Book of John: John 8 (Mission Sunday)

Book Of John: Case Dismissed

November 5th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Passage: John 8:1-11 CSB

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center.

10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Pray:

Background:

Set The Scene: The Conflict

• Jesus find Himself in another conflict with the Pharisees and Scribes
• Jesus is confronted with what seems to be an impossible situation
• The Pharisees and Scribes are attempting to trap Jesus to have Him arrested
• But Jesus is not taken off guard and He responds in a profound way

The Process In The Narrative: The Women

• Caught in her sin
• Exposed publicly
• On trial before the pharisees, scribes, and Jesus
• Used as leverage for an evil purpose
• Jesus responds
• The accusers leave the courtroom
• She is now 1 on 1 with the judge
• Shown mercy
• Offered freedom

Here we see a great contrast in the sinfulness of humanity and the graciousness of Jesus

Title: Case Dismissed

Big Idea:

Jesus demonstrates mercy in the midst of our mess and is offering us the greatest gift of all.

Main Points: The Courtroom Of Jesus

1. The Mess

   1. 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger.

   2. The accuser uses our sin to discredit Jesus. - Dr Tony Evans

      1. And the same tactic is still being used today.

         3. Catch 22

      2. If Jesus insisted on the Jewish law, then He could have been accused of breaking the Roman Law. The Jews were not able to invoke capital punishment. Also, if He keeps the law of Moses, then He shows the lack of compassion and mercy that He had been teaching.

      3. If Jesus insisted on the Roman law, then they could have accused Him of breaking Jewish law. He’s in a catch 22.

         4. They were after Jesus, this was a trick to bring Him down, by bringing her down.
         5. He stooped down twice… and writes… case dismissed.
         6. Question: So what did He write?

      4. Nobody knows what He was writing, and there have been many claims. But in order to understand Him writing, we must look at the larger context of the conversation at hand.

      5. The discussion was about the law of Moses. So maybe, we go back to the law of Moses.

      6. Exodus 31:18. Ten Commandments, tables of stone written by the finger of God.

         1. “When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.” 4. John 8:6. Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 5. “You wanna talk about the law giver, the law giver writes with His finger…” 6. Exodus 34:1. Commandments written a second time after the people had rebelled. Exodus 32, Moses shattered the tablets after the people rebelled against God. Why did God write the second tablet?

         2. “The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” - Exodus 34:1 7. Exodus 34:6 - The Lord God, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger….

         3. “The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,” 8. Tablet # 1, these are my rules… Tablet # 2, I’m full of mercy, but I’m still writing my rules. 9. Deuteronomy 17:6-7 - the first stones had to come from the witnesses. And it can’t be just one person. You can’t be a witness and hide.

         4. “The one condemned to die is to be executed on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one is to be executed on the testimony of a single witness. 7 The witnesses’ hands are to be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from you.” 10. Deuteronomy 19:15 - a single witness shall not rise up against a man…

         5. “One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 11. Deuteronomy 22:22 - in a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die. Where’s the man in John ch. 8?

         6. ““If a man is discovered having sexual relations with another man’s wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.” 12. What you have here is a set up and the man is in on it. She’s being used to trap Jesus. 13. If the witnesses cast the stones, and they know they didn’t bring the man in and that they broke the law, then that judgment comes on them.

            7. One by one, they lay down their stones.

      7. Now, there are no witnesses. How can you be judged when there is no witness.

2. His Mercy

   1. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

   2. Now remember the statement Jesus made, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus was the only one in the courtroom without sin, yet He never even picks up a stone.

      1. The one that knew her at her worst, chose to love her the most.

         3. Woman, where are they?... “No one, Lord”

      2. Case dismissed!

      3. We should all be a little more grateful for salvation. The woman’s thinking “I had an accuser on my back, I was headed towards death, I was overcome with shame and guilt, but then JESUS STEPPED IN! No one LORD!”
         4. When the enemy is coming to take you out, RUN to Jesus! Get to JESUS!
      4. John 10:10 - A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
      5. John 3:17 - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
      6. Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus
      7. “The enemy thought he had me, but Jesus said you are mine!”
         5. The story goes… Jesus doesn’t condemn you, now go and sin no more… not, go and sin no more, so that I don’t condemn you. WHOM THE SON SETS FREE, IS FREE INDEED!
         6. Jesus says “I accept you, now get right.”
         7. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
         8. When you realize you’ve been saved from death, you go on in life grateful for the one that saved you from your sin!
         9. When the devil shows up to accuse you, case dismissed, I’ve already paid the price.
         10. CASE DISMISSED!!!

3. Our Mission

   1. 12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
   2. We know the light, we have the light, and JESUS says “14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” - Mark 5:14-16

Closing:

Walking Points:

1. You can come to Jesus fully exposed and you will receive His forgiveness and mercy.
2. Be careful condemning others lest you be the one condemned
3. Follow the example of Jesus as you go out into the darkness and shine His light to a broken and hurting world.

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time then Scripture says “anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge them before my Father”. I’m going to ask that if you prayed that prayer for the first time would you lift your hand and let me know so that I can celebrate with you.

1. God is so proud of you.

2. The angels are rejoicing.

3. And we believe God has a purpose for your life.

Would you let us know that you made a decision so that we can follow up with you and help you on your next steps?