Text: John 7:53-8:11 (see below)
Today, the lectionary provides us with the story of the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. It is probably one of the most popular stories in the New Testament based on Jesus’ statement about casting the first stone and his supposed attitudes on sexuality. When we focus simply on the tawdry aspects of the story, we miss deeper truths. So let’s look again at this pericope from the Fourth Gospel.
Most scholars agree that this portion of John’s Gospel is not original but found its way into the manuscript at a later date. That raises all sorts of questions: Why? What is the significance of the story’s placement in the Temple narrative? What is the story’s purpose? Who decided that it should be included in the text? Where was that decision made? And many more.
There are clues that indicate that this story is not authored by the pen of John. First is the mention of “the scribes”. This is the only occurrence of this title in the Fourth Gospel making it unique, even though the term is often used in the Synoptic Gospels. Since the author of this Gospel is so good at patterns, a single reference to a group of leaders or a situation certainly raises doubt as to authenticity. If the writer had been consistent, John might have used the term “the Jews” rather than “the scribes.”
Second, when the woman is brought in front of Jesus there are serious “holes” in the presentation of the legal case that the scribes and Pharisees offer. They propose no witnesses to the actual act of adultery. How could Jesus comment on the Law with no evidence?
Another serious question, which by now you probably have discerned: where is the guy? It takes “two to tango.” In the Law of Moses, it is clear that if a man and a woman were caught in the act of adultery; both parties were liable to a punishment of death by stoning. So it is clear that these “scribes” are not the least bit interested in what Jesus has to say about the Law. This is entrapment and nothing more. Again, this is a trait more common in the Synoptic Gospels than here in the Fourth Gospel.
Third, Jesus will not play the game. What does he do? (C’mon read the text – find out for yourself!) He begins to write on the ground. I have heard more than my fair share of sermons on what Jesus was writing in the dirt that day. Or better: one preacher in High School said that this proved that Jesus was an educated Galilean because the text mentions that he was writing. What nonsense!
Our Master’s actions indicate that he wants no part of this shame. Jesus is disengaging from the debate. Apparently, in the Mediterranean world of that time, such an action would be seen as a refusal to participate. When the scribes and Pharisees take notice that Jesus wants no part in this silly game, they try even harder to press the question.
I like the next portion of the text: “he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Wait a minute, Jesus: the scribes want a decision about adultery and the Law of Moses, and you basically come back at them with: “You want to have a conversation; let’s talk about something deeper and more meaningful. Let’s talk about SIN.”
Once more, the text and translation are very interesting at this point. The phrase “the one without sin” occurs only here in the New Testament and the notion that sin is linked to action is very unusual in the Fourth Gospel. In John’s eyes, sin is a person’s refusal to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. It has nothing to do with your actions: yet, another point to be made that this pericope is not originally Johannine.
Jesus was calling all of those assembled in that scene to accountability for their past actions and called into question their own relationship to the Law of Moses. How easy it is for all of us to take the Commandments of God and twist them to comply with our own agendas and judgments. How marvelous of Jesus to straighten us out and focus on the fact that every one of us misses the mark from time to time.
Jesus goes back to writing in the dust. He is so emotionally disengaged from the discussion it is liberating! The answer to the question he posed is accomplished by the actions of everyone present. They all depart for they realize that no one is without sin. How marvelous! We are all together in this mess called life and no one is better than the other. Notice that even the elders present, who would have been revered for their integrity and faith, are not without sin.
Jesus looks up from the dust and all he sees is the woman standing there. It is the first time that she is addressed directly in the scene. Jesus speaks in direct opposite to what the scribes and Pharisees had accused her. Instead of dwelling on the past (truly Jesus is not interested in this woman’s past - or yours - or mine), he speaks with encouragement about the future. There is new life ahead of this woman and Jesus encourages her to find it. What an awesome text. More importantly, what an awesome lesson for us all.
Love One Another - Brian
Ministering
Henri J. M. Nouwen
The question is not to prepare [for ministry] but to live in a state of ongoing preparedness so that, when someone who is drowning in the world comes into your world, you are ready to reach out and help. It may be at four o'clock, six o'clock, or nine o'clock. One time you call it preaching, the next time teaching, then counseling, or later administration. But let them be part of your life in God--that's ministering.
Source: Time Enough to Minister in the journal Leadership (Spring 1982)
John 7:53-8:11
Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’
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