John 8:2-11
Big Idea of the Series:
You’ll never really understand who you are until you understand who He is.
The opponents of Jesus would try to get him to choose between love and truth. They would ask questions that tried to trap Him and get Him to betray one of these core values. But Jesus is 100% committed to love. And Jesus is 100% committed to truth. He always found a way to honor both, to show love and stand for truth.
In this scripture, a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus. They ask Jesus what they should do with her? Should they stone her as the Law of Moses states? But what of the man also involved? Why didn't they bring him too? Because they don't care about the law, just trapping Jesus into saying something they can use against Him. They thought this was an either/or question. Love or truth? Jesus turned it on its head with a both/and answer. Love and truth.
Four ways Jesus shows love and stands for truth in this story:
- Jesus meets us where we are (v. 6). … He stooped down to get on the woman's level. Jesus meets us not where we should be, but where we are. He left Heaven to meet us down on Earth.
- Jesus exposes our hearts (vv. 7-9). … They asked Him if she should be stoned or shown compassion. He challenges them and says the first to throw a stone should be one who has not sinned. Noone reached for a stone. Those who already had one, dropped it. One by one, they went home. Their eyes were opened to the Truth of their own hearts, that they are guilty too.
- Jesus extends mercy (vv. 10-11). … Jesus granted mercy to this woman, forgiving her sin. The one person who had the right to throw a stone chose mercy. He knew He would pay for her sin on the cross just a few months after this. He would take the punishment in her place and offer her mercy, grace, and forgiveness-the ultimate act of love and compassion.
- Jesus calls us to a new kind of obedience (v. 11). … But it doesn't just end with forgiveness. Jesus also challenges the woman to stop sinning. He tells her to “sin no more.” Her sin was just forgotten as if it didn't matter. Jesus tells her to change course and live differently. The truth of her sin was horrible and would destroy her if she kept living in it. His command to live differently was out of love.
The enemies of Jesus tried to make him choose love or truth. He chose both. The world does this to us today. It asks us to choose one or the other, but we should follow the example of Jesus and choose both. Both are needed. Both are necessary. One without the other is useless and will drive you into a ditch.
For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message
- Who is Jesus? by Greg Gilbert
- Exalting Jesus in John by Matt Carter
- John: That You May Believe by Kent Hughes
- The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson
- John For You by Josh Moody