John Chapter 8 is today's focus. The first thing to note is that John 6:53 - John 8:11 was not in the original manuscripts, but was added sometime later. It is very characteristic of what I would expect Jesus to do, but we have no way of knowing who added it in later texts. Still, it is one of my favorite stories. A group of seemingly self-righteous pious men come to Jesus forcing the woman they have brought to stand in front of Jesus outside the temple. (It had to be outside or he couldn't have done what he did!) They told Jesus, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do you say?" Their goal was to make Jesus slip up so they could accuse him - but, again, he didn't bite.
I can see the woman standing there in front of him, disheveled because of being caught in the act and brought as they found her, ashamed, her eyes cast down, waiting.... And Jesus bent down and started writing in the dirt. The men persisted in their questioning, so Jesus stood up, looked them in the eyes and said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Then he bent down again and continued writing.... The result was that from the eldest to the youngest, the men went away, until Jesus and the woman were the only ones left. Then, and only then, he spoke to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, Lord." And Jesus lovingly said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
This is the Jesus I know. Loving, forgiving, tender.
As for the men who brought her to Jesus, I have always wondered why it is only the woman who was brought. What about the man? That seems patently unfair.
In the rest of Chapter 8, Jesus begins (verse 12) by declaring he is the Light of the World! And he is! He alone is TRUTH, and as long as we are completely aligned with him we are bathed in that Light. Darkness can come near us, but it cannot overwhelm us. And when we are following Jesus we have the opportunity reflect his light to others. May it be so!
For the unbeliever this is a hard chapter, but it isn't meant to condemn. It is meant to convict and allow introspection. It allows us to see through Jesus' eyes, and hear TRUTH. Sometimes truth hurts, and sometimes it seems harsh. In this case, if the truth is heard, it will save souls!
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