Bible Study - Encounter (3) - JESUS Gave Me Grace and Forgiveness - John 8:2-11 - March 19, 2023

 Bible Study – Encounter (3) – JESUS Gave Me Grace and Forgiveness – March 19, 2023

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled, “My Encounter with JESUS.”

Our focus scripture is John 8:2-11.

JESUS took my guilt and set me free.

Micah 7:19: He (GOD) will again have compassion on us;
he (GOD) will vanquish our iniquities.
You will cast all our^[a] sins
into the depths of the sea.

JESUS not only forgives us for our sins as written in 1 John 1:9:

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

But GOD casts our sins into the deepest part of the sea. Once a person confesses his/her sins and asks for forgiveness, the shed blood of JESUS thoroughly cleanses him/her from head to toe and remembers them NO MORE!

But guess who brings our sins to our minds? You got it if you said Satan. Satan is our great accuser but what does JESUS say about that?

In 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

As Spirit-born people when we sin and Satan accuses us, JESUS stands in the Heavenly court and defends us. How? JESUS, tells Satan that the Spirit-born person has been born-again and is eternally covered by the shed blood of JESUS and is GOD’S Son or Daughter. End of the case!!!

The shed blood of JESUS is not a license for a Spirit-born person to sin but an opportunity to confess his/her sin and know that he/she is forgiven. Let’s explore!

Let’s read John 8:2-6a:

² At dawn he (JESUS) went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.

Notice that JESUS began teaching very early in the day; at dawn. It was cool early in the morning. When we get up early, it is usually the most refreshing time of the day. Plus, most people are more alert. What a delight it must have been to listen to JESUS teach.

The scribes and the Pharisees knew JESUS’ routine and they were eager to discredit HIM. So, they came up with a plan to challenge JESUS before those gathered to listen to HIM teach. They had planned for this very moment.

³ Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 

Some people want to be the center of attention but there are times when it is very uncomfortable and embarrassing.

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.

The scribes and Pharisees had a plan to trap JESUS. Rather than them grabbing both the man and woman caught in the act, they grabbed the woman. How about the man? Had they cut a deal with the man ahead of time? We do not know. Life often produces strange bedfellows.

They were focused on the woman but according to the Law, when a man and woman are caught in adultery, both are to be stoned. We read in Deuteronomy 22:22:

²² “If a man is discovered having sexual relations with another man’s wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. 

And in Leviticus 20: ¹⁰ “If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. 

The Law was very clear that it takes two to tango and both are to be put to death. So, where is the man in this instance? There is something fishy going on.

Notice that the scribes and Pharisees brought this woman to JESUS while HE was teaching a group of people.

The scribes and Pharisees were important religious leaders in Judaism. Their motive was to discredit JESUS. Who do you think was behind that plan? None other than Satan.

So, how did JESUS react to their question - 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?” 

Oh My! JESUS was caught in a delicate situation, or was HE?

How did JESUS react?

Let’s read John 8:6b-9:

6b - Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 

“JESUS stooped down and started writing on the ground with HIS finger.” There has been much speculation about what HE was writing. What do you think HE was writing? 

The Scribes and Pharisees would have known the Law like the back of their hands. All eyes were focused upon JESUS. So, what HE wrote was important. However, what was important was when JESUS stooped down, he, in essence, ignored the religious leaders. Did JESUS want them to focus on what HE was writing? Or was HE praying? My guess is that HE prayed about what HE wrote and what to say. It was a teachable moment. After a period of time they likely knew that HE was stalling. Or was HE seeking the council of GOD, HIS FATHER?

We read in John 5:30 - ³⁰ “I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

There are times when we need to pause and seek GOD’S wisdom before we answer a question.

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.” 

JESUS ignoring the scribes and Pharisees irritated them because they persisted in questioning HIM. After all, they were the religious leaders and how dare JESUS ignore them. They had set this trap and it was not working according to their plan. They were determined to get a reply from JESUS.

JESUS stood up and gave them HIS answer ----

JESUS simply said, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

WOW! What a question that all of us must answer, even those who have been Spirit-born.

JESUS was a teacher and HIS words were powerful and they hit home.

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. 

JESUS “stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.” The Holy Spirit convicts all humans of their sins. What was JESUS writing on the ground? Again, we can only speculate but it was effective. It communicated to them and they began to respond as we read in verse 9 “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.”

The Holy Spirit convicts all of their sin.

The older men began to leave and the younger men followed.

As older men, we are called to be positive influences on the younger men.  May we always keep that in our minds as we proclaim JESUS in our walk with HIM and live as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We, along with Godly Ladies, are examples and are to teach those younger than us.

Now, this precious lady was again the center of attention. She was alone with JESUS and those who had come to listen to JESUS teach on that early dawn morning.

What words would JESUS have for this woman caught in adultery?

Let’s read John 8:10-11:

¹⁰ When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

Oh my, what does this reveal to us? Gee, the scribes and Pharisees could not throw the stone in their hands. We are all sinners saved by GOD’S Grace – WOW!!! Praise to our LORD JESUS for paying the ultimate price to redeem all who place their faith in HIM! To GOD be the Glory, great things HE has done. Thank YOU, FATHER! We, who have been Spirit-born, will likely never grasp the fulness of this until we meet JESUS face to face in Heaven.

¹¹ “No one, Lord,”^[a] she answered. [She referred to JESUS as Lord.]

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Let’s consider the words of JESUS in last week’s lesson when JESUS healed the disabled man who had been disabled for 38 years:

John 5:14 ¹⁴ After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.”

Notice the words of JESUS to the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

To me that reveals that she was forgiven for all of her sins via the authority of JESUS with GOD’S approval.

Regardless of what she understood at the moment, JESUS had the authority to forgive her for her sins and HE instructed her not to sin anymore. I believe that was her point of salvation.

JESUS knew that HE would give HIS sinless life upon the cross to pay, in full, the penalty for sin for all who place their faith in HIM to have eternal life.

Such precious words coming from the lips of JESUS. This lady just received GOD’S Grace – Go and sin no more. A New beginning.

All who place their faith in JESUS are given a new beginning. But all Spirit-born people sin. When we do sin, what are we to do?

In 1 John 1:9-10: ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

JESUS knew the heart of the lady caught in adultery. A new day had dawned in her life because she encountered JESUS. She left knowing that JESUS cared for her. Did she join in with the group JESUS was teaching? Maybe not then because she had a lot to process. Did those listening to JESUS teach invite her to join them? Would we?

This poor lady had been drug through the mud of religion. Grace abounds for those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of the LAMB, JESUS!

Isn’t grace what most people who are caught in sin want from those of us who know the joy of salvation? YES! All of us are sinners saved by GOD’S grace. We read in Romans 3:22-24:

²² The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ^[p] to all who believe, since there is no distinction. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the^[q] glory of God; ²⁴ they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 

Salvation is through the redemptive gift of JESUS’ shed blood, once we place our faith in HIM. The shed blood of JESUS cleanses all who place their faith in HIM from all their sin.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart? If not, why not? I put off committing my life to JESUS for a long time because I didn’t think I could hold out. I was right, I could not hold out but JESUS held onto me when I was in the weeds of sin and HE saw me through this time of my life to HIS praise and Glory, along with others who loved me.

We are all sinners saved by GOD’S grace through faith in JESUS.

GOD and JESUS promise that they will never leave us or forsake us as Spirit-born people. The True Shepherd always goes to find the lost sheep. That is why, at the end of the shepherd’s staff, it has a curve in it. It is to rescue the sheep that have gone astray and gotten into the weeds or rough areas of life.

My prayer is that no one reading this lesson will go astray but know this, if you do, GOD and JESUS are in the rescue business. Come back home and know that GOD loves you and cares for you.

What has your encounter with JESUS been?

Blessings!!!