FREED BY GOD S FORGIVENESS

GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (PSG, p. 22). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 22): What was the funniest time you were caught red-handed? GUIDE: Review The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 23). Invite the group to consider how different Mr. John s life could have been if he had realized he could be forgiven. Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 23): We deserve punishment, but God forgives. SAY: Mr. John correctly understood that he deserved punishment for his sin, as we all do. GUIDE: Comment that a familiar story from the Gospel of John reminds us that when others condemn us, and even when we condemn ourselves, we can experience mercy. SESSION 2 FREED BY GOD S FORGIVENESS The Point We deserve punishment, but God forgives. The Bible Meets Life When we see reports about crime and violence, we want justice to be served and punishment appropriately meted out. When it comes to our own sins, we want mercy. We deserve punishment, but who would willingly seek it? God offers us an alternative to punishment: full forgiveness. Jesus extended forgiveness to a woman caught in adultery. She deserved punishment but experienced mercy. The Passage John 8:2-11 The Setting While in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus entered the temple complex and was teaching the people. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman they had caught in adultery in order to see how Jesus would judge her. They were trying to trap Jesus. They believed that if Jesus chose mercy He would have been in opposition to the law of Moses, and if He chose judgment He would have been encouraging the illegal enactment of capital punishment. 30 Session 2

John 8:2-6 2 At dawn He went to the temple complex 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. KEY WORDS: The temple complex (v. 2) The word temple was used to refer both to the primary building and to the entire area with its courts. Since Jesus was not teaching in the temple building itself but in one of the courtyards, many translations refer to the temple complex or use similar wording. God s law calls for the punishment of sin. Verse 2. Many translations either place John 7:53 8:11 in brackets or place it in a footnote. Some translations may omit the text from this spot and add it at the end of John s Gospel. Scholars who have studied the ancient copies of the biblical text have found that this passage is not in many early manuscripts of John s Gospel or is placed in other locations within the Gospel (or in some instances in the Gospel of Luke after Luke 21:38). While the question remains about where it was originally placed, evangelical Christian scholars overwhelmingly agree that it is an authentic, Spirit-inspired record of part of Jesus earthly ministry. At dawn He went to the temple complex. The term temple complex is the translation of the Greek word for temple and in this context refers to the entire temple area in Jerusalem. At this point the temple and its surrounding buildings and courtyards had been under construction for STUDY THE BIBLE John 8:2-6 10 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read John 8:2-6. GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, gather at least three stones. Ones with rough edges are preferred. Call attention to the first paragraph on PSG page 24: Some people just like to throw rocks rocks of arrogance, rocks of condemnation, rocks of entrapment. Hold up three stones as you repeat the words arrogance, condemnation, entrapment. (OPTION: Pass the stones around the group so individuals can feel the rough edges.) Note the rough edges and the damage they could cause if they struck us. Acknowledge that people don t throw literal rocks at us, but they do cast stones in a metaphorical way. Stress those stones can cause a lot of damage. They can cause us to live a life controlled by guilt, despair, and hopelessness. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF DECEMBER 13 31

THE POINT We deserve punishment, but God forgives. GUIDE: Call attention to verse 3. Note that the woman was caught in her sin. For many rabbis, the three big sins were idolatry, murder, and adultery. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 25): Why do we tend to hope some people will be caught in their sin? (Alternate: Why is it necessary for sin to be punished?) 46 years (John 2:20). Many sources outside of Scripture describe it as a beautiful and magnificent place. The grounds included the temple building, which consisted of three rooms: an entry area (the temple porch), the holy place, and the most holy place (holy of holies). Surrounding the building were a series of courtyards: the court of Gentiles (nearest the entry areas), the court of women (the second innermost area), the court of Israel (the next inner area reserved only for Jewish men), and the court of priests (immediately surrounding the temple building). The word temple refers both to the primary building and to the entire area with its courts. Since Jesus was not teaching in the temple building but in one of the courtyards, many translations refer to the temple complex or use similar wording. As Jesus so often did (John 7:14,28), He went to the temple area in order to teach those who came to worship and study. Most likely due to His reputation for healing and teaching with authority, all the people were coming to Him. Jesus responded by assuming the position of a teacher (sitting down, probably in one of the covered porches in the temple complex) and began to teach them. Verse 3. While Jesus was teaching the people, a group of Jewish religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery and forced her to stand in front of Jesus and the crowd. This group consisted of the scribes and the Pharisees. The scribes were men who had dedicated their lives to copying and studying the Jewish Scriptures, our Old Testament. They were the teachers and interpreters of the Law of Moses. If anyone had a question about what the Scriptures said or how one kept (or if one had broken) the law, they would consult with one of the scribes. The Pharisees were a group of men who believed the supreme duty of all people was to obey God s law. They devoted themselves to teaching and obeying every law found in the Old Testament. Since people often had questions about exactly how to carry out certain parts of the law, the scribes and Pharisees would add their own interpretations which were called the tradition of the elders (Mark 7:3). Though these teachings were not part of the inspired biblical text, the scribes and Pharisees treated them as equally important and authoritative. Jesus had often encountered the hostility of these Jewish leaders when He refused to support their teachings (vv. 6-13). Because Jesus opposed their teachings, the Jewish leaders tried several times to trap Him with some 32 Session 2

question (such as about divorce [Matt. 19:1 9] or about paying taxes to the Roman government [22:15 22]). Their goal was to discredit Him before the crowds or to get Him in trouble with the legal authorities. This was another such occasion. Verses 4-5. In order to pressure Jesus into making a false step, the religious leaders were not satisfied with a merely theoretical question. Instead, they brought to Jesus a woman whom they claimed had been caught in the act of committing adultery. They reminded Jesus, as if He needed reminding, the law which God had given through Moses commanded that a woman who had committed adultery was to be killed by stoning. Clearly, these religious leaders were not at all concerned about redeeming the woman but only in using Jesus words as evidence to accuse Him (John 8:6). The specific law to which the religious leaders referred is found in both Leviticus (Lev. 20:10) and Deuteronomy (Deut. 22:22). However, neither passage states the manner of execution. Stoning is called for in the case of a man who had sexual relations with a woman who is engaged to someone else (vv. 23-24). The charge brought against the woman seems to imply that either the man or the woman or both were married. However, why wasn t the man also brought since the Law states both were to be killed? One possibility is that the religious leaders arranged to trap the woman in order to carry out their plan and then let the man go. To assume they just accidentally discovered the two individuals committing adultery seems pretty unlikely. If this is what happened, then the religious leaders themselves were guilty of encouraging immorality. Clearly, they did not care, since their only goal was to discredit Jesus. Their plan was to force Jesus to choose between upholding God s law and showing mercy. Jesus was known for practicing mercy. His enemies accused Him of condoning ungodly behavior because He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matt. 9:11), to which Jesus responded by saying that He didn t come to call the righteous, but sinners (vv. 12 13). Over and over He practiced mercy while at the same time calling His followers to a standard that was even higher than the Jewish religious leaders understanding of the law (Matt. 5 7). In this case, if Jesus said that the woman should be shown mercy, then His enemies could paint Him as opposing the Mosaic Law. Such a charge could turn the crowds against Him. However, if He called for the woman to be stoned, then His enemies could tell the Roman officials that He was trying to exercise authority (enforcing capital punishment) only the Roman government had. Also, the religious leaders could claim that Jesus wasn t really merciful. SUMMARIZE: The religious leaders motive for bringing the woman to Jesus was to trap Him. They wanted to force Jesus to choose between upholding God s law and showing mercy. If Jesus said that the woman should be shown mercy, then His enemies could paint Him as opposing the Mosaic Law. Such a charge could turn the crowds against Him. However, if He called for the woman to be stoned, then His enemies could tell the Roman officials that He was trying to exercise authority (enforcing capital punishment) only the Roman government had. 33

THE POINT We deserve punishment, but God forgives. GUIDE: Emphasize that the charge against the woman was real. She was guilty of committing adultery. State that we must not downplay the seriousness of the woman s sin even though Jesus enemies were simply using her as a tool in their plot to trap Jesus. Stress that God is holy, and because of this, He must punish sin. Write on a board or large sheet of paper: For the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). TRANSITION: The consequences of sin continue to this day. Each of us must deal with this reality because none of us is without sin. Verse 6. So what did Jesus say to His accusers? At first, nothing. Instead, He stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. Some think maybe Jesus was simply doodling in order to force the woman s accusers to think about the seriousness of what they were doing. My view is that Jesus was actually writing and not merely doodling. These men were great students of the law. I think He may have been writing some of the things the law said about witnesses. For example, Do not give false testimony against your neighbor (Ex. 20:16). Deuteronomy 17:6 7 says that an accused could not be put to death on the basis of only one person s testimony but that at least two or three witnesses were required. But even more serious was how the sentence was to be carried out: The witnesses hands were to be the first to act in putting the accused to death. Another passage (Deut. 19:15 19) reaffirms that the testimony of two to three witnesses was required, not only for a capital crime but for any charge of wrongdoing or sin. The passage goes on to deal with the possibility of a malicious witness accusing an innocent person. If the judges found that the witness was lying, he was to be punished with the same punishment that would have been given to the one falsely accused. Though none of us knows, I like to imagine that the first time Jesus wrote on the ground He wrote the part of Deuteronomy 17:7 that says the witnesses hands are to be the first in putting him to death. John 8:7-9 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. 34 Session 2

None of us is without sin. Verse 7. Clearly, the scribes and Pharisees thought they had trapped Jesus in a box with no way out. Either He had to condemn the woman and show that He wasn t consistent in showing mercy, or He could say to let her go and show that He wasn t faithful to Scripture. Feeling certain they had finally put Jesus in a spot from which there was no escape, they persisted in questioning Him. They kept on asking Him to give a verdict on what should be done. At last Jesus turned His attention to those accusing the woman. He stopped His writing and stood up. He told them, The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her. Why did Jesus add this requirement? Even more importantly, what right did He have to add any requirement to the Law? Jesus added this requirement because He was more concerned with the condition of a person s heart than his or her outward performance. Look at what He said in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 7). Though the Law said not to murder, Jesus said bad attitudes toward another person also bring God s judgment (5:21 26). Though the Law said not to commit adultery, Jesus said lusting was just as bad (vv. 27 28). Though the Law said to keep your oaths, Jesus said not to take oaths at all but simply speak the truth (vv. 33 37). Jesus also warned about judging and condemning others (7:1 5). He said only the one who has first gotten rid of the sin in his own life is qualified to judge someone else. Of course, the reality is that none of us is without sin (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8,10). Jesus challenged the woman s accusers to judge themselves before they judged her, and He knew that none of them could pass His test. What authority did Jesus have to add this requirement to God s Law? Who does have the authority to judge people? Jesus had the authority to add this requirement and pass judgment over people because He is the Son of God (John 5:19 30; 8:16). As Jesus showed in the Sermon on the Mount, He has full authority not only to interpret the Law but also to point out God s intention behind the Law. God was never concerned with mere outward performance (Amos 5:21 24; Mic. 6:6 8). The greatest commandment was not just to obey rules but to love God from the heart (Matt. 22:37). We are expected to obey God s commands, but out of love for Him, not merely as an outward performance or as an attempt to earn the love and acceptance He already has given us in Jesus Christ. If you love Me, you will keep My commands (John 14:15). As the divine Son of God, Jesus had the authority to tell these men how to obey God. STUDY THE BIBLE John 8:7-9 5 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 7-9. SUMMARIZE: Jesus never denied the woman s guilt. However, He didn t approach her sin or attack her personally in the same way the religious leaders did. Jesus did not approach this situation in a legalistic way. He acted out of love and mercy. Later, James would write: Mercy triumphs over judgment (Jas. 2:13). Jesus did not deal immediately with the woman s guilt. Instead, He focused on her accusers and addressed their guilt. Jesus wanted them to see beyond their legalism and realize they had no right to throw a single stone. 35

THE POINT We deserve punishment, but God forgives. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 26): Why is it sometimes easier to see others sins more than our own? (Alternate: How does Jesus statement in verse 7 influence our everyday actions and attitudes?) GUIDE: Focus on verse 9. Note that the older men were the first to walk away. Some scholars believe they left first because they were wiser and more quickly understood the truth of Jesus words. Jesus had opened their eyes to see their own sinfulness. TRANSITION: We are all guilty, but thankfully, God forgives. Verse 8. Rather than continuing to argue with the woman s accusers, Jesus stooped down again and continued writing on the ground with His finger. What was He writing this time? Some scholars believe Jesus was listing some of the sins of the men who had brought the woman. This seems possible, especially in light of what He had just said about the one without any sin being the first to cast a stone. My guess is that Jesus continued to write from the Law the scribes and Pharisees claimed to love so much. I think this time Jesus may have written some of the words from Deuteronomy 19 about the punishment for false accusers. If this was what He wrote, then He was using the Law to warn them of the consequences of what they were about to do. Verse 9. After hearing what Jesus had said and watching Him write again, the men began to walk away. Notice that they left one by one, starting with the older men. Why did the older men leave first? Again, we can t know for sure. Some scholars believe they left first because they were wiser and more quickly understood the impact of the words Jesus spoke and wrote. As they understood, God s Spirit convicted them of their sinfulness. They were wrong to use this woman for their own selfish motives. They were wrong to accuse her and not the man. And most importantly, they were wrong to deny both the authority and the sinlessness of Jesus. As they recognized they had no right to condemn the woman, they simply walked away. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in front of the crowd of onlookers. STUDY THE BIBLE John 8:10-11 15 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 10-11. John 8:10-11 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. God forgives us out of His grace. 36 Session 2

Verse 10. Once all the accusers had gone, Jesus stopped writing and stood up. For the first time He spoke to the woman. Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Of all the things He could have said or asked, why did He ask these two questions? Clearly, He wasn t concerned with teaching the crowd or with bragging about how He had once again defeated His enemies. His entire focus was on this frightened woman who was covered in guilt and shame. Jesus asked these two questions in order to help the woman see that even though she was guilty of a terrible sin, no one had condemned her. No one was going to stone her. Verse 11. Her answer was simple and profound: No one, Lord. Jesus led her to say aloud that even though she deserved to be punished, there was no one who would condemn her and carry out her execution. Calling Jesus Lord probably was merely a sign that she respected His authority, not that she recognized His divinity or that she had put her faith in Him as her Lord and Savior. Jesus could have let her go with a simple word of encouragement, but He did so much more, saying, Neither do I condemn you. She had recognized His authority to set her free, but now she heard Him declare He would not condemn her either. Though Jesus had the authority to condemn her, He explicitly refused to do so. Though Jesus refused to condemn this poor woman, He didn t simply dismiss her. Before He let her go, He added a command. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore. Yes, she was free to go, but He challenged her to walk in a new way of life. Both Jesus and the woman knew she was guilty of being a sinner. His words imply that this was not the first time she had committed sexual sin. Perhaps her pattern of life was similar to that of the Samaritan woman Jesus encountered on His way from Judea to Galilee (John 4:1-26). In both cases, Jesus could have adopted a legalistic, judgmental tone. However, in both situations Jesus focused on the future rather than the past. He urged this woman to turn from her sins and begin a new life. We aren t told about this woman s response. Did she follow Jesus command, or did she return to her former way of life? What we know for certain is the kind of Savior Jesus is. While He loves without limit, offering forgiveness to those who repent and believe in Him, He expects His followers to trust and obey His commands. No words better describe Jesus and His mission than those of John 1:17 for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 28): How do we confront another person s sin without crushing his or her spirit? GUIDE: Emphasize that Jesus offered forgiveness before He called the woman to repent and start anew. Write this statement on a board or large sheet of paper: You have to be right with God before you can do right for God. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 29): What opportunities do we have to extend God s grace instead of condemnation? (Alternate: What was at the heart of Jesus message for the woman?) DO: Direct attention to the activity, But God Forgives (PSG, p. 30). Invite volunteers to share their responses. 37

THE POINT We deserve punishment, but God forgives. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: We deserve punishment, but God forgives. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 31; see text to the right). Encourage each group member to commit to follow through this week with at least one of the applications. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Remind the group of what Jesus told the woman in verse 11: Neither do I condemn you,. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore. (ENHANCEMENT: Point to Pack Item 2: No Condemnation. ) The world abounds with people who want to throw stones. (Show the stones you used earlier.) But there are no stones in Jesus hands. When we come to Him in repentance, He never condemns. He forgives. LIVE IT OUT Remember Mr. John from page 23 [PSG]? He couldn t do what was right forgive until He experienced God s forgiveness himself. I shared the good news of Jesus with him, and right there in the snow, Mr. John prayed to receive Christ. We deserve punishment, but God is ready to forgive. Consider which application for this session fits best with where you are in your spiritual journey this week. > > Confess your sin. Is a certain sin of yours weighing heavily upon your mind and spirit? Do not fear God s condemnation. Turn to Him, and confess this sin. Tell God you desire to have nothing to do with it anymore. Rely on His strength to be done with this sin, and accept His forgiveness. > > Forsake condemnation. Do you ever find yourself hoping someone will pay for what they ve done? This week, ask God to search your heart for any spirit of condemnation. Respond to what God shows you, and seek His forgiveness. Ask God for strength to always choose mercy instead of condemnation. > > Be an agent of forgiveness. Condemnation tears apart relationships. Offer yourself to God this week as His instrument to bring forgiveness and reconciliation to a relationship that s broken. Ask God to bring to mind one situation in which you could help bring about healing. PRAY: Father, give us the grace to forgive and to resist condemnation. Amen. 38 Session 2

offenses included capital, religious, moral, and ceremonial crimes. Five of the offenses that warranted stoning involved capital crimes, either actually or potentially. Capital crimes are those crimes that call for capital punishment and in most societies SHARING THE GOOD NEWS Jesus took our sins upon Himself and offers us forgiveness. With our sins removed and forgiven, we can enter into a right, eternal relationship with God. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ Ruins at Ai. Achan was stoned to death after he took items from the captured city of Jericho (Josh. 7). The following excerpt is from the article Deserving of Death: Stoning in the Old Testament (Spr. 07), which relates to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. include murder, rape, spying, and treason. Read the articles A Woman s Status in the First Century and Jesus at the Temple in the Winter 2015-16 issue. Previous articles Adultery in Ancient Law (Spr. 2014), Who Were the Pharisees? (Spr. 1998), and Who Were the Scribes? (Spr. 1995) relate to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers Stoning was the ordinary manner of execution in the Old Testament by Israel, although spearing or some other method was also used (Ex. 19:12-13). At least 20 offenses for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. called for the death penalty. These > > Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >Grow > with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). > > Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 39