His Indictment and Forgiveness (John 8:9-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/26/2016 11:04 AM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  His Indictment & Forgiveness

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  John 8:9-11

            Message of the verse:  Since we are covering two short sections today we will look first at “His Indictment which only covers verse 9a:  “When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones.”

            Now once the Scribes and Pharisees heard the devastating message from Jesus they began to leave beginning with the older ones.  MacArthur writes “Some manuscripts add, ‘being convicted by their conscience,’ which is certainly implied.”  He does not say if he believes that part should be in the verse or not.  Why do you think that the older ones left first?  Well I guess I would fit into the category of being older and older people have experienced more of life and know more about what is right and wrong.  Perhaps they were embarrassed about the humiliating defeat they had just suffered from our Lord, something that caused them to want to run away fast.  Another reason is that the older ones had more sin to remember.

            MacArthur writes:  “Ironically, those who came to put Jesus to shame left ashamed; those who came to condemn the woman went away condemned.  Unfortunately, their indictment and sense of guilt did not lead them to repentance and faith in Christ.  Like many who hear and feel the convicting truth of the law, they harden their hearts and turned away from Him, not even open to gospel forgiveness.”

            His Forgiveness: John 8:9b-11 “and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."]]”

            Now all of the scribes and Pharisees had left, as far as the crowd it is uncertain as to whether or not they left.  At any rate Jesus now speaks for the first time to the woman and asks her where her accusers were.  Then asks if any of them condemn her to which she replies “no one.”  Now we have spoken about the term “woman” that we see in different places of the Scripture that was used by Jesus, including calling His mother “woman” as we discussed from our discussion in chapter two.  The term is a polite term not a demeaning term as it seems to be used today in our society.

            Now we should look at a few verses to remind us that Jesus has the divine prerogative to forgive sin:  “"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home’ (Matthew 9:6).”  “"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:17).”  “"If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47).”

            John MacArthur writes “Forgiveness does not imply license to sin.  Jesus did not condemn her, but He did command her to abandon her sinful lifestyle.  Gerald L. Borchert writes, ‘Jesus’ verdict, ‘neither do I condemn,’ however, was not rendered as a simple acquittal or a noncondemnation.  The verdict was in fact a strict charge for her to live from this point on (apo tou nun) very differently—to sin no more (meketi hamartane). The liberating work of Jesus did not mean the excusing of sin.  Encountering Jesus always has demanded the transformation of life, the turning away from sin…Sin was not treated lightly by Jesus, but sinners were offered the opportunity to start life anew.’”

            We will look now at what Paul had to say about this subject from Romans 6:1-2 “1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”  The phrase “may it never be” is the strongest Greek term of saying not to do it.

            MacArthur concludes “This story is far more than a battleground for textual critics.  It paints a marvelous picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose gracious humility, infinite wisdom, convicting speech, and tender forgiveness are it central themes.  All Christians should be grateful to God for sovereignty preserving it.”  

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am very thankful that this portion of Scripture has been preserved so that I can learn its truths, something that I did not even bother to study before because of not knowing whether or not it belonged there.  Jesus Christ has the authority, the divine authority to forgive sin and for that I am eternally thankful.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To remember the “May it never be,” today and everyday.

Memory verses for this week:  2 Corinthians 12:7-8 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-to keep me from exalting myself.  8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Simeon” (Luke 2:25-26).

Today’s Bible question:  “Which Psalm is known as the Shepherd’s Psalm?”

Answer in our next SD.

5/26/2016 11:49 AM