Slices
Prepare
One day we will stand before God, judge of all. How we approach that day depends on how well we know our judge. Ask God to help you know him better.
Bible passage
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
11 ‘No one, sir,’ she said.
‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
Explore
The Jewish teachers had devised a cunning plan to trap Jesus: would Jesus – who had form in breaking the finer points of Sabbath regulations (see John 5:8) – uphold the law of Moses regarding sexual immorality? If he upheld Jewish law by permitting stoning, then he would be breaking Roman law since Jews had no legal right under Rome to exact the death penalty (see John 18:31). Either way, he would be breaking the law. Jesus’ response is brilliant. He does not minimise the seriousness of sexual sin. He upholds the law of Moses and in the same breath he proves that the crowd are also trapped in sin.
The woman, trapped by the Jewish leaders (v 3) and by her own sin (v 11), stands before her judge: the only one who could legitimately throw a stone (see John 5:22). She had no idea that the mercy he offered her came at a great cost. Jesus’ blood would be shed for her sin, just as it was shed for ours. What he offered the woman (v 11) is what he offers each of us: mercy and new life free from the law of sin and death (see Romans 8:1,2).
Respond
Praise Jesus for his perfect justice and his breathtakingly beautiful mercy.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 22,23; Psalm 85
Pray for Scripture Union
This is the first full week of the summer holidays and missions. Please pray for safety and fun across the country as hundreds of volunteers share the good news of Jesus with children, young people and families.
