#2 The Women who met Mercy (The Women caught in adultery)
Hi Sweet Sister….so glad you could join our discussion as we study another dramatic interaction of Jesus and a woman.
Exposed. She stood alone after being ripped from a bed of passion and placed in front of a crowd of judgmental religious leaders. She was a pawn used to bring down the meek prophet Jesus. Imagine yourself in her place as she stands confused, embarrassed, humiliated and scared to death. Her heart must have raced as her adrenaline rose causing her to seek to “fight or flight”. However, she was as trapped as the man Jesus who was writing in the sand.
This unnamed woman did not seek Jesus out as did contemplative Mary (Woman #1) who sat at Jesus’ feet. She was caught committing Adultery and thrown into a group of religious leaders who were jealous of Jesus and trying to put him into a “no win” position. Let us study another way that:
Man…………………………..does Jesus love His women.
Let’s start at the beginning in the Gospel of John chapter 8: 1-11.
- Where did Jesus go the night before this dramatic interaction? What do you think Jesus was doing there?
He left his disciples to be alone. Perhaps he was praying for wisdom as to the next days’ events? Spending time with His Father God as Mary modeled for us in Chapter 1?
2. Where is the “Man” caught in Adultery? Does the law require the man to be stoned as well?
Read Deuteronomy 22:22-24. Since these leaders and Elders asked for Stoning it appears this woman was a betrothed virgin. So the man should have also been stoned. It is a mystery as to where he was during this confrontation. He certainly was not defending her.
She stands abandoned, betrayed and alone. But is she alone? Are we ever alone as daughters of the King? Have you ever felt accused by others? Attacked and misunderstood? Write down what happened and how you felt.
- What women in the New Testament (she is related to Jesus) could have been stoned?
Yes…his own mother….Mary could have been stoned…should have been stoned (according to the law) if Joseph choose to expose her in the same way.
Since the woman (Mary) was pregnant the child would have died as well.
How would this world be different if Jesus had died in Mary’s womb? How would you and your world be different?
Meditate on this awhile.
God intervened with Angels (messengers from God) to save Mary and the son of God.
Who would intervene for this women….?
- What was Jesus writing in the sand?
A. Names ? Read Jeremiah 17:13 Some scholars believe that he was writing names in the sand….
A medieval tradition was the latin, “ Terra Terra Accusta” which means the earth accuses earth.“Those that turn from the Lord will be written in the dust, because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of Living water.”
What is the opposite of being written in the dust?
Exodus 32:32 Moses begs the Lord the Lord to forgive the Isrealites or blot his name from the Book of Life. The Lord Replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. In Psalms this is referred to the Book of Life. In Psalm 69: 28 David sings about his enemies and asks, “ May they be blotted out of the book of Life and not be listed with the righteous.”
B. The 10 commandments?
Some scholars believe he may have been writing out the sins of the elders or perhaps the 10 commandments. Exodus 31: 18 “When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.”
Perhaps Jesus wrote with his finger the commandment, Thou Shalt not Kill. Weren’t they all guilty of this command?
In the book of Luke verse 20 Jesus states “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”
What a powerful symbol for the religious leaders to see him writing in the sand. Quietly, the leaders are reminded that the 10 commandments were written by the finger of God. Now, Jesus is writing out commands.
Could he be writing out the two commandments that all the law and prophets hang on? Matthew 22:37
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as your self
Were they being loving toward this woman? toward Jesus?
Do you think they realized that the Kingdom of God was upon them?
If Jesus is God made flesh, than is not Jesus the finger of God?
C. Comfort for the frightened woman?
One of the sweet sisters thought perhaps that Jesus was writing out something to comfort the woman. This certainly would align with the kindness and love shown the woman after they all leave.
Perhaps he wrote words similar to those found in Isiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with my Righteous right hand”.
To counteract the words of her accusers:…..”adultery” “sinner” “harlot” “condemned” etc.
5. What do you think Jesus might have written? _______, __________,________________.
Jesus states, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Why do you think they all walked away? Why the elders first?
Who is the only one who is without sin? The only one who can forgive sins?
________________________________________
So this passage does not tell us what the woman physically did immediately after her accusers left…….
6. What do you think she must have done if Jesus forgave her and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on do not sin any more.”?
Sweet sister….I imagine her falling to her knees in relief and gratitude. Kissing the feet of Jesus and thanking Him for defending her. I believe she repented and decided to turn to Jesus and turn away from sin.
Read Psalm 51….such a beautiful and powerful song of Repentance.
Read slowly over verses 18-19
“For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart.”
Do you need to turn from a sinful choice and turn toward Jesus? Are you “all in” or are you still sitting on the fence? What do you need to leave behind that is preventing you from following even closer to Jesus and his holiness? Will your name be written in the dust as one who turns away from the Lord or will your name be written in the book of Life as one who turns toward the Lord.
He waits patiently for you and I to offer our broken, humbled hearts at his feet.
Man………………………….does Jesus love us women.