✌🏼Who’s Standing Up For Sinners?

And Who’s Throwing Stones?

They were going to kill her. In John chapter 8, Jesus was teaching a crowd and the religious elite of that time brought a woman in front of the crowd. The goal was to trap Jesus. It didn’t work.

The backstory is that this woman, by their account, had been caught in the very act of adultery. In that culture, an adultery charge meant a death penalty by stoning for both participants. That was the Law of Moses, but the penalty was rarely actually carried out. If so, King David would have been in a mess.

The “laws” were not applied equally in that culture. This scenario is a good example of that. Where was the man she had been caught with? Adultery takes two.

Yet this had very little to do with the woman. Jesus’ actions and teachings were of great concern to the religious leaders. He was a radical liberal in their eyes. If they could catch Jesus denouncing the Law of Moses - game over. They would have just cause from their tradition to kill Jesus.

They wanted to kill her, but they wanted to kill Jesus more!

This kind of gruesome execution still happens today in places ruled by radical Eastern religions. If you’ve seen any footage of such a stoning… it’s horrendous. I would not suggest you watch.

Here’s the scene Jesus was confronted with. He’s teaching a crowd and this woman is brought to Him.

John 8:4-6 (NLT)

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

That’s an unexpected response. This lady’s life is on the line and Jesus doodles in the dirt. Jesus often responded unexpectedly. When asked questions, more times than not, He would answer with another question. I bet it drove His enemies crazy.

Before going further in the story, consider the reality of what was happening here. Adultery was a big deal. A big sin. If not executed, those deemed guilty by society were ostracized, marginalized, and looked down on. No one was on this unfortunate woman’s side. No one but Jesus.

Writing in the dirt isn’t explained in scripture, but it seems like Jesus was stalling - ignoring the accusers.

The only thing between this guilty woman and her angry accuser’s rock-throwing was Jesus. By stooping down, writing in the dust, and ignoring the accusations, Jesus was symbolically standing between the guilty and her punishers.

Let that sink in. She was guilty. She wasn’t begging for mercy or denying the charges. And while she was still guilty with no signs of repentance, Jesus stood up for her.

Imagine some big sins of our day that the religious elites would consider worthy of the worst punishment. Adultery. Homosexuality. Abortion.

Who in our culture is standing between the sinner and their accusers? I can hear it now. “Well, if they repent, THEN we will stand with them!”

In this woman’s case, Jesus didn’t ask her to repent BEFORE He stood up for her. He was on her side while she was still guilty. Then, He made it personal for the accusers.

John 8:7-9 (NLT)

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

Older translations say, “He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” What a brilliant response. But it wasn’t just clever, it was revolutionary! It was the very first stone-thrower qualification round. And Jesus won!

John 8:10-11 (NLT)

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

This is not only a beautiful story of redemption, it’s a line in the sand for self-righteous condemnation of others. Unless you are sinless, put the rock down. Jesus wasn’t endorsing adultery, He was showing us how to love.

We aren’t told what the women’s response to Jesus was. Did she go and stop sinning? Perhaps those details aren’t in the story because that’s not the point. Jesus stands up for the guilty - before they repent. That’s you and me too!

Romans 5:8 (NLT)

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

While we were still sinners. Before we repented. Jesus was on our side. Whose side are you on?

Who’s standing up for sinners? Who’s throwing stones?

You will never get to the, “Go and sin no more” moment by throwing stones first. You have to be on people’s side before they repent. That’s how Jesus lived and His followers are called to live that same Way.

1 John 2:6 (NLT)

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

No one will ever believe you love them with rocks of accusation in your hands. Compassion is not compromise.

Whose side are you really on?

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