08/22/2012
The story of the woman caught in adultery teaches us some important principles.
1. God in Christ is the only One with the authority to prosecute sin. The text is powerful because the evidence of the woman's sin is abundant - she was caught in the act, there were several witnesses, and she does not dispute that she is guilty. Further, Jesus warns her to "go and sin no more." Discipline in the church out to be pursued in order to restore the sinner and deter others from sinning: never to prosecute or accuse the sinner.
2. In asking the "one without sin" to start the stoning Jesus was working graciously on two fronts. He wanted to help the poor dishonored woman obviously, but His convicting grace was also aimed at the woman's executioner. The phrase "without sin" may mean has not sinned or cannot sin. It cannot be the latter as the bible concludes all men under sin, except Jesus. Jesus is therefore, not simply shaming the woman's accusers, He's helping them (especially the instigator) to see the reality of God's grace in their lives. If the woman deserved a merciless application of the Law, so too the one who would be first to throw a stone.
3. Finally, all sin is deserving of death. The scriptures teach that the "wages of sin is death," and that "all have sinned." Whether the woman's accusers committed adultery or some other sin the penalty for sin is always death. Jesus does not dispute the sentence of death prescribed by the Law. What He does is to meet the Law's demands with grace.
Jesus is the only One with the legal authority to prosecute sin and sinners. He died for our sins, and met the just demands of God's Law so that we may be forgiven. Jesus loved both the accused and her accusers and extended His grace of both.
"Grace, grace, God's grace: Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace: Grace that is greater than all my sin."
Pray: Lord, help me to receive your grace and to be gracious to all. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!
Errol Stewart
