John 8:2-11 portrays a Kangaroo Court setup devised by the Jewish authorities to trap Jesus. The way Jesus handled this challenging situation continues to be one of the most popular illustrations of his compassion.
Jesus' compassion was rich and powerful – not the "catch and release" concept in which a supposed benefactor gives permission to continue in the same crippling path. Instead Jesus provided invigorating encouragement to the accused woman to leave her destructive behavior.
Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:10-11 ESV
I've heard Bible teachers point out that the man "caught in the very act of adultery" was notoriously missing in this mock trial. Here are the scripture references to stoning referenced by the Jewish authorities.
If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 ESV
If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. Deuteronomy 22:22 ESV
Since the man was excluded from trial in this situation, he could not be subsequently exonerated or condemned – even in those bogus circumstances. Jesus was willfully denied his place as Truth and Light in that man's dark places. That man missed out on true compassion.
We have all been under condemnation for sin just as significant as the adultery highlighted in this story. Here are just two of many scriptures illustrating our human situation and only hope of release.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 ESV
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV
Just as it was with the offending man in this narrative, attempts to escape the justice of God risk missing the gift of the grace of God. The woman, even though she didn't voluntarily submit herself to the justice of Jesus, was pardoned by him.
Thank him for the gift of "getting caught" as you listen and/or sing.
by Kathleen Petersen
