Liberating Gospels
Freedom from Sin
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
John 7:53-8:11 The Voice The time came for everyone to go home. 8 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 He awoke early in the morning to return to the temple. When He arrived, the people surrounded Him, so He sat down and began to teach them. 3 While He was teaching, the scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman who was caught in the act of adultery; and they stood her before Jesus. Pharisees: 4 Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 Moses says in the law that we are to kill such women by stoning. What do You say about it? 6 This was all set up as a test for Jesus; His answers would give them grounds to accuse Him of crimes against Moses’ law. Jesus bent over and wrote something in the dirt with His finger. 7 They persisted in badgering Jesus, so He stood up straight. Jesus: Let the first stone be thrown by the one among you who has not sinned. 8 Once again Jesus bent down to the ground and resumed writing with His finger. 9 The Pharisees who heard Him stood still for a few moments and then began to leave slowly, one by one, beginning with the older men. Eventually, only Jesus and the woman remained, 10 and Jesus looked up. Jesus: Dear woman, where is everyone? Are we alone? Did no one step forward to condemn you? Woman Caught in Adultery: 11 Lord, no one has condemned me. Jesus: Well, I do not condemn you either; all I ask is that you go and from now on avoid the sins that plague you.][a] For Reflection"To be in sin, biblically speaking, means something very much more consequential than wrongdoing. It means being catastrophically separated from the eternal love of God. It means to be helplessly trapped inside one’s worst self, miserably aware of the chasm between the way we are and the way God intends us to be. It means the continuation of the reign of greed, cruelty, and violence throughout the world."*
The depth of simple Biblical stories always amazes me. This one is no different. The Pharisees were constantly trying to trip up Jesus in a literal interpretation of the law. This time If Jesus answered affirming Mosaic Law, he would violate Roman law that forbade Hebrew executions.
However, Jesus knew that the first stone thrown in execution had to be thrown by an accuser. None was present. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. The sin of the Pharisees was cruel and violent employment of the law. We know nothing about the circumstances surrounding the woman's alleged violation of the law, Was it lustful willing compliance or forced compliance that she became an adulteress?
In any case, divine forgiveness was offered to all who would repent.
* Fleming Rutledge, Crucifixion p.p. 73 as quoted in, Chesnut, Robert A.. Meeting Jesus the Christ Again: A Conservative Progressive Faith (p. 74). Wipf & Stock, an Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers. Kindle Edition. PrayPray, and let the Holy Spirit guide your life. Then, pray, confess your sins, and let God purify you in your repentance.
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