Study #4: The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 7:53-8:11)

[ I haven't seen too many comments on my recent posts, and I know that the comments I've made aren't exactly the final word on these subjects!]

A couple more thoughts on this passage:

• I find it interesting how, in several film versions of the Jesus' story, this episode is often combined with Mary Magdalene's character. You've seen it, I'm sure...Mary, as the woman caught in adultery, is forgiven, becomes one of Christ's most devoted followers, and is one of the first to see the risen Christ.  I know, Hollywood isn't usually concerned with Biblical accuracy, but I have been surprised how many Christians have gotten the stories about various women in the Gospels all mixed up in their heads.  As far as we are told in the Gospel of John, the woman caught in adultery is NOT the same as Mary of Magdala.
• As I mentioned in my initial post on this topic, I find it interesting that the man with whom the woman was caught "in the very act" is not mentioned at all in the passage.  After all, as they say, "it takes two to tango." If the men who brought her to Jesus, demanding that she be stoned, were really pious Jews, they would believe that her partner was also worthy of death.  So the very obvious question becomes: where is the man?  Was he already stoned to death?  Did he escape the wrath of the crowd?  Was she really "caught in the act," or dis the people simply assume she was a woman "of ill repute"?
• I have long been fascinated by that little detail of Jesus writing in the dirt with his finger.  I have read some pretty far-out interpretations of this detail, such as the theory that Jesus was writing the sins of the men who were present, thereby showing them that he knew their hypocrisy.  Even if Jesus was just doodling in the dust with his finger, to show the inquisitors he was completely unconcerned with their response, it's a detail that really makes the passage read like something that actually happened.  It makes the incident ring true, as it were.
• To those detractors of a more conservative bent (such as those good folks at Conservapedia) who think that the passage makes Jesus seems too "liberal," I would respectfully disagree.  Jesus does say "I don't condemn you either," but he also adds, "Go and sin no more."  He is direct with her.  Her sin does not absolutely disqualify her from a healing relationship with God, but her response to Jesus' forgiveness will definitely have an impact on that relationship.

Other thoughts?  Since there are over two dozen people enrolled in this group, I expect that at least one of you has some opinions of your own on this famous story.  I'd love to hear from you!

Cory, I read through your 2 posts about the woman caught in the act and spent some time seeking God about it myself.

1.  The first thing that always strikes me is the seeming unfairness of the accused woman versus the missing male.  As I was seeking the Lord’s input on this issue last night, this is the Scripture I got--not exactly what I was expecting.

The disciples in John 21:22 were asking why was John was special.  My translation of What is that to you would be something similar to:  Mind your own business.  You have enough sin of your own to be concerned with.  Basically what God was saying to me last night was to stop following the issue of why the woman was brought and the man wasn’t and look elsewhere for what He is teaching us.

2.  There is another issue, Cory, that you did not question that has always caught my attention:  Why did Jesus not ask for the man to be brought to Him before He even addressed the issue?  Because of the covenant, in Jewish thinking it is normal for both sides of the story to be presented.

Is it possible that because Jesus had said He did not come to judge, that He did not intend to get into the cause or the blame?  His purpose was to bring salvation.  Therefore, the forgiveness of sin that He displayed demonstrates Jesus’ determination to stick with God’s agenda.  His neither do I condemn you is almost a refusal to act as Judge.  He comes as Judge next time.

3.  From the time I first became Christian the instruction I received regarding parables is that a parable does not agree in every detail with the Word and ways of the Lord--we are to focus on the main point.  But, is this Caught-In-The-Act an actual event or a parable?  In your first post you even bring up the parable of the Prodigal Son, suggesting that it should possibly be viewed as a parable.  Then using the conservative group’s belief that the event should not even be part of cannon, your post questions if this was actually one of the acts of Jesus. 

4.  For the last 5 years or so I have been reading the Word with a different perspective.  Since I am 66 years old I have spent many decades getting the Word into me.  What I am doing now is seeking a more intimate connection with the Lord who wrote that Word.  So when I read this incident, I am looking for how God thinks.  He has said His thoughts are different from mine, and I wish to correct that.  Because He said I have the mind of Christ, it is my desire to think as He thinks.

Then I look at how Jesus goes about carrying out God’s will.  Jesus has already stated that He was not here on His own, but to do the will of the Father who sent Him.  So how does what happened with the disgraced woman, the 2 men who brought her for for punishment, and those who were so quick to stone her fit into the way God’s will works? 

For one thing, the Jews were governed by Law.  It would seem to me that in this incident they had abandoned the procedure of Law and become vigilantes.  They were quick to jump to the punishment, but where was the trial?  

We are always thinking about what Jesus was writing in the sand.  One thing I have never heard discussed is the possibility that the writing was not about each man’s individual sin, but about failure to follow the law--condemning her without a trial.

5.  Notice that in the number 4 above I referred to the woman as the disgraced woman.  That term sort of jumps the gun, doesn’t it.  Jesus was on earth as the Messiah.  He was here to offer the Kingdom of God to the Jews.  This was an offer they would not accept.  As Jesus was here to present Himself, even knowing that they were going to reject Him, He seems to me to be showing the coming era of grace.  If the conservatives are mad--thinking this story is too liberal for them--my concern is that they are judging themselves.  With the measure that you judge you will be judged.  So I much prefer the GRACE scenario to the LAW.  I prefer the MERCY rather than the JUSTICE.  I am very appreciative of Jesus’ demonstrating the Father’s will.  The woman would never survive her punishment.  The 2 men bringing her to be stoned would never survive their own punishment.  And the stoners--hypocrites as you pointed out in your post--would also perish.  Because of Jesus’ willingness to accept our sins, to be the propitiation for us, we are not doomed to destruction, to an eternity in Hell.

6.  As for your third bulleted point about whether or not the woman makes the wise choice--if there is any indication anywhere in the Scripture, I’ve missed it.  It is easy for us in hind sight to see what her choice should have been.  The question is even more pertinent, though, for me in this age of grace.  Have I repented and become a true follower of Christ?  Have I submitted to God’s will, placed myself in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and determined that I will with His help "go and sin no more"?

This story wasn’t written for the shamed woman’s benefit.  It was written for my benefit.  God, I pray that You move on my heart, that You increase the eyes of my understanding, that You teach me to obey Your Word.  I pray that Your will, not mine, be done in my own life.  Let my life be one of returning the grace, mercy, and forgiveness You have lavished on me to those around me.  In the Gospel of John You have said that the things Jesus did, I would do--and even greater things.  So I ask You, Lord, to make me like Jesus. Purify all my thoughts, the desires of my heart, my worldly ways, and the leftover habits of my old man, and help me to BE who Jesus was on this earth so that I can DO those things, even those greater things!

Cory, I’m sure this goes way over the limit for a post, but since no one else seems to be submitting, it didn’t seem like it would infringe on anyone else’s space.