John - Chapter 8, Part 1
THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN
JOHN 8
As we begin to study John 8, it is important to consider some degree of controversy concerning this story of the adulterous woman. Scholars have come to agreement that this story appears in no manuscript copy of this gospel written before the 5th century AD. In a few manuscripts of Luke within the first 500 years, it appeared immediately after Luke 21:38 (the end of that chapter also describing Jesus teaching in the temple). The early writer Eusebius said that the story originally was included in the book of Hebrews. At some point church fathers settled upon it belonging in John and that is where it has rested for the past 1600 years in John 8:1-11.
Some have put forward the idea that this woman represents Israel herself as Jehovah's unfaithful wife.
The chapter opens with the scene that “... early in the morning he came again into the temple...”. This opening is perfect for the early morning is the hour at which “light” first appears. Here we visit again John's lesson of light and darkness.
All the people came unto him (verse 2), and he sat down and taught them.
We remember that at the close of the last chapter the temple leaders were unhappy that the officers sent to seize Jesus returned empty handed. Now the enemies of Christ have decided on a new effort to try and trap the Lord. We are told that the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in the very act of adultery.
These men were not shocked at her deed or conduct. They were not upset because the holy law had been broken. If they had abided in this part of the law, both the woman AND the man would have been brought to answer for their act. Their object was to use this woman to exploit her sin and thereby trap the Lord. Remember there were many people present, and they hoped to discredit Him before the people with what they thought was an unsolvable problem for any judge.
They were correct that the law required stoning for the offense (Lev 20:10 & Deut 22:22). Now they challenged Jesus with the law's requirement and asked Him, “... what sayest thou...”? If He ignored the charge they brought against this guilty woman, they could accuse Him of compromising with sin. If He passed sentence on her (death) what could He say about His own earlier word that He was not sent to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved (3:17).
We know that scripture teaches us that God is holy as well as righteous. His holiness will not allow evil and will not tolerate that which is defiled to be in His presence. So what is to become of every poor sinner, who is each day a transgressor of the law? Then and now (truth never changes) the only hope is in mercy, and salvation only possible through grace.
We need to summarize this position.
The Savior of all stood in His Father's temple, sent to save the lost.
A sinner, clearly guilty, could not clear herself.
The law was against her and she had broken God's law.
The declared penalty was death.
She was accused by many, indicted by each of them.
Would grace now stand helpless before the law?
Now Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand. No person has ever known what He wrote that day. But the point was that it was His finger writing. Immediately our minds should travel to Exodus 31:18 which teaches that the law was given to the servant of God, Moses, but much more importantly was “...written with the finger of God..”.
As Jesus wrote again, it was as if he was silently scolding these leaders by His message that they dared to quote to Him the law, but it was HIS FINGER that wrote the law on the stone tablets. How blind they were to who was among them.
When they continued to press Him, He said His perfect remedy. He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. When he wrote the second time it was as if He was reminding them that He had himself written the law TWICE, necessary after Moses broke the original tablets.
All were silenced. The accusers were convicted. Each man was convicted in his own conscience, and they all left, one by one, eldest first to the youngest.
Now the Lord speaks to the woman asking her where her accusers were now and whether any accused her now. She replied “No man Lord”. Jesus then allows His perfect will to be shown by telling her that neither do I condemn thee. Here is even greater evidence of the mind of the Lord. The law requires two witnesses to convict, but none now remained (Deut 19:15). None were left to testify. So the way was clear for Christ to award His grace, clearing the woman but not forsaking the law.
Augustine wrote of this moment that there were only two left that day, and they were to be thought of as Misery & Mercy. The sinner and the Savior were face to face and we see clearly the results of the gospel. Mercy flowed out to the sinner while the law was not ignored.
The entire incident confirms the greatness of the wisdom of the first chapter as expressed in John 1:17:
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.
