John 8 - Stop Casting Stones!

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The Woman Caught in Adultery

Some earlier manuscripts do not include this story in the bible, but I am glad the NIV translation kept it in. Why? Because this story adds yet another situation where we see Jesus' character, love, and grace in this case with a woman caught in adultery. Everything in the story is completely consistent with everything else we have learned about Jesus in his other personal encounters in the book of John. 

The scene is very dramatic, as the Pharisees brought in this woman and used her to try and trap Jesus by asking what they should do with this woman? They claimed according to the book of Moses they were supposed to stone this woman for such a sin. 

Is this true that the Mosaic Law said this? And if so, how was it applied in the Jewish culture of Jesus' time?

 It is true that adultery was a capital offense under Jewish law, but the rules for evidence in capital cases were extremely strict. The actual act had to be observed by multiple witnesses who agreed exactly in their testimony. As a practical matter, virtually no one was executed for adultery, since this was a relatively private sin. - Guzik

What makes this story one of my favorite in the bible is how Jesus handled the hostile Pharisees. He didn't react to the situation but sat still writing on the ground. Finally, after being cajoled into speaking, Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!"

In quite a dramatic scene, one by one the Pharisees and the teachers of the law left starting with the elders. Why the elders? Probably because they knew their sin the most, and they knew they could not throw the first stone. 

Finally, the story gets even better. When all of the religious leaders leave, Jesus is left alone with the woman. You can only imagine what she is thinking. Jesus the only one who has ever been without sin, is the only one who could cast the stone. Will he? 

But instead Jesus asks her where were those who wanted to condemn her. How many were left? To which she answered, "No One!" Then, Jesus said "Then neither do I". 

What a beautiful picture of grace. And finally, let's note Jesus' last words to her. "Go and sin no more!" Jesus did not condemn her. She was set free from guilt and shame. But how would she use that freedom? Would she just go back to her old life of sin? 

And though we might not be exactly like the woman, we too should hear the words of Jesus, "Who is it that condemns you?" The answer is again no. Jesus is the only one who could condemn us, but he freed us from the power of sin by his death on the cross. We are set free from the power of sin to go and sin no more! 

This is why Paul says in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation in Christ!" 

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

Jesus states again that he is the light of the world and that whoever walks with him will never walk in darkness. The religious leaders challenge him by saying his testimony is not valid. But Jesus claims his testimony is true, because He came from the Father and speaks on behalf of the Father. In the Law two witnesses were needed to validate one's testimony. In this case Jesus points out that the two witnesses were He and the Father. 

Once again, Jesus is clearly pointing to His own divinity. While I am sure the Pharisees would have liked to have seized him, it was not yet Jesus' time. 

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

Once again Jesus clearly states He is one with the Father. He tells them that where he is going they cannot come, and they will die in their sin. Jesus reiterates that He has come from above and they are from below. He has clearly told them that unless they believe in Him, they will die in their sins. 

They did not understand what he was saying, so Jesus pointed the fact that we they nailed him to the cross they would know "I am He". This phrase is "ego eimi", which is the Greek words for "Yahweh", or the "I am" from the book of Exodus.  I.e. They would know he was God!

Importantly though the religious leaders were excoriating him, some of the people came to faith. 

When the Pharisees heard speak they became more opposed to Him. Yet there were many who heard the same words and believed in Him. They believed despite the evident opposition of the religious leaders. - Guzik

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

Jesus gives these great words to those who believed, which are highly relevant for us as his disciples today. 

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Of course to be a disciple means to believe in him, but if that is all we do, we will never experience the the freedom Jesus brings. Being a disciple means holding to his teaching, or better yet following his teaching in our lives. Jesus set us free from sin, but we can always return to it. This is essentially what he told the woman caught in adultery. I have forgiven you, but go and sin no more. 

There are many people today who call themselves Christians but don't really think being a Christian necessitates holding to Jesus' teaching. Hence, they stay trapped in sinful lifestyles. 

Then, the disciples misinterpret what he said thinking he is referring to them as a literal slaves. Jesus says if they continue to sin and cannot stop, they are slaves to it. They are no longer choosing it, it is choosing them. It is similar to an alcoholic, who admits they have a drinking problem and then keep drinking thinking that their addiction is going to go away,. 

The fact is the people are claiming to be Abraham's children, but they are looking to kill Jesus who is from the Father. Then, they claim to have only one Father, which is God the Father. But Jesus counters that if they were truly God's children, they would be listen to him, because He came from the Father. 

At this point it is clear that the people are not at all understanding what Jesus is saying, because God has not made it known to them. He points to the fact that they are really children of the devil, as evidenced by the fact that they want to kill him. They are acting like their real father, who was a murderer from the beginning. 

Jesus calls the devil, "The father of all lies". Though Jesus is telling them the truth, they are denying it. Yet, they believe in the devil's lies about Jesus. If Jesus is worthy of death, then they should tell him what sin he is guilty of. The reason they are not believing in Jesus' testimony is because they don't belong to God. 

Though they may be physical descendants of Abraham, they do not share the faith of Abraham. Abram listened to God and obeyed which is why in Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed in God and it is counted as righteousness." 

In Galatians 3:6-9,  Paul further explains that we are all sons and daughters of Abraham through faith. 

6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

The people then try to tell Jesus that he is the one who is demon possessed, and that he is a Samaritan. How the Samaritan part came about, I am not sure. 

The enemies of Jesus were frustrated and exasperated. They were unable to make Jesus look bad, and even more had believed on Him (John 8:30). So they launched their last attack: name-calling.

· You are a Samaritan (one of the most despised races to the Jews).

· And have a demon (saying that Jesus was demon possessed). - Guzik

The scene ends with an argument about Jesus' relationship with Abraham. If Jesus was God, he would obviously precede Abraham. Jesus ends with these words, 

“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple ground

Once again Jesus uses the term "I am" He is again saying He is one with God and equal to God!  

Now he is the one they want to stone!