Stones For the Sinner or Stones for the Saviour

I bring you a very famous incident of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. However, it's one which many like to quote to suit self and to get back at others who are pointing accusing fingers at them. It is found in John 8: 1 – 11.

One day, while a few women, and I, were a part of a free and open Church worship service, together with women of different walks of life, persuasions and attitudes, we were asked about this incident of Jesus not accusing a sinner. Our privileged and different service was going along nicely, when a few undesirable actions were revealed. It became very serious and even scary to me, when we were shown that the very people who were asking us to speak on this incident, were taking the meaning incorrectly and missing the whole relevance of what was really happening.

When the Spirit prompted me to ask the lady why she, and others also, wanted to know where in the Bible the story with Jesus and the woman accused of adultery was found, and why their avid interest in learning about it, this was her response. Backed by a few other women, she was upfront and honest, and said that others were judging them and they wanted to find the verse which spoke about those who had no sin to throw the first stone. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8: 7b.KJV. This question was asked by people, who wanted to use it to show up others, who were judging them. They wanted us, women who had come to join in worship with them all, to join them in the use of this incident, for a purpose for which it was not placed in the Bible.

It was from that experience that I was propelled to seek our Lord and Master and learn truth, which we all need to learn, live and share. I offer you three main facts 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 legal minds 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. These law abiding Jewish men, wanted this non-law abiding Jewish man called Jesus, 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 religious giants of law, 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 understanding 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 wants you really, but law is using you, to get to Love. Think about that! Think seriously about it and see, that often times, 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 hopeless, lost and fit for hell people, all the while keeping our eyes on ourselves. 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.

Where are you, in your experience of life at the moment? Whether you are male or female, will you see yourself as the person whom Jesus saved from the hands of law? You are the woman or man who is the guilty sinner, facing your Saviour. The prison of law has you behind many locked doors, and bars, with tight security. Praise Jesus, though the watchful eye of law is present, you are given freedom, to see yourself, a guilty sinner, but to also see and hear the Saviour who refuses to condemn you.

O my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, believe that you have a Saviour who will never run away from His accusers, even when they use you as their scapegoat. He is your Saviour and He is Love. Love always frees the sinner who is surrendered to Jesus. You have not been condemned by Jesus, but you have been left with this stern word. Go and sin no more. John 8: 11b.KJV