Bible Study - New Beginnings - John 8:1-11 - December 28, 2025 (I think you will be blessed)

 

Bible Study – New Beginnings – John 8:1-11 – December 28, 2025

As we approach a New Year, many of us look back and assess the past year and make New Years resolutions. We may think about our lives over this past year and resolve to do better in the coming year.

It is always good for us to review and evaluate our past and resolve to do better. When JESUS healed/forgave a person’s sin, HE often told the person “to go and sin not more.”

Let’s consider John 8 ¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

An Adulteress Forgiven

² At dawn he went to the temple 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.

The Law required both the male and female caught in adultery to be: “The Torah, in prescribing the death penalty for adultery, required that both the adulterer and the adulteress be put to death. It was not lawful to slay one and spare the other.”

Also, by claiming that the woman had been caught in the very act, they affirm that the adultery was not established by some other basis of evidence. Nor did they claim that the man, having been caught, had escaped, so they had no excuse for failing to bring in the man with the woman into Jesus' presence for judgement.

How would JESUS respond?

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

Here, I speculate: Many people think JESUS was writing various sins for the religious leaders to read and self-evaluate but we speculate. Whatever JESUS wrote got their attention which resulted in their self-examination and action.

Do you think JESUS was praying and asking HIS FATHER how HE should respond? Likely! When we are confronted with questions, we, as Christians, need to pause and pray, seek guidance from JESUS before responding.

JESUS took HIS time to respond, which gave HIM time to ponder and pray. Often, when we are faced with demands to give an answer, pausing gives us time to pray, ponder, think, and seek GOD’S wisdom.

JESUS knew they were trying to trap HIM. Likely the absence of the man who was also committing adultery.

After writing on the ground, JESUS stood up and spoke and then HE stooped down and continued to write on the ground.

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

After JESUS spoke to the men, HE returned to writing on the ground. The accusers began to leave starting with the oldest men. JESUS stood up and spoke to this lady. “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, Lord,”^[a] she answered.

WOW!!! Notice what this dear lady said, “No one LORD!!!”

What do we read in 1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore, I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Do you think that JESUS writing on the ground and telling this lady’s accusers to cast the first stone opened the Spiritual eyes of this dear lady and she saw truth and forgiveness in JESUS?

The key is she called JESUS “LORD” and that revealed her heart.

How do you see JESUS? Is HE a good religious man who lived or do you see JESUS as LORD, THE TRUE SON OF GOD?

This lady saw JESUS as LORD and what did that mean to her?

In the words of JESUS ---------

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

This dear lady was caught in the act of adultery. A sin which demanded by Jewish Law for her to be stoned to death.

What about the male who was having sex with her???

Sin is sin and adultery is sin and according to Jewish Law both the male and female are guilty, and both are to be stoned.

Our study begins very early in the morning. JESUS went to the temple to teach those who also came to the temple to pray, worship, and possibly listen to JESUS teach. We do not know what JESUS had planned to teach that morning, but what we do know is JESUS taught a profound lesson.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This is why all people need to confess their sins and ask JESUS to forgive them for their sins and ask JESUS to come into his/her heart.

Confession is to acknowledge and come into agreement with GOD.

John 8 ¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

JESUS went to the Mount of Olives first, then HE went to the temple.

We speculate. We know that JESUS’ desire was to do only what GOD, HIS FATHER, showed or revealed to HIM. JESUS knew the importance of having alone time with HIS FATHER, GOD before HE started HIS day.

So, what lay ahead of JESUS with the dawning of that day?

Let’s explore!!!

An Adulteress Forgiven

From the Mount of Olives to the temple ----

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

As JESUS had been doing, JESUS had early morning followers. So, a group of worshippers came to listen to JESUS teach. The scribes and Pharisees knew JESUS would be teaching and they came to test and trap HIM.

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.

Notice – It was scribes and Pharisees insisting that JESUS be the judge about this woman they caught in adultery. Was she set up? YES!

What we know is the scribes and Pharisees needed an example to trap JESUS. The scribes and the Pharisees knew the law. This act reveals the true heart of the religious leaders of that time. Jewish Law required both the male and the female caught committing adultery to be stoned to death.

JESUS did not respond to them. Instead, HE:

“Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger.” 

We speculate on what JESUS wrote. Many believe it was various sins that those accusing this woman were guilty of committing. JESUS knew the Biblical basis for all people as revealed in Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; That is why all of us need salvation, through faith in JESUS.

Let’s continue reading John 8:7

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 paused, stood, and then spoke to the religious leaders. Was HE giving them time for each accuser to go to GOD and ask for truth? Did JESUS pause for them to reflect and ponder their sin? JESUS then:

⁸ Then he (JESUS) stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.

It was time for these men accusers to pause and reflect, which they did based upon their action------

⁹ When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he (JESUS) was left, with the woman in the center. ¹⁰ When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

Notice, “the older men left first.” Those who have walked with JESUS know that they are sinners saved by GOD’S grace, through faith in JESUS. Often, the older people of faith/Christians are examples for others.

Notice this precious ladies’ reply ------

¹¹ “No one, Lord,”^[a] she answered.

NOTICE her statement “No one LORD” WOW!!! Why is her statement so vital? Let’s read:

1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore, I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

That was this dear lady’s statement of faith. Accepting JESUS as your Savior is not complicated. She expressed her heart and what did JESUS tell her? Read on -----

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

This dear lady was caught in the act of adultery. A sin which Jewish Law demanded for her and her male companion to be stoned to death. Of course, her male companion was not mentioned.

What about the male who was having sex with her, where was he??? Was he involved in their plot???

The Jewish Law applied to both the male and the female, but the male is absent from the scene. Sin is sin, adultery is sin, and it takes two to tango.

Do you know what the GOOD NEWS IS?

JESUS willingly gave HIS physical, sinless life to pay, in full, for all sin. JESUS gave HIS sinless life and shed HIS blood, but each person must acknowledge and accept what JESUS did for him or her as his or her Savior. Sin is individual, personal, and so is forgiveness.

JESUS was willing to give up HIS sinless life upon the cross by the shedding of HIS Blood to pay, in full, for the sins of all who will place their faith and trust in JESUS as their Savior.

When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, that person’s sins are forgiven and that person is cleansed from all his/her sins and he/she becomes whiter than snow. When a person is cleansed by the shed blood of JESUS, he or she stands before GOD and JESUS without a blemish.

Just like the dear lady caught in adultery in our study. All of us will stand before JESUS in the middle, all alone, just as this lady did before JESUS, what will HE tell us?

All of us will stand before JESUS when we transition from earth to Heaven, when we die. What will we hear JESUS say to us?

Will it be, “welcome home my son or daughter, you have been redeemed by the shed blood of the LAMB!!!

The person of faith in JESUS is set free from his/her sins and is Spiritually born into GOD’S eternal family – never to be Spiritually unborn.

What better gift to all people of the world than redemption from sin through faith in JESUS….. Spiritual Birth into GOD’S eternal family; giving each person of faith confirmation of his/her salvation in JESUS as evidenced by the confirmation of THE HOLY SPIRIT within him or her; citizenship in Heaven.

There is a new name written in Glory and it is mine!!! And yours when you place your faith in JESUS!!!

The late singer Burle Ives put it to music “There is a new name written glory and it is mine.”

What better gift from GOD at this time?

Prayers with blessings to all who prayed to receive JESUS as their Savior and made JESUS THE LORD OF THEIR LIFE.

Merry CHRISTMAS!!!

Blessings!!!