John 8:1-11
ICE BREAKER
The woman caught in the act of adultery was brought by the Pharisees to Jesus.
What do you think she felt being thrown into the middle of the crowd and having her sin announced to everyone?
Consider these categories: alone, shame, afraid, and unworthy.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever been “caught” in your sin and exposed unexpectedly?Share your story with the group or simply share what you felt in the story?
Perhaps you have something that has not been exposed but it would cause you to recoil in shame if it were exposed.
Please lay this at Jesus’ feet and prayerfully consider sharing your story with someone you trust.
- After the crowd dropped their stones and left, Jesus and the woman were all alone.He asked her, “Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.”
Imagine this woman shifting from the cuttin isolation of shame to tasting of love and tenderness from Christ.
Have you ever felt loved by someone in the midst of your sin?
Share your story and reflect together on how this connects us to Christ’s gracious forgiveness.
- To what level would you say you walk in the peace of deep, lasting forgiveness?Share with the group what has helped you.
If you have a key verse that helps you share that as well.
What tends to block this deep sense of forgiveness in your life?
The enemy is subtle; many believers end up living under a cloud of guilt or shame much of their life.
Jesus is intending to disperse this cloud again and again in your life.
- Read Matts’ prayer as a closing prayer together.
“
Dear [insert your name here],I know everything about you.
I know your deepest and darkest secrets.
I know just hearing that probably makes you cringe inside.There’s a lot there, and you’re right—it is vile. I’m sure if you were exposed in the middle of your family, friends and church, like the woman from today’s story, the shame and everyone’s shock would swallow you whole.
Please know that I know it all. Nothing you do, say or think is hidden from me. Your whole life of selfish ambition, lust, greed, sloth, resentment, lies, anger, manipulation, gossip, every rotten thing you’ve done and every good thing you’ve refused to do is laid bare to my gaze.
I know the specifics of them are going through your mind right now.
Let them.
I want you to feel Me gaze on the whole you.
Let it penetrate your defenses. I want you to feel My awareness of your sin and rejection of Me. It’s as if you were thrown at My feet in a crowd and all your refuse was revealed. I want you to feel My gaze of knowing your worst so the reality of My love for you can warm you to the core of your being. That is where My Spirit lives in you.You are My child. Not because you’re better, cleaner, prettier, stronger, richer, more popular, or any of your efforts. You are My child because you believe in Me and My Word. You call Me Lord. I know you wander sometimes far, even today, there’s a distance because of your secrets. But you’re never out of My grasp. At any point all you need do is turn to Me and drink the blood I spilt for payment for you sin, and eat the flesh I let men tear so I could become your satisfaction and completion.
Allow My gaze of love to stir a thirst in you from the desert of running, striving, hurting and trying to use your own might of overcoming the relational thirst you feel daily. Bring your thirst to Me and I will give you living water. And in your freedom, you can repent, confess, reconcile, whatever you know needs to be done, and I will pour living water through you.
In a moment after you pray back to Me and sing one more wonderful praise, go, and be done with lies that have tried to become you.
They can’t.
You are mine.
Your Savior,
Jesus”
NOTES AND QUOTES
The scribes and Pharisees brought the woman caught in the act of adultery into the midst of the crowd.
They said to Jesus, “Teacher, in the law Moses said, we are to stone this woman. What do you say?”
Jesus stood up and said whoever of you is without sin can cast the first stone at her.
The crowd left one by one. Who was the first one to leave?
And why did they leave one by one?
Imagine being in the crowd; what would you feel?
After the entire crowd left Jesus and the woman were alone.
At that time Jesus said, “Woman, where have they all gone? Does anyone condemn you?”.
Then Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”.
So, she is guilty but Jesus lets her walk away.
So, what’s happening here?
The law says she should be stoned.
How can Jesus forgive her and still fulfill the law?
The law demands punishment.
Jesus knows there will be punishment for her sin. He will die for her sin.
Therefore, she is not condemned. He takes away her sin and her shame.
If we believe He is Lord we are under no condemnation.
Imagine Jesus looking at you and all you have done and hearing Him say to you: neither do I condemn you.
