Lesson #135
This lesson begins chapter 8, with the first section defined
by John
8:1 – 11. This section is not found in John’s original Gospel, for it is
absent from all of the oldest manuscripts. The episode about the adulterous
woman probably happened during the ministry of Jesus but was not included by
John when he wrote his gospel. There is nothing wrong with this story, but it
should not be considered as part of Scripture. We will cover it because we can
learn from it.
“They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the
Mount of Olives” (John 7:53 – 8:1) ESV). This is clearly a point of transition
from the rejection of Jesus by the Pharisees and their condemnation of the
officers, the people and Nicodemus to John introducing a new event. The people
went to where they were staying; Jesus left Jerusalem and went to the Mount of
Olives, where he probably spent the night. “Early in the morning he came again
to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them”
(John 8:2 ESV). It is now early in the morning and Jesus goes back to the
temple and the people gather around him, expecting Jesus to continue teaching,
which he does, but before he can hardly get started he is interrupted by the
scribes and the Pharisees.
“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.”” (John 8:3 – 4 ESV). Since
adultery involves two people, I wonder why the man was not brought also. My
suspicion is that this was a setup. Possibly a man was chosen to seduce the
woman to have relations with her and when that occurred they were interpreted
and only the woman was taken to be used in an attempt to trap Jesus. They set
that trap by saying, “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. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground”
(John 8:5 – 6 ESV). How might this be a trap? If Jesus sides with the law and
says she should die, then they could accuse him of claiming power that belongs
to the Romans. They could also accuse him of judgment without a fair hearing or
a proper trial. If Jesus decides otherwise, he would then be charged with
denying the authority of the law. No matter what Jesus decides he will be in
trouble. Jesus is fully aware of what is happening and responds in an
unexpected way. He bends down and writes something on the ground with his
finger.
The scribes and the Pharisees were not sure Jesus clearly
heard them; “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.””
(John 8:7 ESV). On behalf of Jesus you want to cry out, “YES” because he
stopped them in their tracks. They did not expect this and surly they must be
standing there in silence, assessing what was said. We are going to let them
think for a while and return to see what happens at the beginning of our next lesson.
Prayer
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