John 8:1-11 (Doodling
in the Dirt)
Are you a doodler? Talking on the phone do you doodle? –
Scribble on paper – names shapes
A)You can
learn a lot from reading a persons doodles
B)A teacher
might learn the name of the boy that a High School
girl has a crush on.
1) Or the name
of the girlfriend she is mad at.
C) Same
teacher might get an idea of the type of car
a young high school boy dreams of owning.
D) A husband
might discover where his wife is hoping
to go to dinner or on vacation.
But when God doodles – We learn about grace and forgiveness,
compassion and tenderness
A)At least
that is what we see in this Story.
Quote F.B. Meyer.
“This Story reveals a wisdom so profound, a tenderness to sinners
so delicate, a hatred of sin so intense, an insight into the human heart so
searching that it is impossible to suppose that the mind of man could have
conceived of it, or the hand of man could have invented it.”
RD V.2-11
Scene It is the day after the feast of Tabernacles has
completed and Jesus is once again into the temple
A)He is somewhere in the temple courtyard area and the people are
gathered around.
B) Now this was a common practice for rabbis to gather in the temple
and their students to gather to listen.
C) You recall what happened the day before on the last day of the feast - …empty pitcher ….
1)
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture
has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
A)Jesus offers to quench our
spiritual thirst. He wants to satisfy empty souls - bring peace to troubled
hearts.
B)Create a
river of refreshment that bubbles up from within.
1)You have heard the expression cotton mouth where
your mouth gets so dry it feels like it’s full of cotton.
C)In a
spiritual sense every human suffers from a case of spiritual cottonmouth.
1)our soul is dry and parched & in need of
refreshment.
D) That is what Jesus offers … Conduit to refresh
others
Jesus’ offer so intrigued the crowd - the next morning, even
after the feast was over - they were back in the Temple with Jesus, hungry to
learn more.
A)So as the
crowd gathered Jesus sits down and is teaching them that’s when it happens
Aa)An intrusive interruption – the religious leaders
come with a woman in hand –
B) They throw her down at the very feet of Jesus – declaring – she was
caught in the very act of adultery
1)In
my mind I picture her covered only in the bed sheet from the bed she was
sinning in.
C)Make no mistake about it, the text is clear, these
were not trumped up charges - this woman was guilty, As the Pharisees put it, "caught in the very act".
It makes us though wonder what happened the night before.
A)How did the Jewish Pharisees catch her red-handed?
B) And if she was really caught in the very act of
adultery – where was the DUDE. – THE MAN…Duet22
1)Some Bible commentators suggest that it was one of
their religious friends –
C)How
else did the Pharisees know exactly
where to go to find a her?
D)It is possible they were very familiar with this woman and
her tendency toward being promiscuous
1)a woman who had a thing for men in clerical robes
E)Apparently, they had trapped
her to trap Jesus.
The
implications here are interesting…
Though guilty, this woman was the victim of a Pharisaical
sting.
A)She had become a pawn in a bigger game - the bait
to catch a bigger fish.
B)However it happened, the Pharisees
brought this woman into the
C)Jesus had
been teaching God’s truth. Interested ears were all around Him.
1)Suddenly there were angry voices - and a stern
group of Pharisees marched into the circle w/ the woman
D)They threw
her down in the dust like a queasy new father throws a
smelly diaper in the garbage.
E)They’re barking accusations – their faces are scrunched up
in disgust –
1)they’re pointing fingers at the woman as if they
were thrusting her through with little swords.
F)These are a hostile bunch of so-called "holy
men".
1) It’s as if blood is in the water, and the sharks
are circling for the kill.
In Contrast to the Pharisees there lies the woman –
embarrassed –
A)A Scarlet letter A now plastered across her
forehead –
I like the fact that we
don’t even know her name –
B)See God was not interested
in embarrassing her.
C)Jesus summarizes His
mission on earth in
1) In
On a segment of the TV news digest, "60 Minutes", host Mike Wallace interviewed a
Jewish survivor of the
His name was Yehiel Dinur. He was a major witness at the
During the interview Wallace mentioned the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the notorious mastermind of
Hitler's atrocities against the Jews.
He showed a clip of
Eichmann’s trial in 1961. In the clip Dinur
was seen walking into the room, and coming face to face for the first time with
Adolf Eichmann. Dinur stopped cold in his tracks and
started sobbing uncontrollably.
He then collapsed and fainted as the judge pounded
the gavel and called the room to order.
In his interview, Wallace asked Dinur,
"Were you overcome with
hatred? Fear? Horrid memories?"
Dinur responded, "No, none of these. Suddenly I realized that this Eichmann was not a
monster, as I had envisioned him.
He was an
ordinary man, like me. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with fear for myself. I saw
that I am capable of doing this. I am exactly like him."
What an interesting response…
Perhaps you have a hard time relating to this woman lying at
the feet of Jesus, but I don't!
A)I can see
myself lying right next to her – curled up beside her in the dust.
B)But for the
grace and mercy of God, I could've been in her
shoes
C) I am
capable - the evil thoughts that sometimes come out of nowhere and shock my
sensibilities.
1) They remind me that I am human. I too, am but
dust.
D)When I think
of this woman I realize that we both are sinners –
1)we both have fallen short of God's plan and
perfection
D)We both have gone our own way – we both are tempted...
1) I realize, that in so many ways, both you and I,
are exactly like her…
Well lets see what
happens
The
Pharisees say in verse 5, “Now Moses, in the law,
commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" And
John adds, “This they said, testing Him, that they
might have something of which to accuse Him.”
A)Under the Mosaic Law the punishment for adultery
was death by stoning.
B)According to
the Jewish Mishnah
the adulterer was placed knee deep in a box of manure.
1)Perhaps this was the origin of the expression "knee deep in trouble".
C)After being
placed in the box of manure the victim was pelted with stones
1)until their face slumped into the slime.
D)After the execution a tree was planted in the box of manure to
stand in the city as a testimony to the seriousness of adultery.
E) SO, a town
with a lot of trees would be considered a "shady place"… in more ways than one!
So the Pharisees remind Jesus that the Law of Moses ordered
for her to be stoned- trap was set
A)See on the
one hand, if He refuses to execute the proper punishment the Jews will label
Him permissive – soft
on sin.
B)Jesus would lose His stature among the people.
1)How could a man of truth and righteousness let a streetwalker just walk?
C)On the other
hand, if He carries out the punishment Jesus will lose the ear of the people
who’ve been attracted by His mercy.
D)Everyone
knew this woman had been ambushed by the Pharisees.
1)Would Jesus let bitter men, with a jealous grudge,
force Him into taking a woman's life?
E)The Pharisees think either way they’ve got Him…
But Jesus responds in a most unusual way, verse 6, “But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.”
A)It is as if
Jesus just starts to doodle – while he is thinking.
B)Understand,
this is the only occasion in Scripture where it’s recorded that Jesus wrote
anything down.
1)But here He stoops and begins to doodle in the
dirt.
C)Like a backyard quarterback, in the midst of the huddle,
drawing a play in the dirt –
1) Jesus bends down and begins to write with His
finger.
Of course, the intriguing question is, "what did He write?"
A)We're not
told what Jesus wrote, but there’s a clue imbedded in the original text.
B)The Greek
word usually translated “wrote” is "grapho",
from which we get our word "graphic".
C)But John adds a prefix to the word He uses here -
the prefix "kata"
which means "against or in
opposition to" - "katagrapho"
means "to
write against".
D)Whatever
Jesus wrote, they were not flattering words.
1) It was a message that awoke the conscience of the
Pharisees and convicted them of their own sin.
When Jesus wrote in the dirt, He literally wrote with the "finger of God".
A)Several
times in the Old Testament “the finger of God” wrote specific message.
B) Ten
Commandments
C) King
Belshazzar – ,
was having a party. He was gloating in his self-confidence.
1) He felt invincible - unaware that his enemy was
just outside the walls of the city
D)Mene Tekel – Upharsan{
Weighed …wanting
.
And then there was this time: Jesus w/ the finger of God
writing in the dirt.
A)It’s also been suggested that Jesus scribbled
B) The verse in Jeremiah reads, "Those who depart from Me
shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD."
C) These
very guys in their rejection of Jesus had Forsaken the Lord
D)
SO Jesus is writing something in the dirt
We are told in verse 7, “So when they continued asking Him…”
A)They start
pushing Jesus for a response. They're proud and presumptuous.
B)They don't
realize that there are two types of sinners in this
1) There's a sinner sulking
in the dirt, and there’re sinners seething with rage.
C) There’s a sinner who’s
been caught in the very act,
1)and there are sinners who have hidden their sin
behind clerical collars and priestly robes - and religious rituals and church
affiliations.
D)The Pharisees don't realize that both the unrighteous and the self-righteous are equally guilty before the eyes of holy God.
To me the saddest sight, is to
see a person who's suppose to know the love of God with a rock in their hand.
A)If you say you're a Christian, how can you not
extend the same love and forgiveness and mercy to others that God has extended
to you?
B)Here the religious leaders
are like a pack of rabid dogs waiting to attack their prey.
We’re told, V.7 “(Jesus)
raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let
him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on
the ground.”
C)What a marvelous and
merciful response! Jesus doesn't ignore or condone this woman’s sin –
1) but neither does He condemn her.
Have you ever had this thought God is so holy, and pure, and
perfect; yet why in the world does He put up with people like you and me?"
A)And there's only one answer to that question… it’s
not logical, or rational, or even comprehensible,
B)but the reason God doesn't annihilate us - and is willing
to work with us - is that He loves us.
1) Yes, He
really loves us!
C)And because He loves us,
this pristine, spotless, absolutely PERFECT God,
is willing to do whatever it takes to clean us up and make us His children.
D)Whatever Jesus wrote with
His finger in the dirt that day, He showed that God was willing to get down in the dirt for us.
E) Note He stooped down to
where the woman was –
1) He did that when He left
heaven came to earth.
The
Pharisees had condemned this woman to death. A)Their
way of dealing with what's ugly and useless was to destroy it.
B)The Jewish remedy for sin was
a stone, but Jesus' remedy was a piece of wood, a cross!
C) Perhaps you've been
wondering how it all works…
1) Hey,
there're no tricks to coming to Christ.
D)Salvation is not the
result of rubbing a magic lamp 1)It’s not payment of good
deeds done. It’s not a merit badge - or the result of secret
initiations or hidden dues.
No Salvation happens when we realize what we are that we are
sinners, We come and throw ourselves down at the feet of Jesus.
A)Understanding – He paid the price – He took our punishment – in
return He offers Life.
B)God promised you a priceless gift, there's
nothing you can do to earn it, but you must come to Jesus to receive that gift.
1) And we’re going to give you that opportunity this
morning…
C) Jesus stands up to these
Pharisees and rolls the ball back into their court.
1)He doesn't say the Law is wrong – nor does He deny
the validity of the woman’s sentence –
D)He just questions the qualifications of the men who want to carry it
out.
I don’t know about you, but I love the words, "He who
is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
A)They were brilliant. In
one stroke Jesus stirred up the guilty conscience of the Pharisees and gave
hope to sinners everywhere!
B) See Jesus was the only
one there without sin –
1)and Jesus will deal with this woman’s sin, but not
with stones.
By the way, there is one more theory about what Jesus wrote
in the dirt that I should mention.
A)It’s possible Jesus listed
the names of the Pharisees’ girlfriends.
B)He opened up their little black book and listed the call girls they
frequently called.
C) Possible he wrote names
and dates – and sins – adultery , thief, liar , gossip
D) He is why I think that - Verse 9, “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their
conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.”
We’re told, “And Jesus was left alone, and the
woman standing in the midst.”
A)I love this scene – she
had been thrown to the ground – embarrassed condemned –
B) Sitting there in the dirt
as this whole exchange is happening – But now we
see her raised up
1) She is standing in the midst –
C) That is what Jesus seeks
to do with sinners Raise them up – New life – New Start - What a scene!
1)For maybe the first time in her life, she’s had a
man stand up for her.
D)He took her side over the religious crowd.
For the first time she can remember a man has treated her
like a person, instead of an object.
A)She's felt the lust of men on many occasions, but
now she senses what she thinks is real love.
B)She was on the brink of death… and now, she feels
alive again.
1)She’s been born again. She has a brand new start.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and
saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, Gune – what Jesus called his mom
– term of affection and endearment.
So He said
Woman where are those accusers of
yours? Has no one condemned you?"
Verse 11 records the woman’s simple, joyous reply, "No one, Lord."
Jesus lifted her up, and restored her dignity, and treated
her like a real person.
A)In a single act, Jesus returned her virtue, and
gave her life value.
B) His love disarms her and unlocks the padlock of her
heart. -
Verse 11… these words are the climax…
Understand, there was only one person in the temple with the
right to accuse this woman.
A)Only one sinless person was there that day. And
that was Jesus… but Jesus said to her, "Neither do
I condemn you; go and sin no more." Wow!
B)Guys, Jesus gives this
sinful woman and every other sinful man or woman like her, an opportunity to
start over.
C) Go and sin no more – You
don’t have to live like that anymore.
This morning He wants to give you an opportunity to
rebuild your life with His help, His love, His kindness.
He gives wayward women and immoral men a new passion
and purpose - and helps them mold a better life.
Jesus took a stand for this woman – and for the rest
of her life she will take a stand for Jesus!
She has tasted real love and she will never go back
to the lusts of this world. This morning
I want to give you an opportunity to take a stand for Jesus...