GOD´S MERCY
The story of the woman caught in adultery in John (7:53-8:11) is one of the most memorable stories in the gospels. Perhaps the greatest lesson it teaches concerns the nature of God and the nature of man. Man sets himself up as the judge of others; possessing no such moral right, as he himself is sinful. God on the other hand, holy and just, and with every right to judge, is instead merciful. His first thought is not judgement but redemption!
And we see the heart of the Father in the actions of Jesus the Son. It is he who said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), and “I and the Father are one”! (John 10:30)
THE WAYS OF THE WORLD AND THE WAYS OF GOD
Imagine the fear that this woman must have experienced! She is caught, by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees no less, in the very act of adultery, for which the punishment was death by stoning; and she is made to be a public spectacle in the temple.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have no mercy in their attempt to test Jesus.
He on the other hand has other plans for her; that she be brought into the fellowship of the Father and the Son. That she not be condemned but told to sin no more!
The whole setting is transformed by his words, “He who has no sin may cast the first stone”
Those who would condemn depart, leaving Jesus and the woman alone. His words to her and his presence with her set her free from her fear, and set her free to leave a sinful lifestyle behind.
This story highlights for us, I think, that the ways of men and the ways of God are very different! God loves us! He is not bent upon our destruction, but upon our being made whole! He is gracious and merciful. As a Father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. The Lord is bent upon our salvation; upon making us part of the family; upon enabling us to take our seat at the table in the house of the Lord.
What God will then do for us when we place our trust in Jesus, I think is beautifully described by David of old, in psalm 18!
WARRIORS
David says of God in Psalm 18 v. 28-35:
– For it is you who light my lamp; who lighten my darkness!
– You teach me to run against a troop, and leap over a wall!
-You equip me with strength, and make my way blameless!
-You cause me to walk on my high places, with the feet of a deer!
-You train my hands for war, that I may bend a bow of bronze!
-You give me the shield of salvation and support me with your right hand!
In short God will turn us into warriors and teach us to overcome!
GOD’S GENTLENESS
But for me it is Psalm v. 35 which represents the highpoint of that psalm. It reads: “Your gentleness has made me great!”. It was the gentleness of God which taught David to overcome!
While David had physical enemies in view, the Christian realises that his/her battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 5:12). We fight the good fight of faith! (1 Tim. 6:12).
As with David, so with us: It is the gentleness of God which turns us into overcomers, and enables us to wage that battle and win!
HIS GENTLENESS TEACHES ME TO BE GENTLE
Let us always know that when we hear his voice, it is the voice of love.
In our service for God, let us never be driven to do anything by fear (Rom. 8,15) – it weakens us, it does not make us stronger, or cause us to overcome! Remember, the woman caught in adultery did not need to hear the voices calling for her condemnation. She needed to hear the voice of Jesus! It was the voice of love that commanded her to sin no more!
God is NEVER driven by fear, and he wants us to be like him (Eph. 5,1). For perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment! (1 Jon 4,18).
We are warriors! Though we are warriors who sometimes suffer, yet we are warriors who overcome because of him who loved us! (Rom. 8:37)
And let the mercy and gentleness of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ teach us! With the strength of the Father, we too can be gentle!
BE BLESSED!☺️
Note: John 7:53-8:11, is not found in many of the earliest Greek manuscripts. When it does appear, it is either inserted between 7:52 and 8:12, after 7:36, 7:44 or after 21:25. A whole family of manuscripts include it after Luke 21:38.
These facts force scholars to conclude that these verses (the story of the woman caught in adultery), are not part of the original manuscript of John.
Nonetheless, there is acknowledgement that the story is ancient, and bears all the marks of being an authentic piece of tradition, since it closely resembles in style and form the synoptic narratives (especially the style of Luke), and represents the character and method of Jesus. That scribes included it here in John was perhaps to serve as an illustration of 7:24 (do not judge by appearances), or of 8:15 (I judge no one).