John 8:1-8 (9-11) is the Gospel Lectionary text for Lent V on next Sunday.
Jesus was teaching all the people at the Temple. The Chief Priests and Pharisees had been questioning His authority and teachings. They were threatened by Jesus because of His message of Good News, something they could not twist for their own benefit or refute.
Now Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. They made her stand before all the people, and they announced what she had done. Where was the man? First of all, women had no power or status in that time and place. They were often victimized because men did have all the power and status. So, these men were looking out for one of their own - perhaps another man, perhaps even one of them? If she was caught in adultery, why was not HE caught in adultery? Why was HE not standing before this crowd, being accused of scandalous acts? The system was rigged against women by men. These men were working under a system that benefitted them, and they used it to further abuse this woman and others.
So, now they had a very clear-cut case of the Law and condemnation. They were chomping at the bit to throw the book at her. Isn't that just the case, though? We love to point out others' sins, even publicly shame them for their sins, assume the worst and get all punitive about how they should be treated. We get very black and white when it comes to someone else's sins, while judging them. We get all Law and Order on others when they have done something wrong, and we love to see them get what's coming to them. When it is us, not so much, because we know that we are good people who just did something wrong. But THOSE PEOPLE, when they do something wrong it is just proof that they are BAD PEOPLE. A young pastor who spoke to an AMERICA'S PRIDE rally in Pittsburgh years ago, said, "We tend to judge ourselves by our intentions, while judging others by their behaviors." When we, or one of us does something wrong, we call it a mistake. When someone else, or one of those people does something wrong, it just proves our prejudices against them.
Jesus saw what they were doing. He knew the Law, He knew how it was being used to abuse women and He knew what God wanted, as He said, "Mercy, instead of sacrifice." His answer cut through all the pretense, all the unequal treatment, all the underhandedness and all the testing of Him by these corrupt religious leaders who were threatened by Him. "Let the one who has not sinned throw the first stone."
Maybe Jesus was talking about this particular sin of adultery. He may have known more about these particular Scribes and Pharisees than we know. Maybe Jesus was referring generally to sin. Either way, it is a moment of looking at oneself regarding sin. If I am ready to get all mercilessly punitive with someone else who sins, do I not have the same thing coming to me? As Anthony Campolo said, "I know what I deserve. Give me Grace, baby, I need Grace." And, quite simply, who am I to judge? I may not be a corrupt religious leader who twists the Word of God into a weapon with which to punish other people and keep them under my heel, but I am still a sinner, am I not? One of Jesus' more clear Imperatives for us is, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven." Do I know who I am? Do I see my own sin and need for God's Grace? If so, should I not apply the same need for Grace and Forgiveness to my sister or brother, and apply their right to have it applied to their lives? I am not God. I am not Jesus. Jesus alone, from what I have read, is to be judge of the living and the dead. Who am I to want blood when someone else sins? "There but for the Grace of God go I!"
They slinked away to regroup and come at Jesus another day. The woman stood there alone. Jesus simply said to her that those who had condemned her were gone. He stated that He did not condemn her. He told her to go her way and not sin again. She, too, was a sinner. No better or worse than those who would have stoned her to death. She could do better in her life. So can we all. Jesus encouraged her to strive to do better.
Sin is a breach of covenant with God and/or Neighbor. It is a betrayal of trust. Sin does damage to loving relationships. "We have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God," wrote Paul. Therefore, we are "saved by Grace through Faith apart from works of the Law," wrote Paul. "We have all received Grace upon Grace," we read in this very Gospel of John.
Now, if we have all sinned and have all received Grace, should we not be willing to GIVE IT to one another and others who are not less or more sinful than are we? Jesus, quoting Isaiah informs us, as we have witness in Matthew's Gospel, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." Let us be people of Jesus' Way - people of Grace and Love, not of mercilessly punitive judgment, lest that be the sin for which WE are not forgiven.
We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey for this year. Our time specifically set aside for self-examination, repentance and self-sacrifice for the sake of others. What have we learned so far? How have we been changed so far this year? Are we more loving and less judgmental? Are we more Gracious and less intolerant? Are we more like Jesus in how we live, and less like our sinful selves apart from Jesus? Are we more likely to Forgive than to punish? Are we more loving of Neighbor as self, even if Neighbor has sinned?
"Let the one without sin cast the first stone."
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