers wait for Christ to pronounce righteous judgment, He silently writes on the ground. Was it a list of sins? Sins that the accusers had committed? We'll never know - at least not this side of eternity.
What we do know and enjoy is the fact that all the accusers disappear, and the woman stands alone with Christ. She stands before the only perfectly Righteous Human; the One who never sinned. Alone with the One who some day will judge the world. And the Perfect One pronounced over her nothing but amazing mercy and grace. "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
Probably it was not written by John under Divine inspiration. But does it sound like Jesus? It sure does. Very likely it is a true story. We just don't know. What we do know is that Jesus still offers amazing mercy and grace to people just like the woman in the story; to people just like you and me.
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