Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
In His Footsteps Week 19: Woman Caught in Adultry
What does a story of ancient judgment and mercy have to teach us today? In our latest episode, we explore John 8:1-11, where Jesus encounters a woman caught in adultery and the Pharisees' attempt to trap Him. We'll reflect on Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and compassion, His call for self-reflection before casting judgment, and His powerful disarmament of a legalistic mindset. Through the lens of this powerful narrative, we discuss the vital themes of judgment, mercy, and forgiveness, encouraging personal humility and the extension of grace to others. We invite you to join us in a heartfelt prayer for spiritual understanding and to consider how this profound story speaks to our lives today.
As we move forward, we delve into the transformative power of forgiveness and new beginnings through Jesus Christ. Reflecting on Jesus' command for the woman to "go and sin no more," we explore how this directive applies to our own spiritual journeys. Through a prayer for guidance, we seek the Holy Spirit's help in transforming our hearts and minds to live lives that glorify God. This episode underscores God's unending mercy, love, and desire for a deeper connection with each of us. Be encouraged to embrace new beginnings and live in a way that reflects the change He has made in us, knowing that He does not condemn but extends His boundless love and mercy to each of us.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Good morning, happy Sabbath. Today is the 19th week in our study in his in his footsteps. If you want your copy, you can get it. I'll leave a link to the show notes. It's a 52 week journey through the gospel of John. Now, this week we're going to talk about the woman caught in adultery, and the text is John 8, 1 through 11. Let's open in prayer. Father God, thank you for this day, thank you for your love toward us that you've opened up our hearts, our ears and our eyes, spiritual understanding that we can see your truth, that we can read your living word, that each time we read it it's fresh and new and alive and speaks to us in new and important ways. Let's pray that this little devotional today would just give us some food for the week, for the day for thought and moving toward a closer relationship with you In Yeshua's name, amen. So I'm going to read from the King James. Again, it's John 8, 1 through 11.
Speaker 1:But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and now, early in the morning, he came again into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat and he taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. When they had set her in the midst, they said to him Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery in the very act, and now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say? And this they said, testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he didn't hear. And so, when they continued asking him, he raised himself up and he said who is without sin among you? Let him throw a stone at her. First. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. And then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest, even to the last. And Jesus was alone and the woman standing in the midst. And when he had risen himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? And she said no one, lord. And Jesus said to her Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.
Speaker 1:John 8, 1-11 narrates the compelling and compassionate encounter between Jesus and a woman caught in adultery, set within the context of Him teaching in the temple courts. The passage vividly illustrates the grace, wisdom and authority of Jesus in dealing with the complexities of sin, law and forgiveness. Although some ancient manuscripts do not include this story, its powerful message resonates with the core themes of the gospel. Their narrative begins with Jesus at the temple where the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery. They attempt to trap him by asking if she should be stoned according to the law of Moses, hoping to find grounds to accuse him. His response, both in word and action, reveals the profound insights into judgment, mercy and the nature of true righteousness. Here's some key themes judgment and mercy.
Speaker 1:Jesus confronts the accuser's self-righteousness and the crowd's thirst for judgment with a call for self-reflection and the crowd's thirst for judgment with a call for self-reflection, emphasizing that mercy triumphs over judgment. His statement Let any of you who is without sin be first to throw a stone at her shifts the focus from the woman's sin to the universal need for forgiveness, the Wisdom of Jesus. He navigates the Pharisees' trap with divine wisdom, disarming their accusations without dismissing the seriousness of the sin. His approach dismantles their legalistic mindset, highlighting the higher law of love and redemption, forgiveness and New Beginnings. His interaction with the woman underscores the possibility of forgiveness and new life. Interaction with the woman underscores the possibility of forgiveness and new life. His words neither do I condemn you, paired with the admonishment to go and leave your life of sin, offers both pardon and call to transformation, illustrating the restorative heart of the gospel. Before casting judgment on others, we're called to examine our own lives, recognizing our need for mercy. He teaches us that we understand our own sinfulness, that it should lead us to extend grace to others, just as we have received grace from God. Now. He distinguishes himself from the accusers by offering compassion and a chance for redemption rather than condemnation. The response highlights the heart of the gospel. He came to seek and save the lost, offering forgiveness to those who repent. His parting words to the woman go now and leave your life of sin. Sin no more encapsulates the gospel's call to repentance and transformation. Forgiveness is not merely about escaping punishment. It's an invitation to a new life grounded in obedience to him.
Speaker 1:Reflect on this approach, on his approach to the situation. How does his response challenge conventional attitudes towards sin and judgment? Well, I mean, what are conventional attitudes towards sin and judgment? Condemnation, right? I mean you screwed up. You know you should get the full penalty of the law. You know, whatever it is, you know we don't necessarily do stone him anymore, but that was a thing in the day, you know, and this is the day of Jesus, and those streets of Nazareth are the streets of Jerusalem. You know, those people would stone you, and they would follow the law of Moses. And so that his attitude, though, was to extend mercy, and that should be ours as well.
Speaker 1:Consider the call to transformation, the extent he extends to the woman. What does it say about his desire for each person's life, his? The same thing can be said to us neither do I condemn you go and sin no more. Those are the main thrust of what he's telling us here, this whole lesson neither do I condemn you go and sin no more. Here's a prayer for humility and mercy that you have generously poured out on me, knowing that we all stand in need of your forgiveness. Amen. Compassion and Understanding, lord Jesus, in a world quick to condemn, fill my heart with your compassion and understanding. Help me to see others through your eyes, recognizing their worth and dignity as individuals you love deeply. Give me the wisdom to offer words of life and hope, mirroring your response to the woman caught in adultery, offering forgiveness, calling for change and pointing the way to true life in you.
Speaker 1:Personal Transformation. Holy Spirit, thank you for the forgiveness and new beginnings you offer through Jesus Christ. I ask for your power to truly leave behind my life of sin, just as Jesus commanded the woman to go and sin no more. Guide me in your ways, transforming my heart and mind that I might live a life that glorifies you and reflects the change you've made in me. Amen. I hope this lesson's been a blessing to you and it's my prayer that you'll go forward and take some of these words and the thought to go and sin no more, and that he does not condemn you. He loves you and extends his mercy to you. He wants to connect with you on a deeper level. Have a good day, have a good week. I'll see you next time.
