Stones - For Sinner or Saviour

This is the famous text many of us seem unable to resist quoting to suit ourselves, as we try to get back at others who are pointing accusing fingers at us. It is found in John 8: 7 KJV. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her.

Here’s the scene. It is early, morning time and Jesus has returned to the temple courts, where several people have surrounded Him, hungry to feed on His every word. Up come some teachers of the law and Pharisees, bringing before Jesus and the entire crowd gathered there, a woman who was just caught in the act of adultery. In Jesus’ day, that was one of the crimes punishable by stoning. Yes, stones thrown at such a person was the just punishment for adultery. They have not just brought the woman to Jesus, but they want to know Jesus’ ruling on this. We are told clearly that, They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. John 8: 6a. What then was the specific question they asked Jesus? Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? John 8: 4b – 5.

Jesus has heard every word they have spoken with their lips and every word they have not spoken with their lips. Jesus knows every thought of their hearts. Jesus simply bends down and begins to use His finger as a pen, to write on the bare, naked ground.  As they continue to relentless press Him to answer them, Jesus calmly raises up, straightens up and gives them, what I call a boulder of an answer. Go ahead, anyone of you who is without any sin, stone her. Jesus speaks those most powerful words, then bends down low again as He continues to write on the ground.

There are four main facts to be noted about this incident.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were targeting Jesus, not the woman caught in adultery. In other words, they were not really interested in that woman, but were simply using her as a scapegoat, to get at Jesus.

These men of law were religious people who were genuinely troubled about the way this Jew, called Jesus, was being rebellious and resistant to the law, according to their understanding and interpretation of it.  They brought this woman, whom they had caught in the act of committing adultery, and publicly stood her before Jesus. The Law of Moses clearly stated that they should stone her, for such a crime. Normally, in a case such as this, they would not wait for anyone or anything. They would just stone her, then and there. But they had some sordid and evil motives in mind. They would use a sinner, to trap Jesus.

These holy, law-abiding Jewish leaders, wanted this non law-abiding Nazarene, to tell them what He would do, in such a case. They were interested only in what Jesus was going to say publicly about this law. Remember, the woman is not their target, Jesus is. 

These men were not really interested in stoning that woman. They were obsessed with this imposter of a Jew and sought every opportunity to get rid of Him.

Let’s do some reasoning here. Do you really think that these Pharisees and teachers, did not know that Jesus would not allow them to stone that woman?  It is precisely because they saw how He dealt with sinners, forgiving sins and such like, that they brought this guilty woman before Him.  You see, they were prepared to see Jesus go against this law, thus publicly demonstrating the kind of heretic behaviour, which would get Him stoned instead. Don’t ever forget that the target of these religious men, is Jesus, not the adulterer. 

The whole appreciation and wisdom of this incident, continues to be misunderstood and misused. Jesus is Saviour and He has come to save every sinner. But many, who are ruled by law and not love, cannot abide with such forgiving, forgetting love, which dares to give the sinner an opportunity to change. Love is Jesus and law will always do all it can to kill Love. Why? Simply because Love makes law its victim. Love always conquers and saves the one whom law condemns. 

Is not the same true of us today?  The Law catches you in your sinfulness. You are guilty of some crime and the law drags you before the Saviour, not because law cares about you, really, but because law is using you, to get to love. Think about that. Think seriously about it and see, that oftentimes, we would get all worked up about our sinfulness and the ways the deceiver will hold us up before the ‘crowds,’ making us people with no hope. We are not even able to repent, because law gives us no opportunity for repentance. We become a people hopeless, lost and fit for hell, all the while keeping our eyes on ourselves and our wretched sinful state.  

We need to stop and think. We need to see that the law never accuses you without the presence of Jesus, who is Love. Have you ever thought of that? The one reason for this is because all who are of law try everything to get Love to foul up. Love then, not you, is the target.

Let me be personal here.  Let me confess that I have only come to realize that the stones of law, are no longer being lifted to hurl at me, but the hands of law are lifted to hurl their stones at my Saviour and Forgiving Lord. I learnt and am learning daily, that I have a Saviour who will never run away from His accusers, even when they use me as their scapegoat. He is my Saviour and He is Love. Love always frees the sinner who has surrendered herself or himself to Jesus. 

I have also learnt to hear the firm, yet gracious voice of Jesus, my Saviour, in personal, one-on-one conversation with Him, as He, my Saviour, gives me the opportunity to return to life and living, as one not condemned by Jesus, but one left with this stern word. When the Stone of Words flung by Jesus, hits every guilty target and you, like the woman, see all the experts and students of law, walking away sheepishly, one by one, you know the Power and Authority of the Man in whose Presence you stand, alone.

This different Jew, this Rabbi whom they call Jesus, raises His head and looks you in the eye. He asks, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?  No one sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin. John 8: 10b – 11.

The truth is that we all have our ‘caught in sin’ places at times, where Jesus chooses to bring us to a greater understanding of the sinner and the Saviour.  All who are holding up the law to you and talking about casting stones, are not targeting you, but the Love that wants you and saves you. 

May the Holy Spirit give us the freedom to know the grace of a Saviour who sends us back to live differently.  Amen!