Day 967: He taught them - John 8 vs 1 - 11

1-2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3-6 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

7-9 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:1-11 English Standard Version

Some Christians (especially ones on TV) like to focus on the many miracles Jesus did, and say that the problem today is that we don't see such miracles. But what do vs 1-2 tell us about Jesus?

While Jesus, indeed, did many miracles, He seems to have spent more time teaching people. For example, the gospel writer Mark tells us that Jesus “went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to Him again. And again, as was His custom, he taught them.” (Mark 10:1) His teachings were so profound that even tough officers sent to arrest Him were amazed. But that didn't stop the Scribes and Pharisees from trying to trap Him into saying or doing something which they could use as reason to crucify Him. But do you notice anything strange in the trap they set up in vs 3-6?

The sin of adultery involves two people. An Old Testament verse said: “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10) Yet they set only the woman before Jesus. They may've had a reason for this, but it comes across as hypocrisy. I wonder if, because Jesus had shown Himself to be a man of such compassion, they thought He would just forgive her, and they could then accuse Him of disobeying the Law given through Moses.

What follows is one of the best known incidents of the life of Jesus, and one which shows He was greater than even King Solomon, a man who'd been world famous for His wisdom. Jesus didn't answer at once, but stooped to write something on the ground, which would've been more earth-like than our tarred roads. That's something we can learn from. If faced with a tricky question, it's wise not to give a hasty answer. But in Jesus' case, I suspect that what He wrote on the ground was part of what was going to lead to their guilty consciences.

People have speculated as to what Jesus wrote, but the writer of this gospel doesn't tell us, so we really don't know. But we are told what Jesus said to them when they continued to pester Him for an answer. And then He stooped to write on the ground again, and allowed His words to do their work. There's a verse in the New Testament that says: “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) That's certainly what seems to have happened here!

But, as the accusers melted away, does it mean that adultery doesn’t bother Jesus? Some people would happily say that. But what was Jesus' command to the women after rescuing her from the hypocrites who were eager to stone her to death? (vs 10-11)

He instructed her to turn from sin. Not just the sin of adultery, but all sin. God's mercy and forgiveness is not an invitation to do anything we want, and to choose lifestyles that His word teaches us are wrong. Miracles may impress people, but it is the teaching and words of Jesus that we must build our lives upon.