Feeling Forced?

​The event that we are going to read today is of a woman who was forced into Jesus' presence. I can tell there are some people here who identify with being forced in front of someone. Some of you were forced to go to church growing up.

You are married to a spouse who forces you; you feel forced to be here. Some of you are younger; you are living with your parents, and they force you to come. Those of you that are dating someone. You were not coming to church until this relationship started when she said, “Do you go to church?” and you looked at her and said, “I do now.” So, if you feel forced, you will be able to really identify with the woman in this event.

If you come today willingly and have been before, I ask you if you can listen to this as if you were hearing it for the first time. 

It is found in the gospel of John, the eighth chapter, starting with verse one: “Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives but early the next morning He was back again at the temple. A crowd soon gathered and He sat down and taught them.” 

The Bible tells us that everywhere Jesus went there was a crowd. People wanted to hear Him teach; people wanted to be around Him; they wanted to see Him. This crowd adds to the drama of everything that is happening here. With this event, the more people that are around, the juicier it gets.

They were so concerned about the external, and Jesus was concerned about the internal. There was often tension. 

Now, two thousand years ago, things have not changed all that much. When it comes to adultery, there must be two involved. Right? She is by herself. Where is the guy in this story? Sleeping in? Reading the paper?

Did he slip out of the back when the intruders scared the camels and they barked? Why is he not there? It really does not matter. Because the religious leaders who brought this woman really were not concerned about justice at all. 

This happens in today’s church…They did this; do not look at me. Because if they were concerned about justice, it would have been man and woman. That was the Law. They were not concerned about that at all. In fact, this woman was meaningless. She was an object; she was a pawn.

She was the bait to catch a bigger fish. And she was well chosen bait too because Jesus had a reputation among the Pharisees of being the champion of women. I must imagine these religious leaders were smug and prideful at this point. “We have got Him!” They are high fiving each other.

Surprise! Notice it would have been quite easy for Jesus to move into the role of judge, but He does not. He avoids that role. I do not think the religious leaders and the Pharisees counted on the fact that Jesus was putting people before practices. They had not gotten their arms around His central message yet, which was to love one another, not to law one another. His brilliant response broke the dilemma. Are you not glad that Jesus sees what we cannot?

Make Every Day Count!

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