WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.320 Good morning everyone. I'm Ian and our first Bible reading is Psalm 130, which was originally sung by pilgrims going to the temple in Jerusalem. 00:00:11.419 --> 00:00:21.300 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:27.699 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:34.740 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:41.700 I wait for the Lord. My whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:47.519 I wait for the Lord. More than watchmen wait for the morning. 00:00:48.899 --> 00:00:51.140 More than watchmen wait for the morning. 00:00:51.140 --> 00:01:00.679 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption. 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:05.260 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:18.200 Hello, church. My name is Lisa, and I'll be bringing us our second reading today, which is from the book of John, chapter 7, verse 53, through to chapter 8, verse 11. 00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:23.640 After the reading, I will invite you to join me in prayer before David brings us his sermon. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.200 So, John, chapter 7, verse 53. 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:33.560 Then each went to his own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:41.560 At dawn, he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:47.600 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:51.739 They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:55.939 Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 00:01:56.699 --> 00:02:00.060 In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such woman. 00:02:00.839 --> 00:02:02.619 Now, what do you say? 00:02:03.699 --> 00:02:08.500 They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.719 But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:18.840 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:24.340 If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.800 Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:35.539 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:40.020 until only Jesus was left with the woman still standing there. 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:43.340 Jesus straightened up and asked her, 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:47.680 Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.659 No one, sir, she said. 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:54.579 Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:57.979 Go now and leave your life of sin. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:00.680 Let us pray. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:05.020 Father God, as we draw around your word today, 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:09.580 my prayer is that each of us would learn more of who Jesus is 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:12.219 and the love he showers on every individual, 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:14.660 regardless of how broken they are. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:20.819 I pray that you would use David for your heavenly purposes as he preaches today 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:25.560 and that the message he brings us would be centred on the truth of the gospel 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.759 and that it would resonate with all who are listening, 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:31.460 regardless of where they are in their journey. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:33.980 Be near to us all, I pray. 00:03:34.760 --> 00:03:35.040 Amen. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:42.699 I wonder, do any of you have friends who are pranksters? 00:03:43.259 --> 00:03:45.519 The famous novelist Mark Twain seems to have been one. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:48.399 He once decided to play a trick on a dozen of his friends. 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:52.379 He arranged for each of them to receive a telegram that bore this simple message. 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:53.840 Flee at once. 00:03:54.399 --> 00:03:55.239 All is discovered. 00:03:56.459 --> 00:03:58.599 Twain reports that upon receiving this telegram, 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:00.560 all 12 of them left town immediately. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:05.219 Now, it's a funny story, but it also raises some serious questions. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.340 What were they so afraid of? 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.140 What did they have to hide? 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:12.960 You may not be like Mark Twain, the prankster, 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.139 but I suspect that there might be something of those 12 friends in each of us. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:20.620 Imagine for a second that you, one morning, wake up, 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:22.579 you check the post and you find there's a letter. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:27.579 You open up the letter and you see that there is a message written on nice fancy notepaper. 00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:29.000 The message reads, 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:30.160 All is discovered. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:31.000 Flee. 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:35.939 What comes into your mind that that could possibly be referring to in your life, 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.019 in your business? 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:41.379 I suspect that all of us, if we're honest, 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:45.579 have some skeletons or at least a bone or two lurking in the back of our closets. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:47.180 Things that we've locked away. 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:48.839 Things that we've tried to forget about. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:52.300 Things that we've hoped no one will ever discover and find out about us. 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:57.660 Nevertheless, the Bible tells us that there is someone who sees all things. 00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:01.820 Who knows about all the things that have happened behind closed doors and in the secret places. 00:05:02.080 --> 00:05:04.640 Someone who is not deceived by any of our cover-ups. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:06.260 He is God. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.620 But he's also the only one who can help us. 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:15.100 The goodness I've got to share with you this morning is that if you ever wonder, 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:19.260 could an almighty and holy God love me after what I've said, 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:20.939 after what I've thought, 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.820 after what I've done or not done, 00:05:23.260 --> 00:05:26.439 then the answer can be found in John's gospel. 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:30.200 If you ever want to know what God is like, 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:31.879 what God thinks, 00:05:32.260 --> 00:05:34.540 then all you have to do is look at the person of Jesus, 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.560 who is the face and the heart of God, 00:05:36.760 --> 00:05:38.260 fleshed out for all the world to see. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:43.000 Today we're going to be looking at a passage in John chapter 8. 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:46.839 It's the famous story of Jesus' encounter with a woman caught in adultery. 00:05:47.659 --> 00:05:49.420 To help us get inside this story 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:53.259 and to witness the wonderful way that Jesus relates to a sinner 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:55.000 who has been just caught in the act, 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.379 I'm going to preach this message to you as a narrative sermon. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.699 That means that we're going to imagine that we're listening to someone who was there that day, 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:03.939 someone in the crowd, 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.939 and we're going to take that person's first person perspective 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:09.180 and hear what they heard 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:10.660 and see what they saw. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:13.980 The next voice that you hear in a moment 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:15.560 will be the voice of someone, 00:06:15.719 --> 00:06:18.120 one of the men who was in the crowd that day. 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:24.199 That day is still crystal clear in my memory. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:26.779 I was there in the temple courtyard with Jesus. 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:28.800 Not as a Jesus follower. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.220 In those days, 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.459 I was a Jesus hater. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.759 He was infuriating. 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:36.259 Going around calling himself the Son of God. 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.439 Maybe if he had stuck to the title Messiah, 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:39.980 then we could have lived with that. 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:42.540 But he dared to make himself equal with God, 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.899 calling God his Father. 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.300 That was blasphemy to my Jewish ears. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.079 After all, every day we recite the Shema from Deuteronomy. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.300 Shema'i Israel. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.800 Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad. 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:55.920 Hear, O Israel, 00:06:56.159 --> 00:06:56.959 the Lord our God, 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:58.560 the Lord is one. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:00.620 Even my kids knew that 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:02.680 from the very first day of Sabbath school in the synagogue. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:05.120 Who did Jesus think he was? 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:09.259 There was something else deeply unsettling about Jesus. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:11.699 Whenever you spent time around him, 00:07:12.340 --> 00:07:15.780 you came away feeling dirty, unclean. 00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:18.079 He always showed you up like a white glove 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.660 that's just being rubbed over the top of your wardrobe. 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:23.800 It's not that Jesus pranced around 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:25.600 pretending to be holier than thou. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:27.560 Leave that to the Pharisees. 00:07:27.900 --> 00:07:28.460 They had that covered. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.140 It was instead that Jesus just 00:07:31.140 --> 00:07:33.540 radiated holiness effortlessly. 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:36.580 I disciplined myself for a lifetime of 00:07:36.580 --> 00:07:37.600 Torah obeying, 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:38.520 Sabbath keeping, 00:07:39.260 --> 00:07:39.840 tithe giving, 00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:40.680 kosher eating. 00:07:41.440 --> 00:07:43.060 But it all felt so empty, 00:07:43.440 --> 00:07:45.420 so inadequate compared with Jesus. 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:47.900 What did he have 00:07:47.900 --> 00:07:49.280 that we didn't have? 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:52.220 After two and a half years of that, 00:07:52.640 --> 00:07:53.840 many of us were fed up. 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:54.740 We'd had enough. 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:56.740 We were determined to put an end to Jesus, 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:57.759 to silence him 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.840 one way or another. 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:01.140 We had to find some way to catch him out 00:08:01.140 --> 00:08:02.259 and destroy him. 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:05.220 And that's when we found out about her. 00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:08.020 I didn't know her name. 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:10.420 She was nothing to me. 00:08:10.880 --> 00:08:11.220 She was disposable, 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:13.220 a means to an end. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.320 Our wives had heard the gossip 00:08:15.320 --> 00:08:17.520 on the grapevine 00:08:17.520 --> 00:08:18.860 of a local woman engaged 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:19.980 in an adulterous affair. 00:08:20.840 --> 00:08:22.120 And so as we schemed and plotted, 00:08:22.260 --> 00:08:23.220 she became the bait 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:25.460 for our trap to ensnare Jesus. 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:28.040 Then the fateful day came 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:29.100 when we knew that this woman 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:29.920 could be found 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:31.160 in an illicit rendezvous 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:31.700 with her lover. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.580 As soon as our lookouts 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:34.220 give the signal, 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:36.019 signal we got to work, 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.200 breaking in through the door. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.779 We took them by surprise. 00:08:39.060 --> 00:08:40.279 Without a moment to think 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:41.259 or hide or run, 00:08:41.420 --> 00:08:42.080 we grabbed her. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:43.779 We dragged her through the streets, 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:44.840 kicking up dust in the air, 00:08:45.160 --> 00:08:46.320 screaming at the top of her lungs 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:47.320 for someone to help her. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:49.160 As we dragged her through 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:49.779 the marketplace, 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:50.759 she was humiliated 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.879 in the eyes of her friends, 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:52.519 her neighbors, 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:53.180 her family. 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:54.740 People started to shout 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:55.639 slurs at her. 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:56.980 Her state of undress 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.340 revealed just what kind of woman 00:08:58.340 --> 00:08:59.300 she really was. 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:02.000 Arriving in the temple courtyard, 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:03.600 we marched straight up to Jesus 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.320 and we threw her headfirst 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.240 down at his feet. 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:07.379 Then we formed 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.340 an impenetrable ring 00:09:08.340 --> 00:09:09.360 around the two of them. 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.700 There was going to be no way 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:11.600 for them to escape. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.100 Not either of them. 00:09:14.420 --> 00:09:15.379 The trap was set. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:16.399 We were ready. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.279 A few of us had even brought along 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:19.080 our own stones 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:19.800 for the occasion. 00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:22.820 Jesus looked around at us 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:23.540 as if he was demanding 00:09:23.540 --> 00:09:24.399 we explain the reason 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.180 for all the commotion. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.019 And so one of the scribes 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:27.540 spoke up, 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:28.379 Teacher, 00:09:29.079 --> 00:09:30.339 this woman has been caught 00:09:30.339 --> 00:09:31.259 in the act of adultery. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.500 At this there was a hiss 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:34.139 from the crowd 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:36.059 caused her to hide her face 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:37.120 in shame and terror. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:39.159 And then our spokesperson 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:40.099 pressed his attack 00:09:40.099 --> 00:09:40.719 against Jesus. 00:09:41.599 --> 00:09:42.559 Now in the law, 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.839 Moses commanded us 00:09:43.839 --> 00:09:45.000 to stone such women. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.259 But what do you say, 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:47.639 Jesus? 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.139 Silence descended. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:52.799 The dust in the air 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:53.559 began to settle 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:55.079 and every eye 00:09:55.079 --> 00:09:55.779 was on Jesus. 00:09:56.899 --> 00:09:58.039 What would he do next? 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:00.959 In that tense moment 00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:02.199 I rubbed my hands with glee. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.179 We had got him. 00:10:03.479 --> 00:10:04.039 We had caught him 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:05.159 between a rock 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:06.299 and a hard place. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:07.839 He acts like he's 00:10:07.839 --> 00:10:08.539 the world's greatest 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:09.139 humanitarian. 00:10:09.619 --> 00:10:10.199 Healing the sick, 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:10.859 showing compassion 00:10:10.859 --> 00:10:11.399 to the poor, 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:12.619 drinking and eating 00:10:12.619 --> 00:10:13.399 with tax collectors 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:13.979 and sinners. 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.019 Yet he also claims 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:16.939 he's the son of God. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:17.979 The word of God 00:10:17.979 --> 00:10:18.819 in human form. 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:20.539 And our test 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:21.159 was going to play 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:21.979 those two things 00:10:21.979 --> 00:10:23.019 off against each other. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:24.879 If in compassion 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.219 Jesus sided with this woman 00:10:26.219 --> 00:10:26.839 over and against 00:10:26.839 --> 00:10:28.000 the word and law of God, 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:29.219 well so much for his claim 00:10:29.219 --> 00:10:30.159 to be the son of God. 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:31.659 However, 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.959 if instead he endorsed 00:10:32.959 --> 00:10:33.919 the law of God 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:34.939 and called for her 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:35.759 to be killed, 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.359 well then he was 00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:38.099 defying Rome 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:39.419 and Rome's prohibition 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:39.919 against us 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:40.879 executing anyone. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:42.659 Either way, 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.199 discredited in Jewish eyes 00:10:44.199 --> 00:10:46.059 or dangerous in Roman eyes, 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.399 surely Jesus was finished. 00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:51.079 But as we waited 00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:51.659 with bated breath 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:52.519 for him to reply, 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.220 Jesus did something 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.039 rather unexpected. 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:57.360 He bent down 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.600 and began to write 00:10:58.600 --> 00:10:59.340 in the sand. 00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:01.579 The crowd started 00:11:01.579 --> 00:11:02.100 to murmur. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:03.439 People started pushing 00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:04.519 and jostling to see 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.259 and I'm not the tallest 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:05.779 of people. 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:06.840 I was at the back 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.220 of the crowd. 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:08.139 I couldn't quite see 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:08.960 what he was writing. 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:10.579 In the years since, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.259 I've often wondered 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:11.960 what was he writing? 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.579 Was it perhaps 00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:14.139 the law, 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:14.840 the Ten Commandments 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.379 that he was writing 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:16.100 out with his finger, 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.179 literally preparing 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:17.579 the ground 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:18.579 for what came next? 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:20.500 Or perhaps did he write 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:20.920 out the words 00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:22.040 of Leviticus chapter 20 00:11:22.040 --> 00:11:22.680 verse 20? 00:11:23.400 --> 00:11:24.639 If a man commits adultery 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.639 with another man's wife, 00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:27.060 both the adulterer 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:28.020 and the adulteress 00:11:28.020 --> 00:11:29.040 are to be put to death. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:30.500 You see, 00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.259 the law recognizes 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:31.980 that it takes two 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.639 to tango. 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.120 We were acting unjustly 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.300 by condemning this woman 00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:37.180 while we had let 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:38.379 the man off the hook. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.379 Or maybe, 00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:40.800 just maybe, 00:11:40.900 --> 00:11:42.060 Jesus was just doodling. 00:11:42.420 --> 00:11:43.200 Wouldn't put it past him. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.400 Either way, 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:45.960 what mattered 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.160 was not what Jesus wrote, 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:49.520 but rather, 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:50.940 where he was 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:51.740 as he wrote. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:53.280 You see, 00:11:53.780 --> 00:11:54.700 Jesus was kneeling 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:55.879 down on the ground. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.160 He was down 00:11:57.160 --> 00:11:57.900 on the same level 00:11:57.900 --> 00:11:58.580 as that woman. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:00.920 He was in close proximity 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:01.320 to her 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.560 as she cowered in fear. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.320 It was as if he was 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.000 reassuring her 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:05.879 with his presence, 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.520 you're not alone. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.379 I'm here with you. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:10.340 You don't have 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:10.920 to be afraid. 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:13.939 Jesus had made himself 00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:16.219 her personal shield 00:12:16.219 --> 00:12:17.319 and defender. 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.000 While we looked down 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:19.379 on this woman 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.519 with moral condescension 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.360 and condemnation, 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.659 Jesus instead 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.000 physically condescended 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.699 to her 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.399 to show her 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:26.159 mercy 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.279 and grace. 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:29.879 And then Jesus 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.399 suddenly turned 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.159 the tables on us. 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:32.860 Decisively, 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:33.719 he stood up for her 00:12:33.719 --> 00:12:34.599 as her advocate, 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.120 this nameless voice, 00:12:36.219 --> 00:12:37.079 this powerless woman, 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:38.579 fearlessly looking us 00:12:38.579 --> 00:12:39.500 in the eyes. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.379 He issued the challenge. 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:43.399 Let him who is 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.679 without sin among you 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:45.700 be the first 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:46.519 to throw a stone 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:47.500 against her. 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.419 A shiver went down 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:51.000 my spine. 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:51.860 It seemed to shudder 00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.720 through the whole crowd. 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:55.500 Those words pierced us 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.240 through with conviction. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:57.840 Sure, 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.500 we all try to be 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.019 good people, 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.860 but none of us 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.179 could pretend 00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:01.740 to be perfect. 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.379 But even more unnerving 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.320 was the look 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.080 in his eyes. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.419 It was like he was 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.000 reading us 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.779 like a scroll, 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.419 shining a light 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.120 into the darkest 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.299 recesses of our minds 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.120 and our hearts. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:14.879 And I remember 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.600 how he looked at me 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.279 in that moment. 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.899 In that moment, 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.340 I felt so naked 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:19.899 and ashamed. 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.360 I was exposed. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.419 It was as if Jesus 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:23.980 could see through 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:25.000 my righteous exterior 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.080 and he could search 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.639 the darkest recesses 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.399 of my mind. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.559 All of my past 00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:30.360 sins and shames, 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:31.679 they were all exposed 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.539 to in his sight. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.080 The scriptures tell us 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.800 in Psalm 44 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:37.200 that only God 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:37.800 knows the secret 00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.620 things of the heart. 00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:40.920 And yet here was Jesus 00:13:40.920 --> 00:13:42.120 and he seemed 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.980 to be able to know 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.460 the things 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.060 that only God 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.580 could know. 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.180 All the times 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:46.960 I've looked at a woman, 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.460 not lovingly, 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.700 but lustfully, 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.560 wanting to use her 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:51.620 for my own gratification. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.040 All the times 00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:53.759 in my imagination 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.400 when I've mentally 00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:55.080 undressed a woman 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:55.780 as she passed by 00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:56.560 in the street. 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:57.960 All the times 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:58.720 when I've compared 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.540 and preferred 00:13:59.540 --> 00:14:00.080 other women 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.920 to my wife. 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.420 Somehow, 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.719 Jesus could see it all. 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.639 And in Jesus' sight, 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.159 I was exposed. 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.139 Suddenly, 00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:10.719 it came back 00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:11.299 into my mind 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.339 what I had read 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:13.459 in the news papyrus 00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:14.779 some years before, 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:15.539 a quote from Jesus 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.139 in his sermon 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.699 on the mount. 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.259 At the time I dismissed it, 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.039 it just sounded like 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.000 some more crazy, 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.860 extreme Jesus talk. 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.379 But now I had 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.000 new insight 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.939 into his words. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.699 You've heard it said, 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:28.199 you shall not 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:28.939 commit adultery. 00:14:29.959 --> 00:14:30.919 But I say to you 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.299 that everyone 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.099 who looks at a woman 00:14:32.099 --> 00:14:33.079 with lustful intent 00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:34.379 has already committed 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.259 adultery with her 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.120 in his heart. 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:39.079 It began to dawn on me 00:14:39.079 --> 00:14:39.719 in that moment 00:14:39.719 --> 00:14:41.179 that in God's sight 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:42.459 I was no better than her, 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:44.079 that I was as much 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:44.740 a sexual sinner 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.539 as she was. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.879 You have a saying 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.379 in your country, 00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:48.799 don't you, 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:49.959 that people who live 00:14:49.959 --> 00:14:50.699 in glass houses 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.659 shouldn't throw stones? 00:14:53.319 --> 00:14:54.120 Well, here I was 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.219 with a stone in my hand 00:14:55.219 --> 00:14:56.419 ready to throw it at her. 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.139 But suddenly, 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.319 the strength to throw it 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:01.139 had ebbed away 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.759 out of my arm. 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:02.819 It was weighed down 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:03.299 with guilt. 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:05.179 That stone had 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:06.220 my name on it, 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.519 not hers. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.360 Having said 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:11.679 all that needed 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.159 to be said, 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.879 Jesus then 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.720 bent down again 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.240 and resumed 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.679 drawing in the sand. 00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.799 All around 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.899 with disgruntled murmurs, 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.720 the crowd began 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.580 to disperse. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.600 First, 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.240 some of the old boys 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:21.960 slinked off, 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.080 perhaps because 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:23.840 the longer you've lived, 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.480 the more regrets 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.519 you have to look back on 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.000 and remember. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.779 I didn't want to be 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:28.899 the first to admit defeat, 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:29.940 but neither did I want 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.519 to be the last 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.019 standing around 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.740 looking like an idiot. 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:33.259 And so I retreated too, 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.340 finding a nearby pillar 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:36.360 in the courtyard I hid, 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.379 embarrassed, 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.379 ashamed, 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:39.480 convicted. 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:42.220 But I was still close enough 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:44.120 to hear what happened next. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.580 After we'd all left, 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.480 Jesus looked up. 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:48.860 He and the woman 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.759 were now left alone. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.940 Like a good rabbi 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.879 sees in a teachable moment, 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.879 he asked her a question. 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.320 Woman, 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.759 where are they? 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:59.000 Has no one condemned you? 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.460 At first, 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:02.939 all she could do 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:03.519 was sob. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:04.840 And when she 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.639 found the breath 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.279 to speak, 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.419 she just sounded like 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.080 someone waking up 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.059 from a horrible nightmare. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.639 She couldn't believe 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.200 it herself. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.439 She replied, 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.120 no one, Lord. 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.240 But perhaps there was 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.919 a lingering question 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.580 in her mind. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.720 What was Jesus 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.320 going to do 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:20.860 with her? 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.659 If anyone 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.700 was sinless, 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.720 if anyone 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.879 was justified 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.000 to condemn her, 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.299 surely it was him. 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.320 But without a pause, 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:31.919 Jesus delivered 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.439 his verdict 00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:32.919 in a voice 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:33.519 that sounded like 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:33.879 the judge 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.240 of the living 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.639 and the dead. 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.080 He said, 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.779 neither do I condemn you. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.159 Now go 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:39.720 and sin no more. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.439 Her face lit up. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.200 Her death sentence 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.259 was pardoned. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.100 A fresh start 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:46.460 in life 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.320 had been granted. 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.899 Like King Solomon 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.360 of old, 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.919 Jesus had rendered 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.460 his judgment 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.360 with the perfect balance 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:52.919 of grace 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.860 and truth. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.180 He didn't minimize 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:55.899 her sin 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.259 and yet he urged 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.960 her to live 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:59.019 in grateful repentance. 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.159 But although 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.279 Jesus let her go, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.039 that didn't mean 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.120 that he let her sin go. 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.099 I didn't realize 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.799 that at the time. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.319 But with the benefit 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.799 of hindsight, 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.680 now I see that 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.480 what Jesus did 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.220 that day, 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:13.980 the reason why 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.519 Jesus was able 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:14.980 to say, 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.920 neither do I condemn you 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:18.099 and let her go, 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.339 was because Jesus 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.019 was willing to stay 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.500 behind and be condemned 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.279 in her place 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.579 and satisfy the demands 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:24.000 of the law 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.839 that she had broken. 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.420 You see, 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.259 that day in the temple 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.059 courtyards was just 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.779 a little preview 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.660 of the events 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.359 that would follow 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.440 just months down the road 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.500 at the next Passover. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.480 When Jesus risked 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.920 his life bending down 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.779 and drawing alongside 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.960 that condemned woman, 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.960 it was a rehearsal 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.400 of all that he had come 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.639 to do for all of us. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.920 Now I see that 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.839 in coming down 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.440 into this world 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.920 as a human, 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:48.160 God was coming down 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.860 onto our level. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.900 He was drawing 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:50.880 alongside us 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.880 as the friend, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.960 not the judge of sinners. 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:54.980 Now I see that 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.720 Jesus condemned 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.800 to death on the cross. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.380 He was dying 00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.200 in our place, 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:00.600 suffering the penalty 00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.500 that we deserve 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:03.480 so that we might live. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.759 Now I see that 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.720 Jesus died 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.940 and rose again 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.060 not only to save 00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:10.140 this adulterous woman, 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.800 but to save 00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:12.720 a hypocrite like me. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.100 And if there's hope 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.640 for her, 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:17.880 then there's hope 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:18.280 for me. 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:19.480 There's hope 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.300 for all of us. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.200 Now many years later 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:24.720 as an old man 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.660 I need to tell my story 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.420 one last time. 00:18:27.060 --> 00:18:27.720 It's too good 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.320 to be forgotten 00:18:28.320 --> 00:18:29.600 in the sands of time. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.680 That day in the temple 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.100 with Jesus 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.120 changed my life forever. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.020 And now as I come 00:18:35.020 --> 00:18:35.360 to the end 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.080 of life's journey, 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:37.800 I know that he 00:18:37.800 --> 00:18:38.520 who waits for me 00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:39.600 beyond death's door 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:41.040 waits to greet me 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:42.440 with those same sweet words 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.460 that I heard that day. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:46.100 I do not condemn you. 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.640 My regrets 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.660 cannot imprison me 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.319 to the grave. 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.519 My sins cannot 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.519 sink me down to hell. 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.299 For I have a saviour 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.759 in Jesus 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.539 who has saved me 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.539 from all my sins. 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.660 And I pray that my story 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.360 will help you too. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.120 Although your life 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:01.500 in this world 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.120 will be marked 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.640 by ups and downs, 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.940 joys and regrets, 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.539 successes and shames, 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.860 I pray that you will 00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.319 take hold of Jesus' promise too. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.819 For God so loved the world 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.980 that he gave us 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.340 his one and only son, 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.940 that whoever believes 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.180 in him should not perish 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.840 but have eternal life. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.600 For God did not 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.380 come into the world 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.460 to condemn the world, 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.519 but so that the world 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.720 might be saved through him. 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.519 That's my story. 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.980 Shalom and amen.